Integrative Problem-Solving in a Time of Decadence

Cover......Page 1
Integrative Problem-Solving
in a Time of Decadence......Page 4
ISBN 9789048198894......Page 5
Foreword......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 20
Contents......Page 22
1.1 Crossing the Gate of Night and Day......Page 32
1.1.1.1 Hospitals of the Soul......Page 33
1.1.1.3 From Euripides to Pier Paolo Pasolini......Page 34
1.1.1.5 The Internet, and Epistemic Cultures......Page 35
1.1.2.2 The Ionian Thinkers and Parmenides´ Poem......Page 37
1.1.2.3 Xenophanes and the Reliability of Human Knowledge......Page 38
1.1.2.4 Skeptics from Greece and China Enter the Scene......Page 39
1.1.2.5 Seeking a Definition of Knowledge Through the Ages......Page 40
1.1.3.1 Standard Classifications......Page 43
1.1.3.3 Reality-Based Knowledge Classification......Page 44
1.2.1 The Agent-Problem Dialectic......Page 45
1.2.2 Napoleon´s General......Page 46
1.2.3 The Emergence of Stochastic Reasoning......Page 47
1.2.3.1 Scientific Reasoning and Formal Logic......Page 48
1.2.3.2 Changing the Thinking Mode......Page 49
1.2.3.3 The Prime Role of Natural Laws......Page 50
1.2.3.4 The Metalanguage......Page 51
1.2.3.5 Inference Under Conditions of Uncertainty......Page 54
1.2.3.7 Experiment and Theory......Page 55
1.2.4 The Good, the True, and the Beautiful......Page 56
1.2.5 The Broad Context of IPS......Page 57
1.3 A Time of Decadence......Page 58
1.3.1 Investigator Awareness......Page 59
1.3.2 From Ancient to Modern Barbarians......Page 60
1.3.3.1 The Thieves of Baghdad......Page 62
1.3.3.2 Torah´s Worry of Leaders......Page 63
1.3.4.1 The Myth of the People......Page 64
1.4 The Shadow Epistemology......Page 66
1.4.1 Insiders Versus Public Domain Knowledge......Page 67
1.4.2 Metarules: Cortigiani, vil Razza Dannata......Page 68
1.4.3 The Straussian Worldview......Page 70
1.4.4 The Ultimate Blackmail......Page 72
1.4.5 Papa Stalin´s Motto and the Beggar´s Waltz......Page 73
1.4.6 Elambdaomega eta Pilambdaiota!......Page 75
1.5.1 The Postmodern Corporatism University......Page 76
1.5.2 The Lost Possibility of Experiencing Themselves......Page 80
1.5.3 What St. Augustine and Prophet Muhammad had in Common......Page 81
1.5.4 Politicians, the Professoriat, and Einstein´s Mule......Page 84
1.5.5 Citizens with Market Value Versus Social Capital......Page 85
1.5.6 Corporatism´s Failure, and Its Effects on PCU......Page 86
1.5.7 Delenda est Carthago, and the Mythical Phoenix......Page 89
1.6 On the Road to Damascus......Page 90
1.6.1.1 The Paradoxical Role of Human Agent......Page 91
1.6.1.3 Problem Multidisciplinarity......Page 92
1.6.2 Waiting for Godot......Page 93
1.6.2.1 The State of Cognitive Dissonance......Page 94
1.6.2.2 Public Confidence......Page 95
1.6.3.1 The Diminishing Role of Constructive Criticism, and the Dominance of Indifference......Page 96
1.6.3.2 An nescis, mi fili, quantilla sapientia mundus regatur?......Page 98
1.7.1 Important Distinctions......Page 99
1.7.2 When a Number Is Not Just a Number......Page 100
1.7.2.2 The Action of Measurement and Its Quantitative Representation......Page 101
1.7.3 We Are That Which Asks the Question......Page 102
1.7.3.1 Observer Versus Actor......Page 103
1.7.3.2 Matters of Interpretation......Page 104
1.7.3.3 Measurement and Existence......Page 105
