Chapter 8

That is, when we are in the frame of a symbolic model and there is a problem without a solution, an image model can be activated automatically on its own (as we already know). Such image model is able to make a prediction but there is no proof or reason for it (because an image model generates image-truths!). There is just a feeling that such information is true. The symbolic model can use this information to solve its problems. In this case, we speak about intuition.

The intuition is similar to the extra-sensorial perceptions: we gain some information without any explanation about the source of it and there is no proof to support it. The difference is that an illegal model generates the extra-sensorial information, and a normal image model, which is activated in a normal symbolic frame, generates the intuition.

Note: everything which is associated to the consciousness is generated by the local-ZM. In the case of intuition, the ZM is a symbolic one. When an image model generates information, it is just transmitted to a symbolic local-ZM. Because the consciousness is generated by the local-ZM, that ZM is not able to find the source of the information, and the proof for it because it was not generated by the ZM or by any normal model.

15. Consciousness

The consciousness is associated to the facility of a brain to make and operate a model, which contains the being itself as an element.

Two types of consciousness exist: image consciousness and symbolic consciousness. The absolute majority of the population has only image consciousness. Also, on animal level, at least the mammals have some level of image consciousness.

Level-1 of consciousness: on this level, the being is able to predict the evolution of the external reality, based also on its activity in that external reality. This facility ensures the success of the defense or attack activities in interaction with the external reality.

Level-1 consciousness is generated by short-range models.

Level-2 of consciousness: this level occurs only in a group (some packs of mammals, any human group...). To be accepted by that group, any being must assimilate and operate a long-range model associated to that group. Such beings must communicate with one another to meet the above requirements. For humans only, long-range models generate the rules, the laws, the methods and the aims of the group.

Level-3 of conciousness: on this level, a human being is able to predict the evolution of the group, based on a model which contains the group as an element, while he is a member of that group. The appartenence to the group is a basic condition here.

There are few persons, which are able to reach this level. The effort of the brain to stay on level-3 is huge. The persons who are able to stay on level 3 are the elite of the group. There are few direct personal advantages from being on level-3, but without an elite, the group is a low quality group.

The advance of a society is given by the power given to the actual elite. It is important to note that there are some positions in a society, which must belong to the elite. Many times such positions are occupied by level-2 persons. This happens usually in a low quality group or society.

ETA 5: NULL model

Let's consider that an M-model transmits no information (e.g. our eyes are closed). A local-ZM takes the information from that M-model. Because the M- model transmits no information, the ZM must receive no information. What is really received is called NULL-model. For a normal brain, in the above condition, the local-ZM must receive a completely dark surface. What is really received is an indication about the overall status of the brain.

For instance, in the above conditions, we can receive a dark surface with some randomly moving points. That is, the local-ZM detects a bright point in a place, but at the second scan the point is not there anymore. This means that there is a noise, but no important hardware problems. A stable image is generated by a hardware problem of M or ZM models.

Application: In the first seconds after wake up, with closed eyes, look towards a moderately bright surface. Usually, one should perceive a dark surface full of grey points moving randomly. After a few seconds, the surface becomes a uniform dark-grey one. This is a typical situation for a brain in a normal status.

It is also possible, in the first moments, to see big bright points or shapes, moving randomly. They evolve to dark and small grey points, and then to a uniform grey surface. In such a situation, the brain is not in a good shape (maybe the person did not sleep enough...)

Anyways, if the final status of the NULL model is a uniform grey surface, the brain is OK.

This case has been illustrated for the eyes, but NULL models exist for all senses.

ETA 6: Time

Excepting when specified otherwise, the subject is the same for human and animal beings.

Based on MDT, time is not a parameter for the functions of the brain. This is a basic deficiency.

But there is a problem: as the brain predicts on and on the evolution of the external reality, how often is this activity done?

Of course, this problem is associated to the technological implementation of every type of brain, so it is outside the field covered by MDT. Even so, based on MDT, we can make some assumptions.

Because the brain is an optimized device as to its energy consumption, we assume that the predictions about the evolution of the external reality are done at a speed which depends on the changing speed of the external reality.

That is, the brain time flows with variable speed. This is also our feeling based on our own experience. For instance, when we are involved in a complex activity, time seems to flow too fast and when we have nothing to do, time seems to flow very slowly.

This is a big design drawback. Without time, the long-range models could be inefficient or unusable. So, the brain is forced to compensate, somehow, this drawback.

