[From Bruce Gregory (960430.1215 EDT)]
(Bill Powers 960426.1000 MST)
Here's the hard thing to grasp. Consciousness (or perhaps we should say
awareness, since consciousness always has content that we can identify
with various operations in the hierarchy) -- awareness is apparently
able to monitor processes in the hierarchy, and (in the form of
volition) institute arbitrary changes in the hierarchy.
(Rick Marken 960429.2010)
Yes, I agree! It also suggests a possible relationship between
consciousness and control that I had never thought of before. Bill's
comment suggests that consciousness is always pointed "downward"
in the control hierarchy and that it "looks" at control from just
above the level of the comparator in the control loop. From there,
consciousness can "look down" and become aware of the perception
under control by the control system and it can volitionally change
the reference for that perception.
(Peter Cariani 960426)
I don't believe that a (homunculus-like) receiver receives signals
and that this is why we experience things. It's more like the receiver
itself is the regenerating pattern of signals, and some sets of signals
are reproducing themselves at any given moment.
Let me begin by apologizing for misreading anyone (or everyone). It
seems to me, however, that these remarks can be seen as
characterizing two "schools" of thought, which I will call "Soft PCT"
and "Hard PCT". Bill and Rick are of the "Soft" school. PCT describes
are hierarchical control system, but an autonomous "force"
(consciousness) can intervene and redirect elements of the system.
Peter belongs to the "Hard" school which maintains that it is "PCT
all the way down" (more accurately "PCT all the way up"). In the Hard
school, there is no need to invoke a consciousness or awareness out
side the hierarchical system -- consciousness and awareness are part
and parcel of the hierarchical system. Members of the Hard school
maintain that members of the Soft school are simply ignoring the
problems of accommodating consciousness and awareness within a system
of HPCT. Members of the Hard school think the members of the Soft
school are aptly named....
Bruce G.