Hi List,

  To start the process of consolidation, I thought I would offer some thoughts on the Theory Of Knowledge provided by the ToK/UTUA Frame.

Let me throw the following out there and see if there are any questions or reactions or concerns:

The Tree of Knowledge (ToK) System gives rise to a new position on the philosophy of mind and reality, and the relationship of mind and matter.

The ToK System is offered as a Metaphysical-Empirical system. A metaphysical system refers to the concepts and categories that Human Persons (HPs) use to build knowledge systems about reality and their place in it. It is empirical in the sense that it organizes both findings offered by science and organizes common experience as a human-being-in-the-world.

The philosophical view offered by the ToK can be fruitfully labeled “Property Quadism (PQ).” PQ refers to the fact that the ToK posits four ontologically distinct dimensions of existence that have qualitatively different emergent properties. These four dimensions are called: Matter, Life, Mind, and Culture.

PQ is a substance monist position. That is, in contrast to Cartesian Substance Dualism which posited that Matter and Mind were two different essential substances, PQ asserts the existence of one fundamental substance, called “Energy.”

However, PQ does admit a form of strong emergence (to be defined later), which provide the framework for Life, Mind, and Culture. Fundamental to the emergence of these dimensions of behavior complexity is the concept of information, especially information processing and communication. Information processing (data translation, computation, storage, and output control) and communication between information processing systems are centrally involved in the emergence of the higher dimensions of complexity following Matter (i.e., cells communicating through chemicals, animals through signals, and persons via language are central causal phenomenal that cannot be explained via matter mechanics alone).  

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The original state of the universe is called a “pure Energy singularity,” and the universe itself is an unfolding wave of behavior that has emerged since the “Big Bang.” Energy is the ultimate substance, and it is the ultimate common denominator. That is, everything that is real exists as a derivative of energy and exists as energy in some form.

The Big Bang is the term that describes the first phase transition of the universe, which is the transition from an undifferentiated pure energy singularity into a differentiated state of material complexity.

Material complexity consists of matter, which can be conceived of as chunked or frozen bits of energy, force, space and time. Material behavior refers to changes on the dimension of matter.

The Standard Model of Elementary Particle Physics represents a map of the behavior of particles and forces. General Relativity provides a framework for understanding the large-scale shape of space and time and the distribution of matter within it.

This conception of the concepts of Energy, Matter, Space, and Time is consistent with the current conceptions of modern physics, the goal of which is to mathematically map these behavioral processes. The general concept of “behavior,” defined as change in object-field relations is the central metaphysical concept used by physics, and human scientists more generally to objectively map reality.

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Let me stop here. Questions, concerns or disagreements with this so far?

Best,
Gregg