One method is to use story-type models. They are not able to keep the control of time, but they are able to record the order of occurence of some information. Even so, this method is not very efficient. A story-type model could fragment. Once it is fragmented, the correlation between the primary information is lost.

Note: when a story-type model is fragmented, there is the tendency to reconnect the fragments, based on logic. Many times this reconstruction is wrong, but the impression could be good.

The fragmentation of the story-type models can be seen when a person describes a complex situation. During this activity, one could change the order of some facts.

Another method, used by the brain to keep track of time, is to use some rhythm-models. Such models are specialized models, which try to guess when something will happen, based on what has already happened before.

For instance, if the brain receives a sequence of two sounds, a rhythm model tries to guess when a third sound will occur. The supposition is that such models try to find an algorithm, which will generate the sequence. Such algorithm must be changed on and on, in a fast dynamical way, to predict better and better when the next sound will occur.

Such rhythm-models can be used, e.g. to recognize the speech or to understand music.

The rhythm-models are not able either to solve the time problem, but they are able to solve some time-related problems associated to fast changing external reality in the field of sounds.

Let's analyze a bit this problem. First of all, the rhythm-models are very well developed for human beings, and they are of very low quality for animals. One assumption would be that, compared to animals, the human brain has a very high capacity to make and operate image models, and, due to this, the rhythm- models are so good.

But, there are some other facts: the European civilization invented the polyphonic music (the most advanced music). But the European civilization is developing based on symbolic models. It is fair to suppose that symbolic models support the rhythm image-models.

We can take into account another idea as well: as MDT considers that the capacity to make and operate symbolic models is generated by a specialized hardware (thus it cannot be produced by a normal evolution process), it is possible that the capacity to make and operate rhythm models was added in the same way. This supposition is supported by the fact that, while some animals are able to make and operate some image models above the level of human beings, their capacity to make rhythm models is unusually low.

The problem of the origin of the rhythm models is left open for the moment.

Another method to compensate for the time keeping deficiency is to record some pattern-models of the external reality. That is, to record some information based on many M-type models, to build a pattern-model at a specific moment of time, and to recognize the pattern later.

Such a pattern could be associated with the function of different organs of the being, or with some other information from outside the being.

The time problem is a big one for the brain. The brain will use any external reference to keep the time as the day/night cycle, the movement of the sun and moon and for humans only, clocks.

ETA 7: Music

Music is a long-range image model, which exists only for human beings. As a newborn baby grows, firstly, speech appears (a symbolic model) and only later, the qualities associated to understanding music. As music understanding capabilities appear after the brain aquires the ability to build and operate symbolic models, it is reasonable to suppose that the symbolic models support the development of music. This idea is supported also by the fact that European music (the most advanced in the construction of symbolic models) is superior compared to any other music from the point of view of its complexity (polyphonic music was invented in Europe).

Given a sequence of a few sounds, the brain will try to predict the occurence of the next sounds. Sometimes the prediction is correct sometimes not. If the prediction is good too often, the impression is described in words like: boring, monotonous or upsetting. When the prediction is not correct(there is a large discrepancy between the prediction and IR), the sounds are uncorellated. If we have an acceptable difference (the sounds are considered corellated after modifying slightly the algorithm of generation of the sequence), then we can associate this to music.

The corellation is associated with the capacity of generation of a sequence based on an algorithm.

This automatic activity of continuous modifying the generation algorithm can produce a positive state of mind, which can be called pleasure. This means that the predictions are correct constantly, with high probability, and that the ones, which are not correct, are accepted, after an acceptable change of the algorithm. This activity is called currently music.

The corellation can be supported implicitly, as it happens in classical music or can be supported explicitly (e. g. by rhythm of drums).

If we accept the hypothesis of the existence of a facility associated with image models (a hardware facility) to build an algorithm of generation of corellated information, then we could try to see if this facilty evolved in time or not.

Thus, in spite of the fact that the capacity of the brain to operate with image models diminishes relatively in time, the development of the capacity to operate with symbolic models generated new abilities of operation with image models. In consequence, music evolves based on two somewhat contrary tendencies. The capacity to build and operate image models decreases due to the increase of the capacity to operate symbolic model, and, on the other hand, the symbolic models support the image models in the domain of music.

The symbolic models, which were developed especially in Europe, determined the high level of complexity of the music. The European polyphonic music is one of the results of the "marriage" between image and symbolic models in music. Other civilisations, which did not have an extensive development based on symbolic models, have created in milleniums of evolution only a simple music.