1.8 Feynman´s Wine and the No-Man´s Land......Page 106
1.8.1.1 Multidisciplinarity and Knowledge Synthesis......Page 107
1.8.1.2 Flying Blind Among Mountains of Diverse Knowledge......Page 108
1.8.1.3 The Value of Empathy......Page 109
1.8.2.1 Open and Closed Systems......Page 110
1.8.2.2 The River, the Bucket, and the IOED......Page 111
1.8.3.1 Interdisciplinary and Intradisciplinary Composition......Page 112
1.8.3.2 Emergence: ``Is´´ Versus ``Made Up´´......Page 113
1.8.4.1 Thor´s Goats......Page 114
1.8.4.2 The ``Anti-Matthew Effect and Esotericism´´......Page 115
1.8.4.3 The Ultimate Contradiction: Risk-Free Research......Page 116
1.8.4.4 Turf Protectionism......Page 117
1.8.5.1 The Convenient Role of Bureaucrats......Page 118
1.8.5.2 Favoring Technicians over Thinkers......Page 119
1.9.1 Real-World and Mental Processing......Page 121
1.9.1.2 The Brain-Mind Debate......Page 122
1.9.2.1 The Relationship Between Mental Constructs and Reality......Page 123
1.9.2.2 Mathematics of IPS......Page 124
1.9.3 Reality Does Not Have to Be Beautiful, but Models Do......Page 125
1.9.3.1 Modeling as Theatrical Performing......Page 126
1.9.3.2 Poetry´s Link to Modeling......Page 127
1.9.3.3 Exploring Art-Science-Philosophy  Interactions......Page 128
1.10.1 PCU´s Focus on Lower Needs, and the Challenges of Twenty-First Century......Page 130
1.10.2 A Student-Mission, Not a Student-Customer......Page 131
1.10.3 A New Enlightenment......Page 132
1.11 Nonegocentric Individualism in IPS......Page 134
1.11.2 Egocentric Individualism and Its Problems......Page 135
1.11.3 Nonegocentric Individualism and King Minos´ Labyrinth......Page 138
1.11.4 Challenges Faced by Epibraimatics......Page 140
2.1.1 Factual and Conceptual Features......Page 142
2.1.2 Synthesis of Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives......Page 143
2.2 Historical Perspectives: From Heraclitus to Kuhn......Page 144
2.2.2 Parmenides Apology......Page 145
2.2.4 Plato´s Forms and Value Invariance......Page 146
2.2.5 Aristotle´s Philosophy of Depths......Page 147
2.2.6 Descartes´ Cogito, Ergo Sum......Page 148
2.2.8 Locke´s Tabula Rasa......Page 149
2.2.10 Kant´s Synthesis......Page 150
2.2.11 Hegel´s Dialectics......Page 151
2.2.13 Wittgenstein´s Living Practice......Page 152
2.2.15 Kuhn´s Paradigm......Page 153
2.3.1.1 In Berlin You Will not Fit in......Page 155
2.3.1.2 The Big Yes and the Big No......Page 156
2.3.1.3 The Need for a Fresh Look......Page 157
2.3.2.1 Travelers´ Tales in Cancer Research......Page 158
2.3.2.2 The Sequence......Page 159
2.3.2.3 Questions of Meaning......Page 160
2.3.2.4 The ``Cargo´´ Solution......Page 162
2.3.3 Taking Stock: Four Key Elements......Page 163
2.3.4.2 Open and Closed Systems Revisited......Page 164
2.4 Va, Pensiero, Sull´ Ali Dorate......Page 165
2.4.1 The Color That Fills in the Missing Data Gaps......Page 166
2.4.2 The Essence of Metaphor......Page 167
2.5 Too Many Data-Too Little Sense, Mr. Grandgrind......Page 168
2.5.1 The Datacentric Worldview and Its Perils......Page 169
2.5.2 Empty Cliches and the Illuminati......Page 170
2.5.4 The Glass and the Mirror......Page 173
2.6.1 The Decisive Role of the Paradigm......Page 174
2.6.1.1 Goodnight Mr. Greenspan......Page 175
