The issue has arisen of whether all facets of life, including the mind and emotions, can be described logically in terms of standard scientific terms. This would be both reductionistic and materialistic.
The benefit of this discussion is for artificial intelligence (AI). If an architecture can be defined which could simulate human characteristics including emotions and "consciousness," this would facilitate our progress toward working robots in the future.
This thread is not intended to support or refute the existence of reality, Descartes dualism, the existence of God, or any other spiritual question.
The ideas postulated will be thermo-psychonomic theories - theories which predominantly incorporate thermodynamics, psychology, and economics.
This approach was first attempted by Elizabeth Duffy in the first half of the 20th century. Being a woman, she was ostracized by the male dominated field of psychology. As a result, she faded from most references. (This was unfortunate and very costly.)
Unknowingly, two researchers traveled separately down Duffy's logic and came to similar conclusions. The resultant theories were Behavioral Investment Theory (BIT) by Dr. Gregg Henriques, and Emotive Energy by me - J.A.Keeran. Only by accident did we become aware of each other and find our work fundamentally the same.
My material is available at http://www.theoryofmind.org. I can get copies of Dr. Henrique's work for anyone who requests it. I will be presenting my flavor because I, naturally, understand my version best.
In general, the basic theorectical concept is that natural selection demands efficiency from all life forms. Energy is the currency of life, and energy resources must be managed wisely. (Time and money reduce to an energy basis.) You can see efficiency in the sleekness of birds and fish. You see it with every corporation and government trying to maintain a budget. You can see it the next time you go into a car dealer and tell the saleperson you wish to pay 5 times the asking price for a brand new Lamborghini. You can see it the next time you need 35 hours in a day. Resources are limited, and each of us must choose how and where to use them.
For anyone wishing to participate, I encourage you to read the "conclusion" of my website for a quick overview and synopsis of where we are headed:
http://www.theoryofmind.org/unified/emotive/conclusion.html
The benefit of this discussion is for artificial intelligence (AI). If an architecture can be defined which could simulate human characteristics including emotions and "consciousness," this would facilitate our progress toward working robots in the future.
This thread is not intended to support or refute the existence of reality, Descartes dualism, the existence of God, or any other spiritual question.
The ideas postulated will be thermo-psychonomic theories - theories which predominantly incorporate thermodynamics, psychology, and economics.
This approach was first attempted by Elizabeth Duffy in the first half of the 20th century. Being a woman, she was ostracized by the male dominated field of psychology. As a result, she faded from most references. (This was unfortunate and very costly.)
Unknowingly, two researchers traveled separately down Duffy's logic and came to similar conclusions. The resultant theories were Behavioral Investment Theory (BIT) by Dr. Gregg Henriques, and Emotive Energy by me - J.A.Keeran. Only by accident did we become aware of each other and find our work fundamentally the same.
My material is available at http://www.theoryofmind.org. I can get copies of Dr. Henrique's work for anyone who requests it. I will be presenting my flavor because I, naturally, understand my version best.
In general, the basic theorectical concept is that natural selection demands efficiency from all life forms. Energy is the currency of life, and energy resources must be managed wisely. (Time and money reduce to an energy basis.) You can see efficiency in the sleekness of birds and fish. You see it with every corporation and government trying to maintain a budget. You can see it the next time you go into a car dealer and tell the saleperson you wish to pay 5 times the asking price for a brand new Lamborghini. You can see it the next time you need 35 hours in a day. Resources are limited, and each of us must choose how and where to use them.
For anyone wishing to participate, I encourage you to read the "conclusion" of my website for a quick overview and synopsis of where we are headed:
http://www.theoryofmind.org/unified/emotive/conclusion.html