Theory of Mind?

[From Rick Marken
(2011.11.23.1300)]

Gavin Ritz
(2011.11.23.9.04NZT)

I
suspected that you had another agenda

GR This
is part of what you control for, why mention it. Your level of trust is very
low. This is a big hurdle for open honest communication.

and
would dismiss their analyses as being irrelevant and, sure enough, that’s what
you did.

GR: Not
at all, I trying to learn something but you think I have an agenda, there’s
not going to be much common ground here.

I
just want Erling and Bill to know that they did not waste their time
because their thoughtful answers were useful to me and, I’m sure, to many
others on the net who are watching these conversations with their jaws on the
floor.

GR: Wow,
are you trying to humiliate and isolate me to the dumb camp. What do you think
this could mean.

Rick
long time ago I
really had not much trust in your communication and nothing has really changed.
What you control for is your business it just gets in the way of open
communication.

I have
no further need to communicate with you, each time we land here.

GR

···

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.23.1520)]

RM: I
suspected that you had another agenda

GR This
is part of what you control for, why mention it. Your level of trust is very
low.

I beg your pardon. I have a very high level of trust in you. I trust you to be you and you never disappoint.

RM: and
would dismiss their analyses as being irrelevant and, sure enough, that’s what
you did.

GR: Not
at all, I trying to learn something but you think I have an agenda, there’s
not going to be much common ground here.

I think there is overwhelming evidence that there is no common ground between you and me. And it’s not because you have an agenda; it’s that your agenda is just different than mine. My agenda is learning, teaching and testing PCT. I don’t know what yours is but it’s sure not the same as mine.

RM: I
just want Erling and Bill to know that they did not waste their time
because their thoughtful answers were useful to me and, I’m sure, to many
others on the net who are watching these conversations with their jaws on the
floor.

GR: Wow,
are you trying to humiliate and isolate me to the dumb camp. What do you think
this could mean.

It’s not a matter of smart or dumb. I’m sure you’re very smart. But you completely dismissed Erling and Bill’s replies regarding the disturbances and controlled variables involved in your proposed scenario in what seemed to me to be a rather abrupt manner. There seemed to be no interest on your part in trying to understand what they were explaining to you. It seemed rather rude to me so I just thought I would let them know that I found their replies, which they must have taken some time and effort to compose for you, quite useful and, therefore, worth the effort.

I have
no further need to communicate with you, each time we land here.

But you will continue to communicate with me because what I say is a disturbance to whatever it is you are controlling for. And I see that you have already sent another reply to me so you see you just can’t help protecting your controlled variables from disturbance (me;-). And the same applies to me to, by the way; what you say is a disturbance to what I’m controlling for so it’s difficult for me to not reply to you. Such is the way of conflict!

RSM

···

On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 1:45 PM, Gavin Ritz garritz@xtra.co.nz wrote:


Richard S. Marken PhD

rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

[From
Rick Marken (2011.11.23.1520)]

But you completely
dismissed Erling and Bill’s replies regarding the disturbances
and controlled variables involved in your proposed scenario in what seemed to
me to be a rather abrupt manner.

This is not at all true in any manner, I
have no intention, need or desire to be rude. I did not dismiss their comments
at all ( I actually paraphrased Erling’s comments for clarification) , I
want to understand something from a particular point that’s all.

There seemed to be no
interest on your part in trying to understand what they were explaining to you.
It seemed rather rude to me

It’s interesting that you think I’m
being rude, when it could not be further from the truth.

And if it did come across as rude, I absolutely
and categorically apologize. That was never the intention. I don’t much
take to rude people.

This really not a good forum to discuss
issues. Why don’t you create a Group page on Facebook.

so I just thought I would
let them know that I found their replies, which they must have taken some time
and effort to compose for you, quite useful and, therefore, worth the effort.

I have no further need to communicate with you, each time we land
here.

But you will continue to
communicate with me because what I say is a disturbance to whatever it is you
are controlling for. And I see that you have already sent another reply to me
so you see you just can’t help protecting your controlled variables from
disturbance (me;-). And the same applies to me to, by the way; what you
say is a disturbance to what I’m controlling for so it’s difficult for me to
not reply to you. Such is the way of conflict!

Yip you’re right.

GR

···

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.24.0940)]

···

On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 5:10 PM, Gavin Ritz garritz@xtra.co.nz wrote:

RM: But you completely
dismissed Erling and Bill’s replies regarding the disturbances
and controlled variables involved in your proposed scenario in what seemed to
me to be a rather abrupt manner.