2.6.1.2 Euclid´s Contribution and Marx´s Historical Observation......Page 176
2.6.1.3 The Role of Consciousness in Scientific Explanation......Page 177
2.6.2 Learning Through Unlearning: Like Howling Bullets at Crux Moments......Page 178
3.1 The Living Experience Outlook......Page 180
3.1.1 Epistemic Context and Deep Theory......Page 181
3.1.2 Mathematical Formulation of Knowledge Synthesis......Page 182
3.1.3 Thinking ``Outside the Box´´......Page 183
3.2.1 Evolutionary Theories of Knowledge......Page 184
3.2.2 Cognition......Page 186
3.2.3 Consciousness, Qualia, and Intentionality......Page 188
3.2.3.1 Human Consciousness and Qualia......Page 189
3.2.3.2 Concerning Intentionality......Page 190
3.2.4 Cybernetics......Page 191
3.3.1 A Bridge Between Nature and Humankind......Page 192
3.3.2 The Role of Philosophy......Page 193
3.4.1 IPS That Fits Mental Functions......Page 195
3.4.2 Quantitative Representation of Mental Functions......Page 196
3.4.3 Brain Parts and Their Activities......Page 197
3.4.4 Learning from Brain Activities......Page 199
3.5 Fundamental IPS Postulates......Page 200
3.5.1 Concerning the CoP......Page 202
3.5.2 Concerning the CP......Page 203
3.5.3 Concerning the TP......Page 205
3.5.4 Concerning the AP......Page 206
3.5.5 Parmenides´ Gate and Morrison´s Doors......Page 207
3.6.1 Knowledge Classifications......Page 208
3.6.1.1 The G-KB......Page 209
3.6.1.2 The S-KB......Page 210
3.6.1.3 Justifications of Basic Knowledge Classification......Page 212
3.6.1.4 Other Kinds of Knowledge Classification......Page 213
3.6.2 The Sant´Alvise Nuns in Old Venice......Page 214
3.6.3 Papists and Experimentalists......Page 216
3.6.4 KB Consistency......Page 217
3.7 Problem-Solutions Suspended in Language......Page 219
3.7.2 On Metalanguage......Page 220
3.7.3 Niels Bohr´s Epistemology of Modern Science......Page 221
3.8.1 Ignoramus vel Ignorabimus......Page 223
3.8.1.2 Truth Is Bigger Than Proof......Page 224
3.8.1.3 A Reasonable Compromise......Page 225
3.8.2 The Case of Multidisciplinarity......Page 226
3.9.1 About the Way Knowledge Is Claimed and Constructed......Page 227
3.9.2 Epistemic Standards of Knowledge......Page 228
3.9.3 Psychological Issues of Knowledge......Page 230
3.10.1 Thinking in Literary Terms......Page 231
3.10.2 Licentia Poetica......Page 232
3.10.3 The Augsburg Man......Page 233
3.10.4 Reviewing Old Ideas in New Contexts......Page 234
4.1.1 Making Progress One Funeral After Another......Page 236
4.1.2 The Sea of Space and Time......Page 237
4.2 Space-Time Domain and Its Characterization......Page 238
4.2.1 Greek and Hebrew Conceptions of Space-Time......Page 239
4.2.2 Space-Time Continuum......Page 240
4.2.4 The Meaning of Time......Page 241
4.2.5 The Space-Time Metric......Page 242
4.2.6 Separable Metric Structure......Page 243
4.2.7 Composite Metric Structure......Page 244
4.2.8 Fractal Metric Structure......Page 246
4.2.9 The Informativeness of Metrics......Page 247
4.3.1 Kundera´s Paths in the Fog......Page 248
4.3.2.1 Uncertainty and Human Existence in the Real-World......Page 249
4.3.2.3 Uncertainty in Politics and Business......Page 251
4.3.2.4 Natural and Mental States......Page 252
4.3.3 Uncertainty and Structure in Aristotle´s Poetics......Page 253
4.3.4 Uncertainty as an Ingredient of Creativity......Page 254
