Reality Models in the Human Psyche

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Reality Models in the Human Psyche

• Introduces a data flow diagram as a means to
  describe the human thinking process.
• Defines Reality with a capitol R as a data
  processing node in that thinking process and
  gives it the function to hold the explanation of
  sensations in symbols we believe and will to
  change.
• Identifies the self and its data processing
  function in that Reality.
• Show the evolution of Reality and suggest some
  new alternatives.
• Applications

By Wolfgang Baer
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(No Transcript)
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The Monocular Visual Field of Ernst Mach
This picture shows the perspective of a man
looking out through his left eye. The nose and
mustache are drawn in the foreground. The body is
shown reclining on a chair with feet propped up
in front. A bookshelf is shown on the left fading
into the peripheral visual field. He is holding
an apple in his right hand. The symbols in this
drawing represent the visual sensations of a
human being and thus personally verifiable
experiences.
Mach, E. (1867) contributions to the Analysis of
the Sensations (tr. By C. M. Williams), Chicago
Open Court.
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We used to Believe
Our a-priori assumption was that the an
independent real world existed as a 3 dimensional
space containing moving objects. From this
objective reality signals propagated to the
sensors of our objective body. These signals
were processed by our brain into a complex of
objective activity which were thought to produce
conscious mental images. The mystery of
consciousness was treated as a mere detail of no
major significance to the validity of our beliefs.
Image of Apple appears 1 meters away.
Physical Activity causing image.
Real Apple
We used to believe an independent objective
reality came first.
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Data Processing in the Psyche
The Vienna Positivists suggested theories should
only be built from personally verifiable
experiences i.e. mental images derived
from our sensors and their extensions. The psyche
can only be aware of internal sensations
referenced by symbols drawn inside the frame of
our psyche model. References to external reality
are meaningless. It can only be known
symbolically.
Our data processing model therefore starts with
the potential awareness of sensations at the
input sensors, produces three dimensional images,
and explains these images in terms of a reality
model.The processing path is actually from mental
images to the reality model and then reverses the
path of physical energy flow to objects.
The reality model inside our psyche model and
refers to Reality. Reality is the explanation of
mental images. It is a part of our psyche.
Jim Baggott, The meaning of Quantum Theory,
Oxford University Press, 1994. See page 75 for a
discussion of Positivism and Quantum Theory.
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Representing the Psyche with a Data Flow Diagram
A flow diagram is a memory map rearranged to show
the operational relationships between data and
instruction symbols. A memory map is an
instantaneous snapshot of what can be known by
the psyche at that instant. Pure memory plus a
symbol manipulation mechanism can act as a
computer.
A human is modeled as an aware
computer.
A mechanism translating its symbols into meaning
A computer aware of its memory.
A visual copy of this Data Flow Diagram
plus
equals
When translating symbols into meaning and back
again does not change the content of the memory
map no time passes for the psyche and progress of
the operation must be represented by a phase ? in
a direction perpendicular to the memory.
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Reality is the True Explanation of Mental Images
If we now look at these reality sensations
critically we will note, They too are only
mental images, and we are very likely to follow
by saying, but actually they are really ,
where the three dots refer to a new answer.
Unfortunately the new answer will simply be
another sensation. No matter how often we seek to
look for the real reality the answer will come
up as a sensation. All we can experience are
sensations. There is no end to this chain of
reference until we arrive at sensations, which
are not treated merely as symbolic
representations of something else but are
recognized as the truth. For example, if we
believe there is a tiger outside the door the
sensation which represents the tiger may very
well be another mental construct, but if we
believe that construct represents the truth it
will also have intrinsic properties to generate
an adrenalin rush. Symbols of Reality therefore
refer to forms and structures, which have
intrinsic properties to generate response. The
model of reality we believe is Reality.
We will now describe an exercise designed to give
meaning to the word Reality. This exercise will
show that the model of reality references an
internal sensation with which control is enabled.
Hence the sensations referenced by the word
Reality are like the displays and levers of a
control room in which decisions are made and
actions taken. Let us start by looking at an
apple in our visual field critically. We will
note that, It is only an image. We are very
likely to go on to say but it is really ,
where the three dots refer to the answer. That
answer will be a sensation. This sensation is
referenced with a symbol of reality. What had
been identified as the symbol of a real apple,
body, and sofa in the picture of Ernst Mach
actually refers to the explanation of the mental
sensations appearing in his visual field. We
remember these explanations in terms of reality
symbols and in turn recall what reality is by
producing the meaning of such symbols.
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Evolution of Reality
Model of reality
Also represents the text, equations, and drawings
of any physical theory said to describe reality.
Refers to Reality i. e., a psychic component
used to make decisions and act.
Physical theories describe psychic structures.
By adopting new physics theories Reality evolves.
