Pan-aware EmergencePan-aware Emergence

Anand Rangarajananand@cise.ufl.edu

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.

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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