From: ken@iat.holonet.net (Ken Easlon)
Subject: Re: The Easlon Model of Consciousness
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access BBS: 510-704-1058/modem
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 18:51:16 GMT

PHILOSOPHICAL ADJUSTMENT

     I going to make the attempt to give up talking about "consciousness"
     in the abstract, but to try to keep in mind WHOSE consciousness of
     WHAT? In those instances when it is conceptually necessary to talk
     about consciousness-processes without a specific WHO or WHAT, I intend
     to place quotes around the term "consciousness" or hyphenate with a
     second word.

     This adjustment requires maintaining three conceptual compartments.

          _ the subject, the identity and nature of the observer/actor

          _ the object, the focus of the observer's attention

          _ the process, the ongoing connection between the subject and the
          object, which includes

               the potential effect of the object on the observer, and
               the potential effect of the actor on the object

     I'm also going to make the attempt to be more consistent in using 
     Easlon Test principles when discussing "consciousness".  Each idea
     should be explored from two points of view:

          a computer model's consciousness of it's own simulation

          the author's or reader's consciousness of his own experience


POTENTIAL EFFECT

Definitions:

     Effect, a conceivable event having a high probability of actual
     occurrence following the occurrence of a specific set of conditions
     (the cause).

     Probability, the degree of anticipation regarding the outcome of an
     observation.  

          _ A planned observation will generally be looking for the
          occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more anticipated
          possibilities.  

          _ An unanticipated event will generally enter the awareness as 
               an interrupt or
               an unanticipated result of a planned observation

THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT OF THE CONSCIOUSNESS-PROCESS

     Effects of primary interest to an observer are emotionally significant
     changes in the subjective state.

          _ Emotional subjectivity is defined here as being confined to an
          individual observer, though 

          _ emotional empathy may be extended to others. Empathy here is
          seen as a subjective effect resulting from an observed change in
          the conditions of others.

     The consciousness process can be thought of as working in two modes:
          rational
          reactive

     In the reactive mode, an emotionally significant event has already
     occurred, and is viewed as being the cause for the present emotional
     state.  In an emotional state, a small subset of observer/actor
     capabilities are selected and energized with a specific archetypal
     goal in mind.

     In the rational mode:

          _ emotionally significant events are anticipated, and 

          _ rational plans are activated to optimize the probability of
          occurrence i.e.

               take action to minimize the probability of events having
               undesirable emotional significance

               take action to maximize the probability of events having
               desirable emotional significance


DEGREES OF "CONSCIOUSNESS" ?

     E. Coli has three behavioral states (that I know about), reproduce,
     move forward and tumble.  Can we say that E. Coli is conscious of it's
     self or it's environment.

     When chemical sensors determine the environment in the front of the
     bacterium to be more favorable than the environment in the rear, the
     organism moves forward.

     When chemical sensors determine the environment in the front of the
     bacterium to not be more favorable than the environment in the rear,
     the organism tumbles to randomly select a new direction of movement.

     We could say that the chemical differential coupled with forward
     movement represents an anticipation of emotionally significant change. 
     The selection of behavioral states might be thought of as reactive,
     but certainly not rational.  (OK it might seem rational to us, but not
     to E. Coli).

    I'm going to rule out consciousness-processes in the case of E. Coli
     because the observer function is strictly hard wired.  The evolving
     Easlon definition of "consciousness" is going to require the ability
     to plan an observation and anticipate the results of said observation.

     If we program a computer observer to plan and anticipate, can we say
     the computer is "conscious".  Perhaps.  But only if the computer can
     sense the emotional significance of the observation, and only if it
     has the potential to make plans and initiate actions that effect the
     probability of the anticipated event.

     My current (admittedly evolving) definition of "consciousness"
     requires ability to anticipate and effect the probability of
     emotionally significant events.  There may be some events whose
     probability can not be effected that much, but if there were no
     ability to affect any probabilities, there would be no point in
     maintaining consciousness-like processes.

THE MENTAL DOT FILLER

     Here I'm switching to a primarily subjective point of view, with the
     hope of bringing out some stuff that can be programmed into a
     computer.

     First consider the tendency of the mind to fill in the dots.  If we
     look at a random pattern, and let the imagination fly, we can see
     symbols and faces and figures, call it the Rorschach effect.

     Let's expand the idea to include all the sensory inputs, somatic as
     well as "distance" senses.

     Now let's add in the idea that the kind of sensory patterns observed
     in our Rorschach environment depend a great deal on the kinds of
     patterns we are anticipating.  This gives the mind, (the mental
     monitor, the consciousness dream) a certain momentum, a flywheel
     effect.

MENTAL STATES

     The net result is the concept of mental states.  The mind continues to
     interpret sensations in a way that will maintain the current mental
     state until such time as the sensations become totally incompatible
     and force the adoption of a new mental state.
     
     It should be understood that the mental state I'm defining here is not
     a freeze frame snapshot, more like a dynamic ongoing film clip with a
     static perception of preceding and succeeding decision points where
     the past and the future branch out to other mental states.

     When the mind is relatively energetic, the mental state changes will
     be frequent, and take on an illusion of free flowing awareness of
     sensory (or perceptual) experience.   When the mind is tired or
     confused (clogged up with too many conflicting anticipations), the
     mental states have a longer duration and are less coherent (more
     noise, pain).  Shifting from one mental state to the next takes a
     conscious effort, which is experienced as mental work, generally
     unpleasant compared to relaxing.


DEPRESSION

     Generally a mental state will include a behavioral component, an act
     that is being attempted or planned.  A lethargic mental state of long
     duration results in action-plan-fragments that stay in mind for a
     relatively long time without leading to desirable consequences (or
     avoidance of undesirable consequences).  If conditions are viewed as
     stressful, requiring action to avoid unpleasant effects, the failure
     to take effective action is viewed as a failure to function properly.

     This observed failure to function results in a sense of diminished
     ability or diminished potential for effecting conditions.  Coupled
     with perceived stressful conditions, the prognosis for pleasurable
     survival is seen as minimal.  This results in an unpleasant emotional
     state, helplessness.

THE CURRENT EASLON DEFINITION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

     The perceived sense of potential can be described as the perceived
     ability to affect probabilities of anticipated emotionally significant
     events.  The ongoing interaction between the subject of subjectivity
     and the objects of objective awareness yield a dynamic view of
     potential which must be constantly defended from attack.  My current
     definition of "consciousness" includes the generation, selection and
     activation of plans for optimizing the sense of potential.

     The current mental state is viewed as one of a familiar set of mental
     states (with varying degrees of unfamiliarity or noise), which was
     preceded by a specific occurrence of a predecessor state,  and will be
     succeeded by one of a shrinking set of probable successor states.  The
     process of shrinking (thinning out the list of) the set of anticipated
     successor state possibilities to optimize the sense of potential is
     the main business of "consciousness".

ON MY KNEES

     If you have any opinion whatsoever of my ongoing attempts to explore
     the subject of consciousness and computers, praise or flame, please
     respond publicly or privately.

__

Ken Easlon
ken@holonet.net


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