Argyll-Feet giants: A cognitive analysis of collective autonomy

In this paper, a formal theoretical analysis of the notion of collective autonomy is proposed. Collective agents are defined as multi-agent strategies for goals not necessarily shared by the agents that are interdependent in achieving them. Two previously defined notions of autonomy (plan- and goal-autonomy) are applied to the collective level. Internal collective autonomy is distinguished from external, and the effect of collective internal autonomy is analyzed in terms of influence exercised on the collective’s members.