 Free energy principle

The Free Energy Principle (FEP) is a theoretical framework that seeks to explain how biological systems maintain their organization and functionality in the face of an uncertain and changing environment. It is rooted in principles from thermodynamics, information theory, and neuroscience. The core idea of the FEP is that living systems strive to minimize their free energy, which can be understood as a measure of surprise or uncertainty. At its most basic level, the FEP posits that organisms engage in a form of active inference.