Cognition and Meaning
Some ideas about how it all works
Sensory Perceptual Process
Memories of perceptual streams (experienced sequentially thru time) become our perceptual models of the world. (no concepts (Words with meaning) here, just remembered experiential (sensory) data) We experience these streams of sensory data as our perceptions of experience.
Perception consists of the sum of these simultaneous Sensory streams, Consisting of Visual, Auditory, Touch, Taste, Smell, and Emotion. Emotion is the sum of the memories of the feelings occurring during perceptual streaming experience.
In NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) this is called a 4 tuple of experience. This perceptual experience is void of conceptual information. This is just raw experience. There are no words in perceptual experience. Concepts are named “digital auditory experience” in the jargon of NLP. This is seen as an auditory component different from other sounds processed by the auditory senses.
The Process of Making Meaning
So how do we form concepts?
First we observe the perceptual stream originating from our environment. This consists of streams of entities we have observed.
Secondly we perceive similarities and differences between the entities.
Third, we then select a common similarity that sets the chosen entities apart from other entities.
Fourth, This is important; We disregard the measurements of the individual examples of the chosen items.
Then we assign a word which will stand for the new concept mentally. EX. “cup”
The final step is to define the attributes of the concept by giving the word a brief definition which will separate the word (now the concept) from other concepts.
A concept is a word and proper definition, which can be used to (temporarily) represent a part of the world as a mental model. This is a process of conserving energy. Models are a way to make predictions which will allow us to move safely in our world for the purpose of survival.
In this way, concepts are like algebra. A variable (a word with a unique definition) is defined as equal to (a mental substitute for) some item in reality. A concept can then be seen as a temporary substitute for the real (remembered) experience (entity) it represents.
In this way mathematics can be seen as a special form of concept formation. We make the equivalent of a (algebraic) mathematical representation of our experience when we create phrases and sentences.
This is not a metaphor. This is a literal description of how language and communication actually works.
Making phrases and sentences precisely is difficult, because the models (concepts) are a conserved version (that is a model) of the original. Therefore the model (concepts) can never be the perceptual stream of experience which the concept attempts to re-present.
This difference between the (conceptual (word) models in our minds ….. of our experience) and the (memory or experience of our sensory experience, in our minds) is an important consideration when trying to sort out problems of communication.
An algebraic formula cannot be the reality it supposes to re-present.
In the same way, our words can never be more than a temporary substitute for the streams of experience they attempt to re-present. The differences lie in the translations (from words to experiences) that must be made to understand them (the words/concepts).
We all live and experience the same world. Particular environments vary of course. But the point here is that the world must be the final arbiter upon which we can all agree. We all experience the same data. Where we differ is in evaluating the meanings of the experiences.
Herein lays a very large lever in the negotiation of meaning. The knowledge, that all of our meanings are our own creations. They are uniquely ours. They are one of a kind, personal, and individually created by us, just for us.
Words (concepts) are just temporary placeholders in a formula (sentence). The real business of making meaning is in the (invisible mental process of) translation from words (concepts) back into the memories of the experiences from which we make meaning, and then re-translate that meaning back into words (concepts) which we can then attempt to communicate to others.
Sentences are algebraic formulas. Formulas of concepts from which we attempt to communicate our experiences to one another. Each communication requires each individual to decode and recode twice to be translated. This is the process of making meaning. For sure it is an inside job of enormous proportions.
This understanding (that it is at least a four-step process) also makes it obvious where and how errors may creep into our communications. An awareness of the process also allows for a prescription of cures for the creation of those errors.
Concept formation represents a substantial savings of memory. One word can re-present all the chairs that have ever existed, or will ever exist instead of having to experience each of those chairs. This gives a whole new meaning to the catch phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”. In fact a concept may instead be worth a million pictures.
Summary:
Forming concepts conserves memory, enables combinations of concepts to be strung together to form combinations of concepts. These are mental phenomenon, which conserve energy. It is certainly cheaper to move a mental object than the real thing.
These mental concepts can build mental models and so permit usable prediction to enable actions for survival.
