Dichotomizing in RH
Root Hierarchy
The represents the core of the taxonomy. Everything in psychosocial reality flows from it. So divisions here would be expected to reflect perennial issues about human nature. The splitting in philosophical debates typically ignores the internal levels. Reality is presented as a polarity. The higher division supposedly represents mankind's superiority or higher nature.
Divisions
6+1 Split: Sapience Dimension
The Computational Model of the Mind
| Biological Instinct | ||||
| RL7 | Willingness | Transcendence | Knowing how... | |
| RL6 | Purpose | Goodness | Knowing why... | rationally |
| RL5 | Communication | Language | Knowing about... | conventionally, truly |
| RL4 | Experience | Endeavour | Knowing who... | a person |
| RL3 | Change | Safety | Knowing what... | the difference |
| RL2 | Inquiry | Knowledge | Knowing... | information (a fact, a concept) |
| Knowing orientations on offer: | ||||
| RL1 | Action | Activity | Using knowing in practice | |
Dichotomy Conjecture:
This is the division emphasized by biologists, neurophysiologists, most philosophers and many AI investigators.
and the activity instinct are viewed as a matter of sensory input and motor (behavioral) output. So they are "easy" to understand. What is not so clear is "the mind" the controls action and has experiences.
The simplest approach is evident here. It recognizes that the brain deals in information and signals. These are not only abstract, but do not depend on any particular substrate (i.e. they could just as easily occur in a computer). Because information can have pattern and organization, it is a natural candidate for being "the mind".
The knowledge instinct is responsible for providing information and mind can then be identified with the information encoded in the brain.
This computational approach is labeled in philosophy as the functionalist solution to the mind-brain problem. It has become a core principle for cognitive neuroscience research. It has a long history, stemming at least from Newell and Simon (1976) who asserted the equivalence of mind with the manipulation of abstract formal symbols.
This model is also the basis for much artificial intelligence research. Here, the computation of patterns from information flows can be checked against results: can the computer actually play chess or reply to a question correctly.
Criticism5+2 Split: Sentience Dimension
The _______________ Model of the Mind
| RL7 | Willingness | Professionalism | Idiosyncratic models?? |
| RL6 | Purpose | Politics | Cultural models |
| RL5 | Communication | Association | Paradigm models |
| RL4 | Experience | Individuality | Internal models |
| RL3 | Change | Discrimination | Formal models |
| Models on offer: | |||
| RL2 | Inquiry | Knowing | Using preferred models. |
| RL1 | Action | Achievement | |
Dichotomy Conjecture:
L7 = freedom / Future
L6 = Future
L5: Narrative fallacy
L4: pleasure principle
L3: devil you know. Continuity stability
4+3 Split: Dynamic Dimension
The Evolutionary Model of the Mind
| RL7 | Willingness | Professionalism | Spiritual motivation |
| RL6 | Purpose | Politics | Ethical motivation |
| RL5 | Communication | Association | Social motivation |
| RL4 | Experience | Individuality | Egotistic motivation |
| Choose from motivations on offer: | |||
| RL3 | Change | Discrimination | Focus on safety from danger. |
| RL2 | Inquiry | Knowing | |
| RL1 | Action | Achievement | |
Dichotomy Conjecture:
Self-consciousness, significance
Significance is viewed as about minimizing danger (RL3) and maximizing pleasure (RL4).
Gordon: Integrative neuroscience. The brain's overarching principle is to classify the world around you into things that either hurt you or help you stay alive i.e. deal with safety.
3+4 Split: Aspirational Dimension
The _______________ Model of the Mind
| RL7 | Willingness | Professionalism | ||
| RL6 | Purpose | Politics | ||
| RL5 | Communication | Association | ||
| on offer: | ||||
| RL4 | Experience | Individuality | ||
| RL3 | Change | Discrimination | ||
| RL2 | Inquiry | Knowing | ||
| RL1 | Action | Achievement | ||
Dichotomy Conjecture:
2+5 Split: Control Dimension
The _______________ Model of the Mind
| RL7 | Willingness | Selflessness | Use realities to guide generation of benefits. |
|
| RL6 | Purpose | Autonomy | ||
| Realities on offer: | ||||
| RL5 | Communication | Understanding | Conformist | |
| RL4 | Experience | Well-being | Psychosocial | |
| RL3 | Change | Acceptability | Depicted | |
| RL2 | Inquiry | Confidence | Speculative | |
| RL1 | Action | Time | Practical | |
Dichotomy Conjecture:
The lower division is where reality is defined and truth is determined: differently in each case. The upper division is where pressures for autonomy and selflessness select amongst the realities on offer in order to create benefit.
1+6 Split: Power Dimension
The _______________ Model of the Mind
| RL7 | Willingness | Professionalist | Power to transcend all limitations. |
| RL6 | Purpose | Politics |
Trapped inside values & goals and cultures |
| RL5 | Communication | Association | Trapped inside our societies and networks |
| RL4 | Experience | Individuality | Trapped inside our self |
| RL3 | Change | Discrimination | Trapped inside our models, paradigms mindsets. |
| RL2 | Inquiry | Knowing | Openness to explore |
| RL1 | Action | Achievement | Openness to act |
Dichotomy Conjecture:
The lower division is where egotism reins.
The upper division is where selflessness permits
Originally posted: 30-Nov-2013
All material here is in a draft form. There will be errors and omissions. Nothing should be copied or distributed without express permission. Thank you.Copyright © Warren Kinston 2009-2018. All Rights Reserved.