4.3.4.1 Metternich Vs. Socrates......Page 255
4.4 Probability and Its Interpretations......Page 256
4.4.1 The History of a Concept......Page 257
4.4.3 Kolmogorov´s Formal Approach and Its Interpretive Incompleteness......Page 258
4.4.3.1 Kolmogorov´s Axioms......Page 259
4.4.3.2 Interpretive Incompleteness: Connecting Theory with Practice......Page 260
4.4.4.1 Physical Probability......Page 261
4.4.4.2 Epistemic Probability......Page 262
4.4.4.3 Subjective Probability......Page 263
4.4.4.4 Quantum Probability......Page 264
4.4.5 In Search of the Ultimate Interpretation......Page 265
4.4.6 The Role of Metalanguage......Page 267
4.4.7 Probabilities of Discrete-Valued and Continuous-Valued Attributes......Page 268
4.5 Quantitative Representations of Uncertainty......Page 270
4.5.1 Linear Uncertainty Model......Page 271
4.5.2 Logarithmic Uncertainty Model......Page 272
5.1 Lifting Isis´ Veil......Page 274
5.2 Reasoning in a Stochastic Setting......Page 275
5.2.1.1 Elements of Reasoning......Page 276
5.2.1.2 Deductive Reasoning......Page 278
5.2.1.3 Inductive Reasoning......Page 280
5.2.1.4 Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning......Page 281
5.2.2.1 A Slippery Affair and Its Psychology Connections......Page 282
5.2.2.2 The Relationship Between Logic and Psychology......Page 284
5.2.2.3 Some Distinctions......Page 285
5.2.2.4 Interpretive Matters......Page 286
5.3.1 The Possible Worlds Representation: Epicurus, Leibniz, and Voltaire......Page 288
5.3.2.1 Agents Who Are Not Mute in Their Souls......Page 289
5.4.1 The Holy Grail......Page 291
5.4.2 Multiple Conceptual Layers......Page 292
5.4.3 Robert Frost´s Moment of Choice, and the Case of Paradoxes......Page 293
5.4.3.2 The Case of Apparent Paradoxes......Page 294
5.5 About Laws, Power Holders, and Rembrandt´s Paintings......Page 295
5.5.2 Statistical Laws......Page 296
5.5.3 Stochastic Laws......Page 297
5.5.4 Comparative Summary......Page 298
5.6.1 Formal Construction: Copulas and Factoras......Page 299
5.6.1.1 Ready-Made and Tractable PDF Models......Page 300
5.6.1.2 Copula-Based PDF Models......Page 301
5.6.1.3 Factora-Based PDF Models......Page 303
5.6.2 Substantive Construction......Page 305
5.6.2.1 The Stochastic Equations Method......Page 306
5.6.2.2 The Knowledge Synthesis Method......Page 307
5.6.3 Drunkard´s Search......Page 308
5.7.1 Dependence in Terms of Stochastic Expectation......Page 309
5.7.1.1 Abstract and Intuitive Appraisals of Reality......Page 310
5.7.1.2 Concerning Mainstream Dependence Functions......Page 311
5.7.1.3 The Indiscrimination Property......Page 312
5.7.2 Dependence in Terms of Natural Laws......Page 314
5.7.3 The Predictability Power of a Model......Page 315
5.7.4 Information Theoretic and Copula Dependence Functions......Page 316
5.7.5 Spatiotemporal Homostationarity......Page 319
5.8.1 Random Fields Based on Generalized Functions or Distributions......Page 320
5.8.2 An Operational Treatment of Space-Time Heterogeneous Attributes......Page 321
5.8.3 Spatiotemporal Dependence and Heterogeneity Parameters......Page 323
5.8.3.2 On Fractal Space-Time Models......Page 324
5.8.3.3 Physical Interpretation of the Heterogeneity Parameters......Page 326
5.9 Constructive Symbiosis and Its Problems......Page 327
6.1.1 Reflections Along the Lakeshore......Page 332