When we remember concepts we associate each concept with the other concepts we have already learned (remembered). This process we call context. This is how we can remember them (concepts) when we want to use them again. This context formation (associations) is how we integrate our knowledge. Otherwise each concept would be totally unique so that finding them to reuse them would be a problem.
IMPORTANT !! Additional information about concepts.
Concepts are experienced as substitutes for items in the real or remembered world.
Concepts are (words and definitions) re-coded from experience or memory. These words (sounds) recall the experience from memory. IE The word "cup" triggers an image of the cup as it existed in the real world. The image is recalled from previously stored memory or from currently occurring experience.
The importance of this recoding is it converts our personal and private mental (memory) experience into a concept, which is then assigned to a word which can be thought, spoken, or written. Thusly making our private models transferable (somewhat) to others, who also recognize the word as having the same (or approximate) definition (meaning).
This is the process we call language.
Thus language is the algebra of general experience. More importantly, language is an emergent property of concepts.
Writing is an emergent property of spoken language, which has the characteristic of enabling the language last longer than speech alone would allow.
When this recalling and pairing happens frequently it becomes automated to be used as needed.
This is an example of the prediction process of memory and models. The automated remembering is now a model of what you will do when you hear the word “cup” in the future. When you hear the sound of the word “cup” you will see a cup in your memory. You could also imagine (remember) feeling a cup as though it were in your hands. The same visual memory will occur (be remembered visually) if you were to read the word “cup”.
A problem for the ages …. Finally RESOLVED
You have now bridged the metaphysical / epistemological gap which has puzzled philosophers for at least 2000 years.
Where is this concept “cup” that doe not exist in the real world?
It exists as a memory in your stream of memories created from your experience as you viewed and touched a real world cup. The concept that you learned when you heard the word “cup” spoken and saw the “cup” now are remembered together. Thereby linking the real world experience thru your senses and remembered in your stream of perceptual memories to the sound “cup”. They are now automatically linked. This happens so fast as to seem invisible as you make it happen by speaking the word or seeing the “cup” or remembering the “cup” or the sound of the word “cup”.
Magic in Action
The Making of Meaning
Memories of life are saved and remembered as perceptions including the emotional components..
At another dimension (conceptual), these experiences are mentally re-coded into sound, given definitions, and used to re-present the original memories of the perceptual experiential stream when the sound is uttered. The experience is re-coded from experience to sound as digital sound (words and definitions).
This is where meaning is added. Meaning is conceptual.
Our (conceptual) or (experiential) Maps in our minds are not the territory of the real world which we have mapped. The Conceptual Map is a mental Word model created to remind us (trigger our original sensory memories) of an item in the real world. This is a process of conservation. It is in fact the link between the real world and our mental worlds.
A concept is the link between Metaphysics (existence) and Epistemology (our mental models of existence).
This is very conservative of memory space, which is limited. The word automobile is not a real 2000 lbs. automobile. Yet, we can manipulate the concept in our minds as though it were in fact here now.
This conceptual process is simply an amazing discovery. What a wonderful invention concepts are especially considering that we do it automatically and un-consciously. Everything that man has made started out first as a concept! I am impressed with our clever insights. And it only took a million years or so.
A Theory of cortical cognition
The Cortex is the key organ of our thinking.
The Cortex has 6 layers. It has been successfully modeled in this form.
Definition of thinking
Observing and perceiving the Environment and self, remembering these observations, then building a model from them, and (concepts about them) to enable prediction, then choosing actions based on these predictions to enable survival.
Thinking is Hierarchical.
At the top is meaning memory and consciousness. In between is transition from sensory data (electrical, chemical) to consciousness (Identity). Feedback from the top layers tells the lower layers what to anticipate from the lower layers. This describes the learning process.
There is more feedback and feed forward activity in the cortex than sensory data input.
Because of the feedback activity, the top layers influence the lower layers more than sensory data. Therefore making Meaning is an inside job.
The higher up the layer is the higher level of the construct.
So the data is being constantly reconstructed to fewer and fewer constructs.
There are more connections to lower layers than higher layers.
EX. 4 neurons feed up to one neuron.