Let's see in the following some elements of the evolution of music in Europe. The symbolic 'recipes' appeared in music composition in the time of J.S. Bach. The maximum complexity of the music was attained during the times of W.A. Mozart. In that period, the music had several simultaneous musical lines, which, according to possibilities, were followed by those who were able to do it. E.g. in the "Great Messa", KV 427 by Mozart, several musical planes exist, which have to be followed simultaneously. Even nowadays, just the recording of this work poses technical problems. This musical work is one of the peak complexity constructions in music.

Approximately after year 1800, due to the increased capacity to operate with symbolic models, the capacity to operate image models decreased. Music continued to be polyphonic, but became simpler, with a single melodic line (L. van Beethoven, contemporary with Mozart).

This simplified music was called romantic music, and was a form of fundamentalism. The majority of the population lost their capacity to operate very complex image models, and so, such a simplified music was generated.

This tendency continued with the increase of the limits of predictions acceptability, due the increase of the capability of construction and operation with symbolic models. E.g. the music composed by Igor Stravinsky. When his music appeared, it was rejected due to surpassing the limits of acceptability. But, in a short time, other musicians and people accepted his music, as a consequence of the increase of the acceptability limits.

It is reminded that the increase of the acceptability limits is due to the increase of the capacity to build generation algorithms. An assumption is that these algorithms are supported by symbolic models.

Nowadays, music is so "advanced" that it contains just a rudimentary rhythm, and an endless text (hip-hop or rap music e.g.).

The children of our times have a reduced capacity to understand music. Around the year 1800, some 4 years old children were able to play the piano or violin, or even to compose music. In our days, this is not met anymore. But, some children are able to build and operate computer-based symbolic models.

As it is shown also, in some other parts of the book, there is a new form of fundamentalism nowadays: the rejection of the symbolic models by a fraction of the population. That is, some people return to harmony (there are many who prefer Mozart e.g.). The present music is balancing between symbolic-type music (hip-hop or rap e.g.) and harmonic music. This tendency will continue for a long time, because it is hard to believe that music will disappear (the brain is based on image models forever), but returning to the year 1800 type harmony is not possible anymore.

Music is defined as a special story-type model associated with sounds. This story-type model has elements generated by an algorithm generator.

The generating algorithm is able to build in a dynamically way the elements which will be recorded by this special type story-type model. Based on the algorithm, the model is able to predict the future sounds based on the sounds already received.

Sometimes the algorithm generator is able to make a correct prediction of the sound which comes (a hit), sometimes not (a miss). If the prediction fails, then the generator will modify the algorithm and continue to predict what follows. When the number of misses is low, this could produce pleasure to the brain. When the number of misses is zero, there is no pleasure (e.g. a boring music). When the number of hits is zero, there is no music (no correlation between the sounds).

As this special story-type model is an image-model, its power is decreasing as the brain is evolving to symbolic models. On the other hand, it seems that the symbolic models support the algorithm generator. That is, there are two tendencies that act in contrary directions. One tendency is to make a simplified music, based mainly on symbolic models (texts) in the frame of a rudimentary rhythm (e.g. drums), as hip-hop and rap music and on the other hand, to make music based on complex algorithms (to enlarge the limits of acceptability). The present music is evolving between these two large limits.

The main tendencies of the present music are:

- The evolution based on symbolic models. This tendency increases the limits of acceptability of what are and what are not correlated sounds.

- The rejection of the symbolic models by a fraction of the population, i.e. people want harmonic music.

- The return to harmony is possible only partially because many abilities associated with the main story-type model are lost, due to the general tendency of conceptualization of the image models. That is, the algorithm generator is better and better, but it acts on recorded data, which are a simplified copy of the external reality.

Let's see what is the situation with other arts. Almost all classical arts are in decline. Painting and sculpture are based on pure image models. The general tendency is to make concept models, and so people are not able anymore to perceive fine details. This tendency is very easily seen in contemporary arts. The tendency in visual arts is to make works based on symbolic models, and to increase the complexity. Some arts as poetry, painting and sculpture are on the way to disappearance as stand-alone arts. Theatre, because it is based on symbolic models, is surviving, as it tries to keep the contact with the tendencies of the society. Music is still in a good shape, as we already saw. The main ascending art is cinematography.

