Vinaire's Blog

Reference: Philosophy Project

We look and perceive. Therefore, there is perception. Perception is generated by a desire to know.

For perception to occur there must be a separation between the perception point and whatever is being perceived. Thus, perception occurs across space.

Perception brings about instantaneous knowledge. However, perception retains its exact form for not more than few hundred milliseconds before it transforms into experience.

Experience allows indexing of current information with earlier information, and thus reducing the requirement for storage space. Thus, from perception to experience there is some condensation of knowledge. The directness of perception is replaced by indexing of data, which allows reconstruction of details on as-needed basis. This allows more knowledge to be stored in the same space.

Over time, experience transforms into information. Information then leads to hypotheses. Hypothesis generates theory. From theory are derived principles. And principles are consolidated into axioms. Each of these transformations allows increasing condensation of knowledge. Thus, more knowledge is stored in the same space. The storage algorithms allow for a reconstruction of knowledge from the cross-indexing of data to the desired degree of accuracy on an as-needed basis. The coordination-point of all this knowledge may then appear as the “self”.

The results of this successive condensation of knowledge may be listed as follows.

1. Perception
2. Experience
3. Information
4. Hypothesis
5. Theory
6. Principles
7. Axioms
8. Self

Points 1 to 7 above may describe a unique system of tightly interrelated considerations. Self in point 8 may be defined by this system of consideration much like a “doughnut’s hole” is defined by the doughnut.

The self may appear as a “causative individuality” but it is no more capable than what the system of consideration is capable of. The individuality would disappear with the disappearance of the system of consideration.

This system of consideration determines how the “universe” appears to the “self”.

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VISUALIZATION & RECALL

This indexed knowledge may be played upon in infinite number of ways. This gives us visualization. Such visualization may be demonstrated by the following experiment:

Close your eyes. Think of a cat, or your favorite small pet animal. Have that pet come to you and jump in your lap. Pick it up and caress it. Feel its weight and the texture of its fur. Now let that pet jump and run away from you. Open your eyes and look in the direction in which your pet ran away.

A recall of some past memory would be a similar play, except that it is allowed to take place by itself without interference. Thus, a recall of past memory uses the same mechanism as visualization. The only difference is that visualization is actively manipulated, whereas recall is allowed to take place by itself.

Accuracy of recall would then depend on the lack of interference in the reconstruction of the memory. Thus, a proper recall shall require mindfulness.

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