(Gavin Ritz 2011.010.22.16.28)
[From Bill Powers
(2011.10.21.1405)]
Something that might be
of interest to people on this list: http://gizmodo.com/5852142/our-divided-brains-might-be-making-us-unhappy-a-plea-for-a-more-right+brained-world
I have always thought that this excessive modularity (left vs. right brain) was
something that sort of did not really agree with PCT.
Tom Bourbon, years ago, was part of a research team using MRI (or
something) to monitor brain activity. He informed me that the left-right brain
dichotomy was based on about a 5% difference in activity between the two sides.
The left brain right brain is almost an
urban myth.
Bill what do you think of this urban myth.
The Meaning Information theory. Have you heard of this one before.
There seems to be a group of listers that have a Theory of
Meaningful Information (It’s not Shannon’s
mathematical Information theory), it’s all about meaning and electrical
communication (I guess in this case neurological).
The common links seem to be Dawkins, Dennett, Searle and a few
others.
Does anyone know what their propositions are, with their logical
arguments, evidence. tests, corroboration, modeling, conceptual mathematics,
proofs, for this Meaning Theory of Information. It also seems to include memes.
I am unable to find any clear propositions with their proofs, it
all seems like smoke and mirrors too me. At one point it becomes sort of Shannon’s mathematical theory then it spoofs into something like
Philosophy meaning arguments (Like Ogden Richards), then it spoofs into living
matter and DNA, then reappears as cultural units, then
energy/matter representations.
Is The Meaning Information Theory a shape shifter. Is it the one
size fits all, theory.
What exactly is this Theory, where did it come from, what is it.
Regards
Gavin
Best,
Bill P.