Each layer reduces the noise levels and therefore raises the prediction value of the upper neurons. Lots of constantly changing sensory neurons and activity with lots of changes and unpredictability feed upward to more and more predictability. At the top layer is the final (permanent) construct. At the bottom is sensory input from body.
One million input neurons from the eye are distributed to forty million synapses throughout the cortex.
Making predictions
All of this discussion of details is really about making predictions about what to expect next in our environment. In Fact, the purpose of our brain is to make predictions about our environment. Once we have made predictions, then and only then can we choose which actions to perform (how to behave). Thus, intelligence is the ability to predict. It is NOT how we behave. Behavior is caused by the prediction process.
Understanding, Writing, Speaking, Believing, Concepts, Language, Remembering, Experiencing, Perceiving, Sensing, Existing
SELF ACTUALIZATION
Learning about the making of meaning, the processes of thinking and forming beliefs, and experiencing emotional patterns presents the only opportunity to learn to make changes in these automated patterns. We use these processes to navigate the world, and it's people, as we attempt to manage our lives.
WRITING
is visually re-presented speech. Writing re-codes conceptual speech into longer lasting visible words. This is a re-coded experience of the conceptual level. We make and describe models here as well. This is an automated unconscious process that is mostly not visible or in our awareness as we are using these processes. Beliefs are (exist) here. An important characteristic of writing is that it can be used as an adjunct to memory. Writing is a form of long term memory. As the concepts (words) are read back they trigger associations from our remembered perceptual experience. In this way like speech and writing serves as an anchor to our remembered or imagined perceptual experiences. In this way we create meaning from the writing.
SPEECH
is (consists) of sound (words) that anchor our memories of perceptual experiences of things (entities). Speech re-codes concepts of perceptual experience into sounds (words). This is the auditory conceptual model building level, where we create meaning, talk and think about meaning. Here we talk ABOUT our internal perceptual experiences. This is an invisible, rapid, automated, unconscious. process for the most part. Speech is a fleeting and impermanent method of communicating concepts. Beliefs exist here.
CONCEPTS
(Words with definitions referring to entities which exist) connect our internal private worlds of personal experience and meaning, with the external worlds of others and their own private worlds of experience and meaning. Concepts connect (link) the internal world (mental epistemological) with Metaphysical Existence. Concepts are the coding from internal experience, to abstract mental elements, (words with definitions) which can be spoken to transmit this code to others; who then have to hear it, and then recode it back into their experience in order to understand it's (the concept’s) meaning. Complex meaning is made from concepts by combining them in various ways. This is language
LANGUAGE
Language is an emergent property of using spoken concepts. This algebraic type of substituting a word (concept) for the remembered experience of entities is man's unique mode of functioning. Mathematics is a particular case of this process. Writing is another step of recoding spoken concepts, to the visual based coding. This visual re-coding had the effect of making words and therefore concepts become visible, while at the same time, making them more permanent and there fore serving as another form of memory.
MEMORY
Memory (of perceptual experience) is a stored edited re-presentation of experiences. Memory re-codes perceptions of experience and emotion into stored code. We can recall this level if it is coded as perceptual information. This is the raw sensory streams of experience, which we remember. Beliefs held here are from memories of raw experience and are void of conceptual meaning.
PERCEPTION Perception is the coded form of accumulated sensory streams Perception is the re-coding of individual sensory streams into a coherent stream of time-encoded data. Perception is this internal representation of our sensory data. We are not aware of this level.
EXPERIENCE
Experience is the total of live streams of sensory data arriving from all the senses . Experience is the re-coding if individual information streams into a coherent stream of data. This is the lowest level of awareness, it is fleeting and momentary. We are usually not aware of this level.
EXISTENCE
The world exists out there. There are no maps out there. We know of this world solely from our sensory / experiential / perceptual / conceptual streams, which we create in an attempt to discover the facts of existence. We create perceptions from our sensory and emotional experiential streams. We try to make sense (predictions) from these levels of existence. Our perceptual streams of experience are embellished and modeled using word codes (concepts) to recode them (by adding conceptual meaning streams).
These elaborated five level models are my best attempt so far at understanding the facts of the world of cognition.
