Science and Sanity

1. The Human Distinction: Time-Binding and Abstracting

In the present volume I undertake the investigation of the mechanism of time-binding.

Defining humanity. Humanity is uniquely characterized by its "time-binding" capacity, a functional observation that each generation can, in principle, begin where the former left off. This distinguishes humans from animals, who largely repeat ancestral patterns. This capacity is fundamental to human progress, allowing for the accumulation and transmission of knowledge and experience across generations.

Abstracting mechanism. The core mechanism enabling time-binding is the nervous system's ability to abstract. This involves selecting, summarizing, integrating, and omitting characteristics from events. All living protoplasm abstracts, but humans possess the unique potential to extend these abstractions indefinitely, creating higher and higher orders of knowledge.

Evolutionary imperative. This inherent capacity for higher-order abstracting is not merely an intellectual exercise; it is an evolutionary imperative for human survival and adjustment. Failure to utilize this capacity, or to consciously manage the process of abstraction, leads to a regression to animalistic modes of response, which are pathological for humans in a complex, time-binding civilization.

2. Beyond Aristotle: A Non-Elementalistic System for Sanity

The present investigation reveals that in the functioning of our nervous systems a special harmful factor is involved, a 'lubricant with emery' so to speak, which retards the development of sane human relations and prevents general sanity.

Challenging old paradigms. For over two millennia, Western thought has been dominated by the Aristotelian system, characterized by:

• Subject-predicate logic
• Two-valued "either-or" orientations
• Elementalistic divisions (e.g., "body" and "mind," "space" and "time")
• The "is" of identity ("whatever is, is")

The "lubricant with emery." This ingrained Aristotelian framework, while perhaps suitable for simpler times, acts as a "lubricant with emery" in our nervous systems, hindering proper evaluation and leading to widespread "un-sanity." It imposes a primitive, static structure on a dynamic, ever-changing world, causing maladjustment and suffering.

A new, scientific approach. A non-Aristotelian system, in contrast, embraces:

• Relational methods
• Infinite-valued flexibility
• Non-elementalism
• Empirical non-identity

This shift is not merely philosophical but a necessary scientific and psycho-physiological revision, aligning our thought processes with the actual structure of the world and our nervous systems.

3. Language as a Map, Not the Territory

A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness.

The map-territory relation. A fundamental principle of non-Aristotelian systems is that language, like a map, is a representation and not the reality it purports to describe. The utility of language depends entirely on its structural similarity to the empirical world it maps.

Self-reflexiveness and incompleteness. Language is inherently self-reflexive; we use language to talk about language. This creates complexities, as no map can represent all of its territory, and an ideal map would endlessly contain maps of itself. This "non-allness" is crucial to acknowledge.

Structural correspondence. The only valid link between the objective, unspeakable world and the verbal world is structural. If the structure of our language-maps does not correspond to the structure of the territory (the world and our nervous system), our predictions will fail, leading to bewilderment and maladjustment. This necessitates a continuous adjustment of language structure to scientific discoveries.

4. The Peril of Identification: Un-sanity and Mis-evaluation

Identification is found in all known primitive peoples; in all known forms of "mental" ills; and in the great majority of personal, national, and international maladjustments.

The "is" of identity. The Aristotelian "law of identity" ("whatever is, is") is fundamentally false to facts in a dynamic, ever-changing world where no two things are ever absolutely identical. Clinging to this principle leads to "identification"—the pathological confusion of different orders of abstractions.

Consequences of identification:

• Delusional worlds: We mistakenly equate words with objects, inferences with descriptions, or our internal feelings with external realities.
• Mis-evaluation: This leads to inappropriate semantic reactions, where we assign false values or meanings to situations, often over-evaluating verbal constructs and under-evaluating empirical facts.
• Pathological states: From mild daily-life difficulties to severe "mental" illnesses (delusions, illusions, hallucinations), identification is a pervasive factor.

Animalistic responses. Identification is natural for animals, infants, and primitive humans, whose nervous systems are less differentiated. However, for modern humans, it represents a regression to animalistic modes of thought, hindering adaptation to a complex world and causing unnecessary suffering.

5. Consciousness of Abstracting: The Path to Human Adjustment

Consciousness of abstracting can be defined as 'remembering the "is not", and that some characteristics have been left out.

The antidote to identification. "Consciousness of abstracting" is the deliberate awareness that in every act of perception, thought, or language, we inevitably leave out characteristics. It is the conscious "remembering the 'is not'" – that a word is not the object, an object is not the event, and no description is exhaustive.

Physiological mechanism. This awareness introduces a crucial "delay in action" in our nervous system, engaging the cortex more fully and preventing impulsive, animalistic responses. This delay allows for proper evaluation, transforming a negative process of "forgetting" (characteristics left out) into a positive process of "remembering" (non-allness).

Training for sanity. The Structural Differential, a visual and tactile model, is a key tool for cultivating consciousness of abstracting. By physically demonstrating the stratification of knowledge and the "characteristics left out," it helps to:

• Train all nerve centers (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).
• Break ingrained habits of identification.
• Foster semantic flexibility and balanced evaluation.

This training is a fundamental step towards integrating the human nervous system for optimal functioning and sanity.

6. Multiordinal Terms: Navigating Semantic Ambiguity

The main point about all such m.o terms is that, in general, they are ambiguous, and that all arguments about them, 'in general', lead only to identification of orders of abstractions and semantic disturbances, and nowhere else.

