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Loren Booda
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How can the mind objectify discontinuous phenomena if the mind itself is continuous?
In vision research, accumulating evidence suggests that the coherence of our visual experience involves not only internal representations in the brain but also the external visual environment itself. In this chapter, we discuss a collection of eye-movement experiments that lend further support for this important role of the external visual environment in visual imagery, in visual memory, as well as in linguistic memory and even in naturalistic conversation and insight problem solving. We argue that eye fixations serve as the cognitive liaisons (or “spatial indices” or “pointers”) between internal and external objects and events. Essentially, the visual environment can be treated as an additional memory database, with eye movements being the most typical method for accessing such data. The
spatial indices to which eye movements interface appear to be used not just for organizing perceptual-motor routines but also for organizing relatively highlevel cognitive processes. These findings point to an externalist philosophy of mind, in which the concept of mental activity is not solely defined over neural states, but also includes peripheral bodily states, as well as objects and events in the surrounding environment.
What evidence or reason do you have for believing that self-consciousness is a "continuous reality" (as opposed to being discrete)?Loren Booda said:Thanks for responding. I was positing that self-consciousness (or better, perhaps, its rememberance) is eventually a continuous reality (from personal observation), as opposed to its constructs that simply represent discontinuity
This may be the case for an individual photon, but the point is that the discontinuity (or discrete behaviour) is a result of the fact that each photon is a quantum, it interacts with the retina in a quantised and discrete fashion, along with all the other photons doing the same. There is no "continuity" amongst the mass of individual discrete photon interactions with the retina, just a large number of discrete interactions.Loren Booda said:In practice, the wavefunction amplitude of impinging photons tends to zero as it approaches infinity spatially, requiring any seeming discontinuity within to actually require a smooth slope.
It seems you assume a premise of continuity at the quantum level. We already know that the world is discontinuous (quantised) in mass/energy (that is precisely what led to the foundation of quantum mechanics), and it may also be the case that it is discontinuous (quantised) in time and space. At lengths and times of less than approximately one Planck unit, quantum theory as presently understood no longer applies. The Planck unit of length is 1.6 x 10-35 metres, and of time 5.4 x 10-44 seconds. Space and time may be discrete (discontinuous, quantised) at shorter lengths and shorter times.Loren Booda said:The example of the movie film is a classical one reducible to quantum continuity, since there is no quantum analog to such discrete frames.
I agree. My point is that we cannot say with certainty. The world may be fundamentally discrete, or fundamentally continuous. There is no way to tell with certainty. Your original post, however, asked a question which assumed a premise of continuity. All I am doing (ever since replying to that post) is pointing out that your premise may be false, which would make your original question very different.Loren Booda said:Thanks again.
How can one say with surety that what appears a discrete quantum is not actually an entity that is quasi-discrete? Modulated by vacuum Planck potential, observed discontinuities could have their "edge" smoothed off. Even Planck units rely on parameters which in an infinite universe are doubtfully constant, and thus representative of continuity.
Continuous thought refers to the uninterrupted flow of ideas and reasoning, while discrete processes involve individual, distinct steps or actions.
Continuous thought can be used to analyze and optimize the individual steps in a discrete process, leading to more efficient and effective results.
Technology, such as automation and artificial intelligence, can facilitate the seamless integration of continuous thought into discrete processes, allowing for faster and more accurate decision-making.
One potential drawback is that continuous thought can lead to overthinking and decision paralysis, causing delays in the completion of a discrete process. It is important to strike a balance between continuous thought and taking action.
While continuous thought can be beneficial in many situations, it may not be suitable for all types of discrete processes. Some processes may require a more systematic and structured approach, while others may benefit from a more creative and flexible approach.