GR: This is not at all true in any manner, I
have no intention, need or desire to be rude. I did not dismiss their comments
at all ( I actually paraphrased Erling’s comments for clarification) , I
want to understand something from a particular point that’s all.

OK, I believe you did not intend to be rude. I think you behavior seemed rude because, as you say, you are trying to understand PCT from a particular point of view. That’s what I mean by “agenda”. It a point of view from which one tries to understand control theory (because on first encounter control theory seems to be consistent with that point of view). Many (most) people come to PCT with an existing point of view and when they try to understand PCT from that point of view it always gets in the way of their own understanding of PCT. And it also results in unnecessary conflicts.

If you (or anyone) really want to understand PCT and contribute to its development you have to try to do something that is extremely difficult to do: stop trying to understand PCT in terms of any of your existing points of view and start basically from scratch. Of course, I can’t (and won’t try to) make you do that – just more conflict. But I will try to imitate Jesus…er… Bill Powers and be more civil in my replies to you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

RSM


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

(Gavin Ritz 2011.11.25.9.45NZT)

[From
Rick Marken (2011.11.24.0940)]

RM: But you completely
dismissed Erling and Bill’s replies regarding the disturbances and
controlled variables involved in your proposed scenario in what seemed to me to
be a rather abrupt manner.

GR: This
is not at all true in any manner, I have no intention, need or desire to be
rude. I did not dismiss their comments at all ( I actually paraphrased
Erling’s comments for clarification) , I want to understand something
from a particular point that’s all.

OK, I believe you did not intend to be rude. I think you behavior seemed rude
because, as you say, you are trying to understand PCT from a particular point
of view
. That’s what I mean by “agenda”. It a point of view
from which one tries to understand control theory (because on first encounter
control theory seems to be consistent with that point of view). Many (most)
people come to PCT with an existing point of view and when they try to
understand PCT from that point of view it always gets in the way of their own
understanding of PCT. And it also results in unnecessary conflicts.

Rick
this is really the most strangest comment I have ever heard, how can I wipe all
existing points of view, you don’t even know what my points of view are.
I’m not a psychologist I have trained in the dark arts of engineering at
one the top engineering schools of the world, my ideas are grounded in solid
science. I have been then for decades in the people game (human resources) where
I have profiled thousands of people using very solid theoretical based science
to do this. I have evidence and theory and corroboration of some of these theories
I used. I will never throw them out because PCT says I should. No theory is
ever just thrown out they get bootstrapped and proved and reproved form different
points of view. Newton’s theory of gravity is not obsolete; Relativity just explains
gravity on a large order of size.

If you (or anyone) really want to understand PCT and contribute to its
development you have to try to do something that is extremely difficult
to do: stop trying to understand PCT in terms of any of your
existing points of view and start basically from scratch.

This comment
from someone who is so attached and understands PCT so deeply is troubling.
This is not how science works in any way at all, in fact the exact opposite.

This
sounds like the CLEAR in Scientology.

Your
field of study psychology with which you have replaced with PCT, is voodoo, you
can have a mothballing with voodoo, my field of engineering goes back hundreds of
years with mathematicians like Bernoulli, Young (from Young’s modulus), Newton,
Euler being the founding fathers, or scientists like Einstein, Bohr, Feynman, Heisenberg
etc you’re asking me to mothball these guys ideas, you’ve got to be
joking.

Of
course, I can’t (and won’t try to) make you do that – just more conflict. But
I will try to imitate Jesus…er…

Do you
think this is a religious order? I think I’m beginning to understand with
what I’m dealing with.

Bill
Powers and be more civil in my replies to you.

That
would be appreciated but it’s not mandatory I don’t care that much
if you are civil or not, it just shows me that maybe you are not so certain of
your arguments.

GR

···

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.24.1400)]

Gavin Ritz (2011.11.25.9.45NZT)

RM: OK, I believe you did not intend to be rude. I think you behavior seemed rude
because, as you say, you are trying to understand PCT from a particular point
of view
. That’s what I mean by “agenda”. It a point of view
from which one tries to understand control theory (because on first encounter
control theory seems to be consistent with that point of view). Many (most)
people come to PCT with an existing point of view and when they try to
understand PCT from that point of view it always gets in the way of their own
understanding of PCT. And it also results in unnecessary conflicts.

GR: Rick
this is really the most strangest comment I have ever heard, how can I wipe all
existing points of view, you don’t even know what my points of view are.

Sorry, I just mean your point of view about how behavior works; the point of view that seems to be affecting your ability to understand PCT.

GR: I’m not a psychologist I have trained in the dark arts of engineering at
one the top engineering schools of the world, my ideas are grounded in solid
science. I have been then for decades in the people game (human resources) where
I have profiled thousands of people using very solid theoretical based science
to do this.