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
Quantum
Mythical
Objective
Computer
Relativistic
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The Mythic Reality
The mythic model consists of local objective
space corresponding to the collective experiences
of a tribe. Sensor reports are the stories told
or relayed by tribal members of personal
observations. Areas beyond the sensor boundaries
are filled with permanent spirits and creatures.
These live inside or beyond local objects and are
believed to explain and influence what happens in
the local Reality.
Knowledge of the behavior of objects is stored in
the personality traits of spirits.
past
Control Logic Example Apples come from a
tree that is controlled by a spirit which likes
to eat dead animals. Therefore if bury an animal
under the tree it will produce more apples.
future
The spirit of the self ,I, is felt inside ones
objective body. Western creation myths typically
place its origin beyond ancestral memories. It
enters the body at birth, performs a task, and
moves to a heaven or hell in the future. The
temporal Now is surrounded by permanence.
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Practical Reality
Practical reality consists of a combination of
subjective and objective components. The self is
seen from the third person point of view inside a
three dimensional world of moving objects.
Objective world rules document object behavior
out to the sensor limits.
When objective explanations fail, such as
beyond the big bang, beyond death, or
beyond tractable complexity, spirits and
personalities are often evoked to facilitate
decision and action. Practical Reality has an
answer, not necessarily consistent, for all
situations.
The brain generates mental images and is effected
by awareness and emotion through an unknown mind
body connection which places objects where they
appear and simply works.
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Objective Reality of Classic Physics
By eliminating the self and the spirits classic
physics attempted to explain all experiences by
immutable laws which have always existed
independent of ourselves. Space-time is an
a-priori stage in which all things happen.
Infinitesimally divisible time (t) of 3D space
(x,y,z) contain moving objects (n) and influence
fields (H). The influences propagated from all
objects to determine the change in position and
momentum of all objects according to the Law,
t
dx/dt ?Hx,p/ ? p , dp/dt -? Hx,p/ ? x.
The solution of these equations gives
position and momentum of all objects for all
time in terms of their position and momentum at
one single time. The existence of mental images
are either denied or explained by a parallel
mental space which places them where objects
appear. Reality is simply out there.
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Relativistic Model
The position and the names of space-time points
are defined relative to entities in reality, i.e
coordinate frames made of actual rods and clocks.
There is no independent absolute background space
or time within which reality is housed. Time and
distance is what clocks and rods measure.
Universe Event
The physical forces bend or warp the
electromagnetic structures, i.e. rods and clocks,
used to define the units of a coordinate system.
Such effects are visualized as warping of space
time when viewed from a different system.
Any electromagnetic structure of any object can
be used to define an internal or proper
coordinate frame. Since space in one frame show
up as time in another the only independent entity
is an event.
The entire universe is therefore an event.
What was once thought of as equations of motion
are now structural equations of an event.
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Coordinate Frames are Measuring Instruments
Without an absolute background space or time the
parts of any electromagnetic structure can act as
labels for its own proper space-time points.
Such material structures are events. The
associated space-time does not contain
everything but is used to display the effects of
other objects. A coordinate frame can therefore
be viewed as the detector and processing
components of a measuring instrument while the
associated space-time planes are the reporting
locations for measurement results.
The material of Reality divided into three events.
Relativity has reintroduced the self as the
coordinate frame to which I, the observer is
attached.
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Copenhagen Quantum Reality
Quantum object
Though quantum theory admits the inescapable
influence of the self as the last measuring
instrument before direct experiences occur,
Classic object
the popular Copenhagen interpretation preserves
objectivity by replacing objects with complex
probability waves, ?. These are packaged into
classic forms as wave packets and are thought to
exist independent of observation until they
collapse at the instance of measurement.
Sensor report
Since probability waves can only be see through
their influence on measurement instruments
and such instruments are classic objects,
Copenhagen Reality is a combination of unseen
quantum waves and seen objects.
x
y
t
The detectors of measuring instruments acts as
the border between the quantum and classic parts
of this Reality.
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Schroedinger Quantum Reality
E. Schroedinger, Annalen der Physik, IV Folge
Band 79, p.489 , 1924
Erwin Schroedinger went to a lot of trouble to
derive his now famous equation because he
believed his wave function, ? , was real.
The most likely media to host quantum
oscillations are the detector cells themselves.
The only objects the final measurer sees is
through a screen of detector cells therefore such
cells appear everywhere and a Reality composed
entirely of detector cells, as shown on the left,
implements Schroedingers belief. In this model
Space-Time is a field of physical systems in
which oscillations occur.
Space of real system host waves
y
x
t
The final measuring instrument is also a system
in Reality. It is composed of a detector cells
perimeter and internal cells designed to record
the reports from the detector arrays. These
reports are stationary hence repeating motions
confined to single cells i.e. Dirac ?-functions.
