Technical flaws in the original free energy principle challenge its core logic

History · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Researchers who analyzed the mathematical foundations of the free energy principle found that several key steps in its original formulation are technically incorrect. By examining the equations governing systems with Markov blankets, they discovered that certain results rely on unstated assumptions and do not hold true as originally presented.

The study uses counterexamples to show that the primary lemma of the theory is flawed when taken literally. These errors mean that the common interpretation of the principle as a form of Bayesian inference is not sufficiently justified by the original math. While these findings don't invalidate the general concept, they highlight significant differences between older and newer versions of the theory.

This analysis is theoretical and does not test physical systems.

Why it matters: Even popular scientific theories require rigorous mathematical scrutiny to ensure their core logic holds up under pressure.

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