If you “profiled people” using “solid theoretical based science” then this science must have been a science of people. It is this “science” that I consider a point of view that would interfere with your understanding of PCT. Perhaps you could explain the science you are talking about and I can try to explain why it is inconsistent (or not) with the science of PCT.

GR: I have evidence and theory and corroboration of some of these theories
I used. I will never throw them out because PCT says I should.

Perhaps you could describe the theories and evidence that supports them and then I’ll have a better idea of why you would never throw them out. Would you really never throw them out, by the way? Is there no observation that would lead you to throw out your theory. There are certainly observations that would lead me to throw out PCT.

GR: No theory is
ever just thrown out they get bootstrapped and proved and reproved form different
points of view.

Not quite true. PCT shows that we do have to throw out the causal theory of behavior, for example.

RM: If you (or anyone) really want to understand PCT and contribute to its
development you have to try to do something that is extremely difficult
to do: stop trying to understand PCT in terms of any of your
existing points of view and start basically from scratch.

GR": This comment
from someone who is so attached and understands PCT so deeply is troubling.
This is not how science works in any way at all, in fact the exact opposite.

Why not? I didn’t say you have to accept PCT. I said that you can’t understand it until you set aside your attachment to other points of view. Once you understand PCT you can develop ways to test it to see if it should be rejected (or changed).

RM: Your
field of study psychology with which you have replaced with PCT, is voodoo

But isn’t your field of study psychology as well? Or is human profiling a new sub-discipline of physics?

RSM

···


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

(Gavin Ritz 2011.11.25.11.14NZT)

[From
Rick Marken (2011.11.24.1400)]

Gavin Ritz
(2011.11.25.9.45NZT)

RM: OK, I believe
you did not intend to be rude. I think you behavior seemed rude because, as you
say, you are trying to understand PCT from a particular point of view.
That’s what I mean by “agenda”. It a point of view from which one
tries to understand control theory (because on first encounter control theory
seems to be consistent with that point of view). Many (most) people come
to PCT with an existing point of view and when they try to understand PCT from
that point of view it always gets in the way of their own understanding of PCT.
And it also results in unnecessary conflicts.

GR: Rick this is really the most strangest comment I have ever
heard, how can I wipe all existing points of view, you don’t even know
what my points of view are.

Sorry, I just mean your
point of view about how behavior works; the point of view that seems to be
affecting your ability to understand PCT.

Wow that’s pretty precise.

GR: I’m not a psychologist I have trained in the dark arts of
engineering at one the top engineering schools of the world, my ideas are
grounded in solid science. I have been then for decades in the people game
(human resources) where I have profiled thousands of people using very solid
theoretical based science to do this.

If you “profiled
people” using “solid theoretical based science” then this
science must have been a science of people. It is this “science” that
I consider a point of view that would interfere with your understanding of PCT.
Perhaps you could explain the science you are talking about and I can try to
explain why it is inconsistent (or not) with the science of PCT.

Try Requisite Organization (Elliot Jaques).

GR: I have evidence and theory and corroboration of some of these
theories I used. I will never throw them out because PCT says I should.

Perhaps
you could describe the theories and evidence that supports them and then I’ll
have a better idea of why you would never throw them out.

I’m
not here to prove other peoples theories to you, why should I bother.

Would
you really never throw them out, by the way? Is there no observation that would
lead you to throw out your theory. There are certainly observations that would
lead me to throw out PCT.

GR: No theory is ever just thrown out they get bootstrapped and
proved and reproved form different points of view.

Not
quite true. PCT shows that we do have to throw out the causal theory of
behavior, for example.

It’s
not a theory it’s voodoo.

RM: If you (or
anyone) really want to understand PCT and contribute to its development
you have to try to do something that is extremely difficult to do:
stop trying to understand PCT in terms of any of your existing points of view
and start basically from scratch.

GR": This comment from someone who is so attached and
understands PCT so deeply is troubling. This is not how science works in any
way at all, in fact the exact opposite.

Why not? I didn’t say you
have to accept PCT. I said that you can’t understand it until you set aside
your attachment to other points of view. Once you understand PCT you can
develop ways to test it to see if it should be rejected (or changed).

Now this is what I can agree on.

RM: Your field of study psychology with which you have replaced
with PCT, is voodoo

But isn’t your field of
study psychology as well?

What who said that? You see you already have
a position that is just not correct at all.

Or is human profiling a
new sub-discipline of physics?

Try Requisite Organization. (Elliot Jaques). Logic and mathematics
and language.

Cheers got to go have work, have a fun
turkey killing.