ETA 8: Cinematography

Let's make a symbolic model to understand the subject as follows:

- The importance of the symbolic models (thinking e.g.) increases

- A big fraction of the population has difficulties to evolve based on symbolic models (fundamentalism)

- Fundamentalism means to return to image models

- This return is possible only partially.

Because returning to image models affects an important fraction of the population, why is it not seen in painting and sculpture? The explanation is that the brain has lost a lot of its capacity to make and operate pure image models. The brain returns to image models, but it stops at the level of concept models.

Cinematography is one of the responses suitable to this situation. Thus, there are cartoons, based on concept image models. They are strongly attached to symbolic models. There are cartoons, in which symbolic models are more important than the concept image models.

Today's successful movies are image models, which try to develop and extend some of the incipient image models preexisting in the mind of the viewer.

We remind here that people have the tendency to expand their structure of models outside their mind. When the models can't be expanded to the external reality, there is the tendency to expand these models into a virtual reality. This is speculated by cinematography, depending on the profile of image models in different cultural zones.

From this point of view, movies can be very dangerous. They make these developments based on what people would like to happen and on the other hand, they favorize the fundamental tendencies of various social groups.

However, as they are attached to symbolic models, some movies are used to develop symbolic models and fight fundamentalist tendencies and as such, have a positive impact on society.

A huge danger associated to art movies is blocking the capacity of people to think independently (tendency towards induced schizophrenia XS1B). Each script is a long-range symbolic model; thus, the movie as a whole is logical. This long-range symbolic model is translated or associated to a long-range image model. If the translation is correct, the image model will be harmonic as well. Thus, an art movie is a logical and harmonical long-range image model. The fundamental problem is that it is not enough for a model to be logical and harmonical in order for it to have a good connection with the external reality.

There are movies that try to reconstruct an external reality that no longer exists, an 'external reality' which will never exist, or anything else in between these very broad limits. The only condition is that the model is harmonic and logical. We cannot see the degree of connection with external reality from within the model. This is where the danger originates. Independent thinking will be blocked by the large quantity of information structured harmonically and logically.

Many art films contribute largely to the aggravation of the level of induced schizophrenia (XS1B). At the same time, there are many movies which contribute to the construction of long-range models that stabilize society.

ETA 9: The fundamentalisms of the world we live in

The main fundamentalism is the return to image models, and thus, the refusal of symbolic models. Symbolic models are based on extremely complex functions, which are not easily maintained operational. For a 'regular' brain, the energy consumption is higher for symbolic models than for image models. However, there is a fraction of the population of developed countries working more easily with symbolic models than with image models.

Example: There was a time in the evolution of the brain, when extremely complex image models were built and translated to a symbolic form. It was the time of the great novels (Balzac, Dostoievski etc.). Reading such works was a sign of cultural superiority. These books are not read nowadays. The main reason is the evolution towards symbolic models. The effort of the brain to understand and integrate the use of remote controls, cellphones or text editors is perfectly comparable as intellectual effort with the understanding of the great works of universal literature.

There are too many who have difficulties to operate symbolic models. There is a fraction of the population who refuses symbolic models; this fraction seems to be increasing.

Example: Microprocessors (the central part of a computer) have been invented in USA. At that time there was a tendency all over the world to produce or reproduce such microprocessors. The first microprocessor was called 8080. It was upgraded to 80286. These microprocessors were reproduced in Europe, former USSR and Japan. 80386 followed, which was reproduced with great difficulties, but starting with 80486 the tendency to reproduce such devices was extremely low. Presently there are two families of microprocessors, both designed and produced in USA. This is interpreted by MDT as a danger of a break between the most advanced in the domain of symbolic models, and the slighly less advanced ones (make your own comparison with the automobile industry). Even the advanced cultural zones (Europe, Russia, Japan) make big efforts to keep the contact with the most advanced (USA), but the danger of a break exists here as well.

The fundamentalist reactions of the individuals, nations or even cultural zones are a great danger for human civilisation. If the fraction of fundamentalists will increase too much, then, at the limit, two things might happen:

1. The world will fragment into nations/ cultural regions which can maintain the rhythm of assimilation and development of symbolic models, and nations/cultural regions which will return to image models (fundamentalist reaction)

2. The same type of break will appear inside a nation/ cultural region.

The evolution shown at no.1, pushed to extreme, could generate terrorism, and the one at 2 already generates 'escape' movements towards religions, antiglobalisation, ecology etc.

ETA 10: Terrorism