1 May 2024

Dynamic Duo?

I wonder if it might be more appropriate to represent certain concepts with two circles/spheres rather than one?  






Visualising the structure of Objectivism

Existence is just one thing — everything. 






Visualising the structure of Objectivism

Yet a dynamic duo of using two circles/spheres could help to convey the idea that Identity involves difference. 






Visualising the structure of Objectivism

Furthermore, another pair assists in revealing Consciousness as being a process between prediction and prediction-error.  








More adventures with the ‘dynamic duo’ idea next month

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1 April 2024

Elevating The Primacy of Existence

 

Visualising the structure of Objectivism



I think the above animation for the structure of Objectivism is an improvement on last month's because it firmly re-establishes “the primacy of existence” — indeed, the primacy of metaphysics at each stage. 

  • Metaphysics is always the containing sphere.
  • Epistemology is here always shown as the darker, larger sphere.
  • Axiology (Ethics/Politics/Æsthetics) is here always shown as the brighter, smaller sphere.


It is just a bare-bones, 2-D animation. I haven't abandoned the reciprocal nature of each sphere's growth/shrinkage, nor the possibility of using loxodromic spirals on a 3-D model — I've kept the new arrangement as simple and as essential as possible for now. 


There are nine sets of conceptual trichotomies, passing through nine stages/levels.

For easy reference, here is a replicate of the tables (from February's blogpost): 



Metaphysics 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

1

Axioms





1

Existence  

exists.

2

Consciousness 

is the process of identifying that which exists.

3

Identity 

is what defines an existent

(the difference 

that makes a difference).

2

Correlates





4

Entities 

exist as identifiable similarities.

5

Action 

is how entities behave together as processes in accordance with their attributes. 

6

Causality

is the law of identity applied to the action of entities.

3

Inference





7

Volition Inserts Self 

as a result of the choice to focus/evade (autopoiesis).

8

Validity of the Senses

in that they are causal evidence of a difference making a difference.

9

Objective Reality

as absolute 

(primacy of existence).


Epistemology 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

4

Integrals





10

Sensation 

as undifferentiated awareness of objective reality.

11

Perception 

as groups of sensations becoming causally identified as entities in the present.

12

Conception

as the volitional categorisation of percepts into particular relationships.

5

Formation




13

Mind-Body Integration

harmonises consciousness with existence.

14

Differentiation 

& Integration

of percepts into concepts.

15

Man-Made from Metaphysical 

conveys that choice-contingent concepts are hewn from given percepts.

6

Integration





16

Cognitive Objectivity

when concepts are aligned with reality.

17

Logic 

as method of developing knowledge through non‐contradictory identification.

18

Rationality 

as man’s only true means 

of knowledge.


Axiology 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

7

Ethics





19

Reason 

as man’s means of survival.

20

One’s Own Life 

as the ultimate measure of value 

(reason, purpose, 

self-esteem).

21

Virtue of Selfishness

with man as an end in himself

(pursuing rational 

self-interest).

8

Politics





22

Happiness 

as the aspired condition 

of man 

(via rational self-interest). 

23

Individual Rights

(freedom from coercion) entails enforcement 

by governmental agency.

24

Capitalism 

as the only moral system

(in which happiness may be fully realised).

9

Æsthetics





25

Art

 as the concretisation

of metaphysical ideas.

26

Romanticism 

as the supreme conceptual school of art.

27

Æsthetics 

Are Objective

when evaluated within the appropriate, holistic context.





More meat on the bones perhaps next month

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1 March 2024

Culminating Arrangement For Axioms?

 

Visualising the structure of Objectivism

Last month's blog showed the tables of 27 integrated concepts of Objectivism transferred into a three-dimensional “Rubik's Cube” of aligned spheres. 
This month I want to show the end result, once those spheres have been scaled, re-aligned and variously nested into an arrangement, which conveys these ‘conceptual sphere’ in an appropriate hierarchy. 

Note the necessity of an overall bounding (epistemological) sphere — Objectivism. 
This allows a certain visual separation between the axioms of Existence exists and Consciousness is the process of identifying that which exists — however, it is crucial to see how the latter proceeds from the former, they are connected (indeed formed by) a tubular spiral (through which spheres undergo ‘a revolution’). This all-connecting spiral (of epistemology) is hewn from ‘the parent sphere’ once the spheres have been aptly nested into the hierarchy. 

The spheres themselves become hollow — ‘containers for concepts’, the tubular spiral (and overall bounding sphere) solid — solidifying relationships between concepts. 

Only the first three (metaphysical) spheres are shown here, however, a zoom-in (between Consciousness and Identity) would eventually reveal all 24 subsequent concepts, arranged in a similar fashion. 


More spiralling next month…

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1 February 2024

Tabulation of Trichotomies in Three Dimensions

 
Visualising the structure of Objectivism


Whatever the final 3-D animated interactive model will be, I think that there ought to be a stage which relates back directly to the tables. 
Interesting patterns can then be seen between rows and columns and between all three tiers — perhaps even diagonally. 



Metaphysics 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

1

Axioms





1

Existence  

exists.

2

Consciousness 

is the process of identifying that which exists.

3

Identity 

is what defines an existent

(the difference 

that makes a difference).

2

Correlates





4

Entities 

exist as identifiable similarities.

5

Action 

is how entities behave together as processes in accordance with their attributes. 

6

Causality

is the law of identity applied to the action of entities.

3

Inference





7

Volition Inserts Self 

as a result of the choice to focus/evade (autopoiesis).

8

Validity of the Senses

in that they are causal evidence of a difference making a difference.

9

Objective Reality

as absolute 

(primacy of existence).


Epistemology 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

4

Integrals





10

Sensation 

as undifferentiated awareness of objective reality.

11

Perception 

as groups of sensations becoming causally identified as entities in the present.

12

Conception

as the volitional categorisation of percepts into particular relationships.

5

Formation




13

Mind-Body Integration

harmonises consciousness with existence.

14

Differentiation 

& Integration

of percepts into concepts.

15

Man-Made from Metaphysical 

conveys that choice-contingent concepts are hewn from given percepts.

6

Integration





16

Cognitive Objectivity

when concepts are aligned with reality.

17

Logic 

as method of developing knowledge through non‐contradictory identification.

18

Rationality 

as man’s only true means 

of knowledge.


Axiology 
Metaphysical 
Angle
Epistemological 
Angle
Axiological
Angle

7

Ethics





19

Reason 

as man’s means of survival.

20

One’s Own Life 

as the ultimate measure of value 

(reason, purpose, 

self-esteem).

21

Virtue of Selfishness

with man as an end in himself

(pursuing rational 

self-interest).

8

Politics





22

Happiness 

as the aspired condition 

of man 

(via rational self-interest). 

23

Individual Rights

(freedom from coercion) entails enforcement 

by governmental agency.

24

Capitalism 

as the only moral system

(in which happiness may be fully realised).

9

Æsthetics





25

Art

 as the concretisation

of metaphysical ideas.

26

Romanticism 

as the supreme conceptual school of art.

27

Æsthetics 

Are Objective

when evaluated within the appropriate, holistic context.



Note that these colours have no particular significance other than as differentiation. The animation is only used to display the three-dimensionality of these 27 semi-transparent spheres.

Different scales for each sphere, nested-ness, radical shifts between viewpoints can all be developed later. I see the above model as the key starting point, a blatant bridge between the tables and a 3-D model. 



More developments next month…

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