6.1.2.1 The Context- and Content-Free Character of Formal Logic......Page 333
6.1.2.2 Russell and Putnam Enter the Scene......Page 335
6.1.3.1 Content- and Context-Dependency of Stochastic Calculus......Page 336
6.1.4 Deduction as a Component of Stochastic Reasoning......Page 340
6.1.6 Reasoning with Shadow Statements, and Esprit de Finesse......Page 343
6.2.1 The Horse Before the Cart......Page 345
6.2.2.1 The Standard Conditional......Page 346
6.2.2.2 Nonstandard Conditionals......Page 347
6.2.2.4 A Geometrical Representation......Page 348
6.2.3 Formulas of Stochastic Calculus......Page 349
6.3 The Role of Specificatory Evidence in Probability......Page 352
6.3.1 Reverend Bayes and His Critics......Page 353
6.3.1.2 Criticisms of Bayesianism......Page 354
6.3.2 Good´s Varieties of Bayesians and De Gaulle´s Varieties of Cheese......Page 357
6.3.3 Extra Bayesian Nulla Salus......Page 359
6.3.4.1 Substantive Conditionals......Page 360
6.3.5 Conditional Dependence Indicator......Page 361
6.3.6 William James' Sea of Possibilities......Page 362
6.4 Vincere Scis, Hannibal-Victoria Uti Nescis......Page 363
6.4.1 Changing the Way One Thinks One Does What One Does......Page 364
6.4.2 Waltz of Lost Dreams?......Page 365
7.1.1 Theorizing and Correlating......Page 368
7.1.2 IPS as Knowledge Synthesis......Page 370
7.2.1 The Boltzmann-Laplace Relationship......Page 371
7.2.1.1 Trade-off Relationship Between Uncertainty and Probability......Page 372
7.2.1.2 The Uncertainty-Information Relationship......Page 373
7.2.2 Technical Features of Information......Page 374
7.2.3 Contextual Features of Information......Page 375
7.2.4 It Is Not Where One Takes Things from, It Is Where One Takes Them to......Page 376
7.2.4.2 Comparing Entropies......Page 377
7.2.5 Entropy in a Space-Time Continuum......Page 378
7.2.6 What Herodotus Knew......Page 380
7.3.1.1 Formal Expression and Visual Representation......Page 382
7.3.1.2 A Linguistic Analogy......Page 384
7.3.2 Knowledge Is About Connecting Minds, Not Merely About Collecting Data......Page 385
7.3.2.1 Translating Knowledge into Operators......Page 386
7.3.2.2 Knowledge Operators for Multidisciplinary Problems......Page 387
7.3.3.1 Information Seeking......Page 390
7.3.3.2 Formalization and Its Merits......Page 391
7.3.3.4 A Three-Place Relation......Page 392
7.3.4.1 Adaptation Types......Page 393
7.3.4.2 Adaptation Context......Page 394
7.3.4.3 The Role of Consistency......Page 395
7.3.4.4 Conditionals of Reasoned Facts and Mark Twain´s Cat......Page 396
7.3.5.2 Cognitive and Evolutionary Elements of the Operators......Page 399
7.4.1 Equations on a Napkin......Page 401
7.4.2 Eos and Relative KB Informativeness......Page 403
7.4.3 Working Out the Equations......Page 404
7.5.1 The BME Equations......Page 406
7.5.2 In Situ Solution of the BME Equations......Page 408
7.5.3 Generality of the Fundamental Equations......Page 409
7.6.1 Superposition Property and the Cubist Movement......Page 411
7.6.2 Distinctions from Mainstream Data-Driven Techniques......Page 412
7.6.3 How to Look and How to See......Page 414
7.7.1 The Geese of the Capitoline Hill and the Wise Confucius......Page 416
7.7.2 Accuracy in Terms of Prediction Error......Page 418
7.7.3 Solution Accuracy as a Doubt Generator......Page 420