The wave function collapse in real systems is due
to the isolation required to make detector cell
oscillations into permanent records.
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Event Physics of Schroedinger Reality
Reality is an Event. The whole event is divided
into parts. Any division is conceivable however
recognizable parts, and therefore useful
divisions approximate stable non interacting
events.
Space is a Field of NamesLet the name, n, of a
division label an event. Let a sub-division of
n be the label k. Labels n,k uniquely
identify events. When they are implicitly
represented as a location they become the address
of the event and serve as space labels.
Description of event experience an,k
Part names contain Events Events can be
physically described by phase orbits packaged
into complex numbers. The event describing the
kth part of the nth division is Zn,k(p,q)
qn,k ipn,k. The event is stable if it
makes a closed orbit. Orbits can be parameterized
by other variables such as action a(?) and angle
? variables.
?n,k perturbation in n,k
Phase orbit describes the event Z0n,k
? describes the Event in an EventIf an isolated
part of a division performs a motion Z0n,k then
small perturbations ?n,k to the isolated motion
satisfy a Schroedinger wave equation. The wave
?n,k describes the content of the nth division
and must be a linear sum of eigen waves supported
by this division of Reality.
?
Address n
Alternative Computer functional division
Knowledge of other PartsThe whole can never be
divided into perfectly isolated sub events
therefore ?n,n, or perturbation in n due to
the existence n always exist and can be treated
as the knowledge
Sub-Address k
Material Event Content Phase orbits are not seen
directly and can only be experienced by the
division in which it occurs. Events are
experienced as complete units and the amount of
such an experience is given by the action
associated with the phase orbit. The action of
small perturbations is always a quadratic. For
example the nth division experiences its
sub-parts as an action density an,k ?
??n,k a(?) ?n,k?kd?.
Space Time example If Reality is divided into
Cartesian space time cells named x,y,z,t then
Z0x,y,z,t describes the events defining the
space time cells, the wave function ?x,y,z,t
describes the content of space time, while action
density a(x,y,z,t) is its material content.
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Computer Interpretation of Schroedinger Reality
Here Reality is divided into three parts, I, the
red apple, and the rest of U. Each part is
conceived as a computer like structure which
performs self serving calculations. These
calculations are the basic invariant activities
which define the hardware described by Z0
respectively. The data contained in each
computer is described by ?n,n, where n and n
are division names. The activities of at least
one of the divisions are experienced directly by
I and are coupled to my psyche. The rest of U and
the red apple may be conscious however I cannot
know that directly.
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Psychological Interpretation of the Schroedinger
Reality
Z0I interpreted as space
?I,U interpreted as stars
We become aware of events which happen inside of
ourselves as mental images.
Z0I- Experiencing this event makes me aware of
an empty volume ?I,U- Experiencing this event
makes me aware of Ur body Z0U- Experiencing
this event makes U aware of an empty
volume ?U,I Experiencing this event makes U
aware of my body
The amount of U that shows up in I is given by
the action pattern calculated by integrating over
the entire phase of my event
AI,U ??I,U(?) ?A? ?I,U(?) ? d?.
In most applications I acts like a scale function
or legend which provides the rules for
translating symbols of reality into meaning, i.e.
mental images, and back again.
Z0U interpreted as inertial space
?U,I interpreted as my body
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The two part Reality
By adding a symbol of the self we have divided
Reality into two parts.
?I,U
I is the usual name for the first part. U will be
the name for the rest of Reality.
Z0I
I and U are events described by their respective
phase orbits ZI and ZU. These are combined
with a Canonical Transformation to describe
Reality as a Whole,
ZW QW(ZI,ZU) PW(ZI,ZU) .
Each event is composed of motions defining its
permanent self Z0 and the motions due to the
presents of the other part. ZIZ0I ?I,U
, ZU Z0U ?U,I
Z0U
?I,U is the knowledge I have of U while ?U,I
is the knowledge U has of I.
?U,I
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From the Beginning
If we had no preconceptions about what goes into
Reality and started only with the knowledge of
its characteristics as a processing node in the
human psyche then we would know that it is first
and foremost a container for Symbols.
What symbols should be contained in
Reality? Answer the most efficient symbols for
expressing our will.
As long as the psyche exists, its Reality must at
least contain a symbol of the psyche itself.
We propose to use a scale model of the human
psyche shown on the right as such a symbol. Its
measurement side has an input array, a sensor
process,and a permanent memory to hold
measurement results. These are the symbols or
names of mental images.
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Applications
What is consciousness? Memphis Consciousness
Conference
How is consciousness recognized? Boston
Cognitive Systems Conference
Physics Problems? cosmology, local causality, why
objects move, minimum action
Social Problems? Who am I? What will happen when
I die?
Practical Problems Will, Optimization, Economics