GR

(Gavin Ritz 2011.11.25.18.01NZT)

[From
Rick Marken (2011.11.24.1400)]

Gavin Ritz (2011.11.25.9.45NZT)

RM: Your field of study psychology with which you have replaced
with PCT, is voodoo

But isn’t your field of
study psychology as well? Or is human profiling a new sub-discipline of physics?

This requires clarification. But not too
much. My interests are in Prigogine’s Dissipative Structures and concepts of Creativity and learning.
And now PCT but I guess you don’t think so, too bad.

My first introduction to human behavior
had nothing to do with psychology. It was Hans Hass Energon theory, and his
book The Human Animal, the mystery of mans Behavior (evolutionary behavior),
and Wendell Johnson’s Linguistics, People In Quandaries and its relationship
with Alfred Korzybski’s ideas and Wolfgang Mewes Energy Bottleneck Strategy,.
(Engpass Konzientriten Strategie)

I only read psychology much later and
concluded that it’s voodoo and never had any interest in it. Made no sense
to me.

Am I interested in things about the mind (if
it exists which I doubt) and the human condition you bet I am.

Do I respect some psychologists, you bet I
do.

Can one do human profiling without psychology,
ofcourse one can.

GR

···

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.25.1710)]

Gavin Ritz (2011.11.25.11.14NZT)

GR: No theory is ever just thrown out they get bootstrapped and
proved and reproved form different points of view.

RM: Not
quite true. PCT shows that we do have to throw out the causal theory of
behavior, for example.

It’s
not a theory it’s voodoo.

One of the many things I like about PCT is that it provides nice, testable explanations of its claims. Several clear, quantitative demonstrations of why the causal theory (which is indeed a theory and the basis of research in the behavioral and physical sciences) has to be "thrown out " as a model of purposeful (but not non-purposeful) behavior are presented in Powers, W. T. (1978) Quantitative analysis of purposive systems: Some spadework at the foundations of scientific psychology. Psychological Review, 85, 417-435. The basic problem is what we call the “behavioral illusion”, where the appearance of outputs (the dependent variable in causal research) being caused by inputs (the independent or stimulus variable) is actually outputs protecting a controlled variable from disturbance (the independent variable). I also have a demonstration of this behavioral illusion up on the net (http://www.mindreadings.com/ControlDemo/Illusion.html). The behavioral illusion shows not only why the causal model is wrong as a model of control (closed-loop purposeful behavior) but also why behavioral scientists were (and still are) seduced into thinking it’s right.

I find this approach to science so much more interesting than name calling or, for that matter, name dropping.

RSM

···


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com

www.mindreadings.com

[From
Rick Marken (2011.11.25.1710)]

Gavin Ritz (2011.11.25.11.14NZT)

GR: No theory is ever just thrown out they get bootstrapped and
proved and reproved form different points of view.

RM: Not quite
true. PCT shows that we do have to throw out the causal theory of behavior, for
example.

It’s not a theory it’s voodoo.

One of the many things I
like about PCT is that it provides nice, testable explanations of its claims.
Several clear, quantitative demonstrations of why the causal theory (which is
indeed a theory and the basis of research in the behavioral and physical
sciences) has to be "thrown out " as a model of purposeful (but
not non-purposeful) behavior are presented in Powers, W. T. (1978) Quantitative
analysis of purposive systems: Some spadework at the foundations of scientific
psychology. Psychological Review,
85, 417-435. The basic problem is what we call the “behavioral
illusion”, where the appearance of outputs (the dependent variable in
causal research) being caused by inputs (the independent or stimulus variable)
is actually outputs protecting a controlled variable from disturbance (the
independent variable). I also have a demonstration of this behavioral illusion
up on the net (http://www.mindreadings.com/ControlDemo/Illusion.html).
The behavioral illusion shows not only why the causal model is wrong as a model
of control (closed-loop purposeful behavior) but also why behavioral scientists
were (and still are) seduced into thinking it’s right.

I agree with you.

So what’s the problem again?

Or was it just you trying to show me something.

I never said anything about this, you are
the only one saying I don’t understand this but it seems pretty clear to
me from all the books and modeling, that PCT has proved some its propositions.

You’re convinced that I don’t understand
this and need to be cleansed of all other thoughts and ideas.

GR

···

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.26.0945)]

RM: Not quite
true. PCT shows that we do have to throw out the causal theory of behavior, for
example.

GR: It’s not a theory it’s voodoo.

RM: One of the many things I
like about PCT is that it provides nice, testable explanations of its claims…

GR: I agree with you.

So what’s the problem again?