7.8 Space-Time Analysis in a Broader Context......Page 421
7.8.1 Space-Time Estimation via Regression, Kriging and Machine Learning......Page 422
7.8.2 Space-Time Estimation as Knowledge Synthesis......Page 424
7.8.3 Afflatus Divinus......Page 426
8.1.1 Conditions of Model-Choice, the Blind Prophet, and Slavoj Zizek......Page 428
8.1.2 Explanation Versus Fitness......Page 431
8.2 Issues of Concern......Page 432
8.2.1 Nature of Candidate Models and Balzac´s Wild Ass´s Skin......Page 433
8.2.2 Optimal Data Fitting......Page 434
8.2.3 From Occam’s Razor To Rovespiere’s Gilotine......Page 436
8.2.4 On Predictability......Page 438
8.3 Ideals of Model-Choice......Page 439
8.3.1 Contextual Appropriateness......Page 440
8.3.2.1 Integrative Model-Choice......Page 441
8.3.2.2 The Nonuniqueness of Mathematical Representations......Page 443
8.3.2.3 A Matter of Methodology Rather than Metaphysics......Page 444
8.4 Bias and Hyperreality in Model-Choice......Page 445
8.4.2 Jean Baudrillard´s Simulacrum......Page 446
8.4.2.2 Congregatio de Propaganda Fide......Page 447
8.4.3 Manus Manum Lavat......Page 449
8.4.3.1 The Post-Science Era and Carmen Electra......Page 450
8.4.3.2 Weak States of Scientific Development......Page 451
8.4.4.1 A ``Bigger-than-Life´´ Showbiz Cult......Page 453
8.4.4.2 Faster than the New Orleans Levees......Page 455
8.4.4.3 Oscar Wilde´s ``De Profundis´´......Page 456
9.1 ``Thinking About´´ Versus Merely ``Searching for´´ a Problem-Solution......Page 458
9.1.1 The Role of Software Codes: Duco Ergo Sum?......Page 459
9.1.2 The User-Software Relationship......Page 461
9.2.1 Ezra Pound and the Prince of Darkness......Page 462
9.2.2 Data Versus Interpretational Uncertainty, and Descartes´ Skull......Page 463
9.2.3 The Man and the Hammer......Page 464
9.2.4 George Bernard Shaw´s Apple and Scientific Software......Page 465
9.3.1 Thoth´s Technology and Tammuz´s Critical Thinking......Page 467
9.3.2 Bella Gerant Alii, Tu, Felix Austria, Nube......Page 468
9.3.3.1 Polishing Existing Apples and Building Castles in the Air......Page 469
9.3.3.3 The Victorious Romans, Black Death, and Monkey Drowning......Page 471
9.3.3.4 Try, Fail, Try Again, Fail Better......Page 472
9.4 Marketplace of Ideas, and Tales of Misapplied Statistics......Page 473
9.4.1.1 The Brain-Numbing Era......Page 475
9.4.1.2 PDD Versus Science-Based Statistics......Page 477
9.4.1.3 Liberated Through Submission......Page 478
9.4.2 Neglect of the Real......Page 480
9.4.3 The ``John Treats - John Drinks´´ Approach......Page 482
9.4.4 Matters of Lifestyle......Page 483
9.4.5 The Papier-Mâché of PDD Analysis......Page 484
9.5 Born an Original, Dying a Copy?......Page 486
10.1.1 Not ``That´´ but ``That by´´ Which We Know......Page 488
10.1.2 To Find Out About Life, One Has to Model Life Itself......Page 490
10.1.3 La Divina Element of IPS......Page 491
10.2 The Ionian Tradition in a Time of Decadence......Page 492
10.2.1 Castoriadis´ Space for Thought......Page 493
10.2.3 A Phase of Decomposition......Page 494
10.3 The ``Socrates or Galileo´´ Dilemma......Page 495
10.4 Like Travelers of the Legendary Khorasan Highway......Page 496
10.5 Waiting For The Master of Ceremonies......Page 498
10.6 A Matter of ``E Znu´´ Rather than Merely ``Znu´´......Page 500
References......Page 504
Index......Page 538