pan-aware emergence anand rangarajan [email protected] dept. of computer & information science...
TRANSCRIPT
Pan-aware EmergencePan-aware Emergence
Anand [email protected]
Dept. of Computer & Information Science and Engineering
Univ. of Florida
OverviewOverview
Phenomenology – Meditative phenomenology
Pan-aware emergence ontology– Ontology of subjects– The combination problem
Representation: A probabilistic model– Hierarchical frames– Constraints
Conclusions
Meditative PhenomenologyMeditative Phenomenology
Mindfulness: Awareness completely focused at center of phenomenon.– One pointedness, no split mind.
Non-referential awareness: Awareness zooms out and is radically decentered.– Pure consciousness event (PCE), nirvikalpa samadhi.
Controversial. Hindu and Buddhist philosophical schools:
longstanding debate over interpretation.
OntologyOntology
Agree with Strawson (JCS, 6:4, 1999): When awareness present, a subject exists.
When I am aware, I am. Fundamental level:
– Subjects.– Intersubjective phenomenal content.
Awareness NOT cognitive. Reminiscent of pan proto-psychism.
RepresentationRepresentation
Subjects and intersubjectivenetwork modeled as directedgraph
Phenomenology rides on topology. Connection directions indicatepropagation of influence.
The Combination ProblemThe Combination Problem
How does phenomenology add up?– What about awareness of “mid-level subjects”
[James 1890, Seager - JCS 2:3]?– Intersubjective phenomenal content at mid-
level?
Quantum coherence etc. suggested as objective criteria.
Look at awareness very carefully.
Structure of awarenessStructure of awareness
One-pointedness mode Decentered mode
Phenomenological clue to combination problem.
Combination principle?Combination principle?
Awareness binds configuration of lower level subjects
Binding can range from one-pointed focus to a decentered zoomed out focus.
Binding is dynamic: Tacit spacetime assumptions [Rosenberg thesis, 1997].
Basic idea: Weighted configuration of subjects == Higher-level subject.
RepresentationRepresentationTopology connects higherlevel subject with lowerlevel subjects – possibilityspace [Rosenberg 1997].
Momentary awareness – weighted combination of lower-level subjects.
Awareness OperatorAwareness Operator
Awareness operator in configuration space.– Example: Low-level subjects - – Example: Compound subject.
One very simple example shown above. Higher-level subject: Weighted combination in
configuration space. Phenomenal qualities not present in definition.
321 ,, XXX
321 9.04.01.0 XXX
Pan-aware emergencePan-aware emergence
Lower levels have to be probabilistic in order for higher levels to exist.
Emergent properties/laws at higher levels as long as lower levels allow it.
Modeled as a probabilistic (Bayesian?) network [Pearl 2001].
Higher level imposes further constraints not present at lower levels [Wilber, SES 1995].
Spacetime issues?
Probabilistic modelProbabilistic model
Interior: compound subjectsand intersubjective content.
Exterior: probabilistic network, constraints.
Higher level subjects are momentary binding via configurationspace awareness operator.
Emergent ConstraintsEmergent Constraints Higher-level constraints must be compatible with
lower-level constraints. Emergent laws/properties. Rule: Coyotes hunt and eat roadrunners.
Cheers: Season 2, #14,Overall episode #84.Cliff to Woody, “He wants that particular Roadrunner.”
Why Pan-aware Emergence?Why Pan-aware Emergence?
Panpsychism: Biased toward cognition, consciousness.
Pan-experientialism [Griffin]: Problem with language – events, processes, occasions.
Awareness: Somewhat neutral and differentiated from self-awareness.
Emergence: Higher level constraints crucial.Probabilistic model is basic.
ConclusionsConclusions
When I am aware, I am. Combination problem: Clues from
phenomenology. Awareness operator - higher-level subjects. Distinction between ontology and representation. No a priori commitment to dual-aspect theory. Probabilistic hierarchical model with emergent
constraints.
PhenomenologyPhenomenology
Migraine headaches: Reliable and repeatable phenomena.
Two distinct modes of awareness:– Awareness concentrated at center of migraine.– Awareness detaches and is decentered.
Oscillation between modes.Loss of awareness.
IntersubjectivityIntersubjectivity
Hargens’s [JCS, 8:12 (2001)] taxonomy:– Intersubjectivity as spirit. Transcendental.– Intersubjectivity as context: Mesh.– Intersubjectivity as resonance:
1. Worldspace. Ontological: Empathy, Zelig.
2. Worldview: Epistemological: Culture.
– Intersubjectivity as relationship: It-It, I-It, I-I.
RepresentationRepresentation
Taking van Gulick’s [JCS, 8:9-10] distinction between ontology and representation seriously.
Different from most standard ontologies.
Ontology
SubjectsIntersubjectivityPhenomenal contentCompound subjectMomentary awareness
Representation
ObjectsRelationsPropertiesPart/whole relationProcesses