Words with shifting meanings. Many of our most important terms – such as "truth," "fact," "reality," "love," "hate," "cause," "effect," "meaning," "evaluation" – are "multiordinal" (m.o). This means their meaning is not fixed but varies depending on the "order of abstraction" or context in which they are used.

Source of confusion. Failure to recognize the multiordinality of these terms leads to semantic ambiguity and confusion. Arguments "in general" about such terms are futile, as they often involve unconsciously identifying different orders of abstraction, leading to paradoxes and disagreements.

Semantic clarity. By consciously acknowledging multiordinality, we gain:

• Precision: We can assign a specific, single meaning to a term within a given context.
• Flexibility: Our language becomes more adaptable to the nuanced realities of experience.
• Agreement: By clarifying the specific order of abstraction, we can resolve disputes that would otherwise be endless.

This understanding is vital for avoiding semantic blockages and fostering effective communication in both scientific and daily life.

7. The Power of Structure: Learning from Mathematics and Science

Mathematics appears as a very limited but the only language in existence, in the main similar in structure to the world around us and the nervous system.

Mathematics as a structural language. Mathematics, despite its abstract nature, is the most structurally accurate language we possess for describing the world and the functioning of our nervous system. It deals with relations, order, and invariance, which are the fundamental components of "structure"—the only possible content of knowledge.

Methodological model. The mathematical method, with its emphasis on:

• Postulational systems: Explicitly stating underlying assumptions.
• Relational thinking: Focusing on connections rather than isolated entities.
• Invariance under transformation: Identifying what remains constant despite changes in perspective.
• Differential and integral calculus: Translating dynamic processes into static analysis and vice versa.

These provide a powerful model for rigorous, non-Aristotelian evaluation in all fields.

Unifying knowledge. By adopting a mathematical-like structural approach, science moves towards unification. Chemistry becomes a branch of physics, physics a branch of geometry, and geometry merges with analysis and general semantics. This structural coherence allows for deeper understanding and more reliable predictions, transcending the limitations of elementalistic thought.

8. Natural Order of Evaluation: A Physiological Imperative

The above natural order establishes also a natural order of evaluation. Proper evaluation becomes the foundation for survival, non-el s.r; the more so since evaluation requires asymmetrical relations of 'more' or 'less'.

Survival-based sequence. The human nervous system, shaped by evolution, operates according to a "natural order" of evaluation. This sequence is crucial for survival and optimal functioning:

• Event (scientific object) first, ordinary object next.
• Ordinary object first, label next.
• Description first, inferences next.

Asymmetrical relations. This natural order is characterized by asymmetrical relations (e.g., "more than," "less than"), which are essential for proper evaluation. The Aristotelian system, with its emphasis on symmetrical relations and identity, fundamentally hinders this process.

Pathological reversal. When this natural order is reversed or confused through identification, it leads to pathological semantic states. For instance, evaluating inferences as descriptions, or words as objective realities, distorts our perception of the world and impairs our ability to adjust effectively. Training in this natural order is a physiological method for restoring nervous balance and sanity.

9. Infantilism in Adults: The Cost of Primitive Thinking

Adult infantilism becomes usually a potent wrecker of individual lives, and, when viewed from a social, national, or international point of view, accounts, also, for the majority of our semantic difficulties in the social, economic, and political fields.

Arrested development. "Infantilism" describes the persistence of childish or primitive semantic characteristics in adults. While natural in early developmental stages, these traits become pathological when carried into adulthood, leading to maladjustment and suffering.

Symptoms of infantilism:

• Self-centeredness: Prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term consequences or the needs of others.
• Lack of moderation: Extreme reactions, inability to differentiate essential from unimportant.
• Credulity: Susceptibility to fairy tales, slogans, and unverified claims.
• Exaggerated self-regard: Boastfulness, exhibitionism, valuing external symbols (money, clothes) over intrinsic worth.

Societal impact. When widespread, adult infantilism permeates societal structures, leading to:

• Antiquated doctrines: Economic, political, and social systems based on primitive, selfish assumptions.
• Conflict and chaos: Wars, revolutions, and crises stemming from mis-evaluation and inability to adapt to complex realities.
• Exploitation: Cunning individuals manipulate these infantile tendencies for personal gain, further destabilizing society.

The elimination of infantilism, through semantic re-education, is therefore not just a personal goal but an international imperative for human progress.

10. Neuro-Semantic Reactions: The Body-Mind Connection

The present enquiry shows that such structural investigations suggest that the method can be found in the psycho-logics of the 'mind' at .its best; namely, in mathematics, which unexpectedly leads to a physiological control of the s.r, effective not only as a therapeutic, but also as a preventive, educational means.

Psycho-physiological unity. The organism functions as-a-whole; there is no elementalistic division between "body" and "mind," "emotions" and "intellect." All "mental" activities, including our semantic reactions (s.r), are inextricably linked to underlying neuro-physiological and colloidal processes.

Impact of evaluation. Our evaluations and semantic states directly influence our colloidal structures, endocrine secretions, and overall nervous system functioning. Pathological evaluations (e.g., identification) create internal conflicts and blockages, diverting nervous energy and leading to physical and "mental" ailments.

Therapeutic and preventive potential. By understanding the structural and physiological basis of s.r, we can develop effective methods for:

• Re-education: Correcting inappropriate semantic responses.
• Integration: Harmonizing the functioning of higher and lower nerve centers.
• Prevention: Training children in non-Aristotelian principles to foster healthy development and resilience against semantic disturbances.

This approach transforms "mental" hygiene into a scientific, physiological discipline, offering a path to universal human adjustment and sanity by aligning our internal evaluations with the external world's structure.

Last updated: August 23, 2025