RM: No problem. You said that the causal model wasn’t a theory so I just wanted to point out that it was; you also said that it was just voodoo and I wanted to point out that it’s not voodoo; it’s simply an incorrect model of behavior and the reasons why it’s wrong are explained rather nicely in Bill’s 1978 Psych Review paper.

GR: Or was it just you trying to show me something.

Yes, I was taking the opportunity provided by your comment to point you and anyone else in the group who might be interested to something interesting about the science of control.

RSM

···


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.27.1220)]

I’m still obsessed with this “Theory of Mind” stuff. It’s just fascinating to see how neurophysiology has completely replaced modeling as an approach to explanation in psychology. I’ll write more about this when I have a chance but right now I just wanted to mention that I think I improved my little “Detection of Purpose” demo.

http://www.mindreadings.com/ControlDemo/FindMind.html

Instead of disturbing all the possible “following” squares you can now do “The Test” by just disturbing the path of the “leading” red square. This is more like the way “The Test” is done in those old film noirs where the hero tests to see if he’s being tailed by randomly turning here and there and checking in the rear view mirror to see if the “tailing” car is still there.

I hope this change also makes it work a bit more smoothly and also makes it easier to see which is the “tailing” square when the mouse is used to disturb the red “leader” . I would appreciate any comments about the implications of the demo and/or suggestions on how to improve it.

Thanks

Best

Rick

···


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

[From David Goldstein(2011.11.27.1617)]

Hi Rick,

Better.

David

···

From: Richard Marken

Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 3:23 PM

To: CSGNET@LISTSERV.ILLINOIS.EDU

Subject: Re: Theory of Mind?

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.27.1220)]

I’m still obsessed with this “Theory of Mind” stuff. It’s just fascinating to see how neurophysiology has completely replaced modeling as an approach to explanation in psychology. I’ll write more about this when I have a chance but right now I just wanted to mention that I think I improved my little “Detection of Purpose” demo.

http://www.mindreadings.com/ControlDemo/FindMind.html

Instead of disturbing all the possible “following” squares you can now do “The Test” by just disturbing the path of the “leading” red square. This is more like the way “The Test” is done in those old film noirs where the hero tests to see if he’s being tailed by randomly turning here and there and checking in the rear view mirror to see if the “tailing” car is still there.

I hope this change also makes it work a bit more smoothly and also makes it easier to see which is the “tailing” square when the mouse is used to disturb the red “leader” . I would appreciate any comments about the implications of the demo and/or suggestions on how to improve it.

Thanks

Best

Rick


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com

Just saw that my reply went only to Gary. Here it is for the net.

Best

···

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Marken rsmarken@gmail.com

Date: Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: Theory of Mind?
To: Gary Cziko gcziko@gmail.com

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.27.1320)]

Thanks Gary (and David) –

Great suggestions Gary (of course!). I slowed it down already. Making them different shapes will take a bit more effort; I’ll try to get to that early next week.

Thanks again, guys.

Best

Rick

On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 12:47 PM, Gary Cziko gcziko@gmail.com wrote:

Rick,

Yes, this like this better.

The other two squares have no purpose; they move as they do because their position is determined by an internal program that traces out the same pattern as the little red square.

Was that included in the first revision? If it was I didn’t see it and was why I was confused by why the non-followers start following again.

If you want to make some more tweeks, you might consider slowing it down a bit. Also, instead of three squares of difference sizes, how about a circle, square and triangle? Easier to remember for me than three different sizes of squares.

  • Gary

On Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 14:23, Richard Marken rsmarken@gmail.com wrote:

[From Rick Marken (2011.11.27.1220)]

I’m still obsessed with this “Theory of Mind” stuff. It’s just fascinating to see how neurophysiology has completely replaced modeling as an approach to explanation in psychology. I’ll write more about this when I have a chance but right now I just wanted to mention that I think I improved my little “Detection of Purpose” demo.

http://www.mindreadings.com/ControlDemo/FindMind.html

Instead of disturbing all the possible “following” squares you can now do “The Test” by just disturbing the path of the “leading” red square. This is more like the way “The Test” is done in those old film noirs where the hero tests to see if he’s being tailed by randomly turning here and there and checking in the rear view mirror to see if the “tailing” car is still there.

I hope this change also makes it work a bit more smoothly and also makes it easier to see which is the “tailing” square when the mouse is used to disturb the red “leader” . I would appreciate any comments about the implications of the demo and/or suggestions on how to improve it.

Thanks

Best

Rick


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com


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Professor Emeritus, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chairman, Champaign County Bikes
Member, Sustainability Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL

Member, Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com


Richard S. Marken PhD
rsmarken@gmail.com
www.mindreadings.com