THE SPHERES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
 
A constantly reconsidered theory of consciousness
by
Ken Keller
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INTRODUCTION

 

This paper, The Spheres of Consciousness, is my attempt to find adequate and complimentary definitions for the terms that are used to describe and explore the concepts and functioning of consciousness.

The Spheres of Consciousness are abstract divisions of all information within the universe, or infoverse.

In this paper I attempt to map and define the elements that make up the Spheres and the elements that are contained within the Spheres. I have endeavored to keep lowly 'common sense' a constant partner. I have tried to remain as general as possible in this discussion, to strip the logic of this theory to its bones. Hopefully, my definitions will err to the tendency of simplicity.

It is difficult to keep things simple in any discussion of consciousness. The main reason for this predicament is the constant changing of definitions of very important words and phrases. It is easy to confuse terms in the study of consciousness, as in the definitions of perception as opposed to awareness. A common language must be maintained for any productive arguments to be fruitful. It is only through precision of terms that the science of consciousness can be advanced in meaningful ways.

At this time there is no common language, no stability or precision of terms. We may have been able to afford that luxury (or laziness) of thought in the years before 1900, but now, with advances in technology and a resurgence of interest in consciousness studies, the science is becoming more specialized and segmented. A common, interdisciplinary language must be found soon, or the use of any advancements in consciousness will go unusable to general humanity. The very notion of an individual consciousness may be forever tarnished by the increasing babble of the consciousness specialists.

Ancient augments continue to zombize the field. A good example of this is in the idea of 'space'. The concept of new types of space goes back to the first dawning of the idea of relativity. Space could be curved or warped in infinite shapes. Three dimensions became four, and four became ten, etc. , etc. And during this time the thinkers of consciousness were still arguing about the paradox of movement. Their ideas of space had not evolved at the same rate as most of the physical sciences. I believe the main reason for this slump in advancement is due almost entirely on problems of epistemology, or the disagreements for the simplest definitions of terms.

It is not my purpose to find the actual source, or cause of consciousness. I tend to believe recent theories that the source of consciousness exists at the point where Newtonian effects meet Quantum effects. Within the smallest structures of our cells may lie the mechanisms that are common to all levels of consciousness, from modern human to ancient worms. The agency of consciousness may be found in subatomic realms. This paper operates at a more macro level. It attempts to find definitions that will advance our ability to communicate states of consciousness and map consciousness in some objective format.

It is time to de-mystify the definition and terms used in the study of consciousness. It is time to agree on a 'zero' point for a definition of consciousness and to find and accept our common experiences of consciousness.
 

" And since there is not a more restrictive meaning of consciousness among the professionals, it is very easy for everyone to talk at cross-purposes: There is no agreed-upon term equivalent to "zero" to which we can all retreat when consciousness confusion threatens, the way that we can retreat to using zero when reading off a mixed letters-and-numbers automobile license plate. "
The Cerebral Symphony 1989
William H. Calvin


*
The qualities of consciousness of which we are most certain:
Consciousness uses information.
There does exist an experience of consciousness.
 
The qualities of information of which we are most certain:
Information is energy dependent.
Information is material in origin since energy is material in orgin.
 

The qualities of awareness of which we are most certain:
For awareness to occur memory must be present
Awareness occurs after the acts of perception.

 

The qualities of energy of which we are most certain:
Energy is Process.

 
The qualities of perception of which we are most certain:
A physical organ or structure must be altered or rearranged for perception to occur.
The object of perception and the perceptual system must exist in the same space.
 *
These are my starting points.



THE SPHERES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

 

The Spheres of Consciousness are boundaries created by certain material based parameters that influence the perceptual field. The perceptual field is defined as all the information within the Spheres of Consciousness, which is the same as saying all the information contained within the universe.

The perceptual field is a mass of energy (information, or singly, infounits) existing in an abstract space. The energy from the environment is processed by the acts of perception and the effects of awareness. It is the categorization of these acts and effects which create the boundaries of the Spheres of Consciousness.

The totality of sensory structures or systems for both organisms and inorganic apparatus are referred to in this paper as perceptual systems. A perceptual system does not necessarily posses consciousness. This term is used to distinguish between an entity that is considered to posses consciousness and an entity whose consciousness status may not be known.

A perceptual system can consist of organic or inorganic parts or subsystems. The term can be generalized to include a single person, a civilization, or entire species. As with all generalizations they can be stretched to unacceptable degrees. Implied in this definition of perception is the concept that a simple camera, for example, is a perceptual system. Yet the aperture, or any other single part, within the camera does not perceive anything.

Information is neither created or destroyed, only made more, or less, complex. Theoretically, any informational complexities that could be considered obliterated can always be reconstructed, or re-discovered. This statement is to be accepted as axiomatic. This implies that the density of the perceptual field is constant. An analogy between information and energy would be misleading and incomplete. Energy must be processed to be perceived. Energy can exist without information (as do all energies that have not been perceived), but information is always associated with some quantity of energy. More on this in the Common Terms Chapter.
(The energy produced by a tree falling in the forest contains the potential of sound, but that potential will never be communicated without a perceptual system to process the energy of the fall. So a tree falling in a forest makes sound to those that can hear or record it. If no perceptual system is there to process the sound the potential of the sound remains. (See also: the sound of one hand clapping.) 

All information is made up of the smallest perceptual contrast that is observable, the on or off, yes or no quality of information. This ultimate unit of contrast is called the infounit. The conservation of information is determined by the indestructibility of the infounit. If this basic contrast is destroyed there would exist no basis for consciousness.

Every infounit has the capacity to relate to an infinite number of other infounits. Therefore the perceptual field has constant density and infinite potential.

Awareness is the ability to store and retrieve information. Awareness does not create information, it is only the retention and retrieval of information. The degree of awareness is determined by the ratio between the storage ability and the retrieval ability of a perceptual system (This relationship between storage and retrieval ability is used to determine relative intelligence.).

Consciousness is defined as the quality exhibited by a perceptual system as it is exercising the ability to store and retrieve information under its own motivation. More on the definition of consciousness later.

Consciousness can be mapped for an individual or an entire species. By determining the relative complexities of a consciousness it is possible to observe patterns of movement within the perceptual field. This pattern of infounit complexity movement is called, in its general form, communication. In its more specific and developed form it is called an idea. By following the infounit complexity movements, waves can be drawn through the Spheres to map and describe the overall condition of a consciousness and the ideas or communication states contained within a consciousness.

These waves can be drawn in two or three dimensions. When drawn in two dimensions the familiar oscillation pattern is created, with wave length and frequency, and is called linear viewing. When the waves are rendered in three dimensions a standing wave is created, as on the surface of water in a constantly vibrating container, and is called holographic viewing.

SPACE IN THE SPHERES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The concept of space has been an unusually contentious subject in the study of consciousness, as well as in the science of physics. Simply defined, space is the limitless area in which all things exist and move. Yet this simple definition is too general to be of much value to explorers in the study of consciousness.

I propose three main divisions of the term space. These divisions are the Material Space, the Abstract Space and the Hybrid Space. The Material Space is an area in which physical forces exist and move. The Abstract Space is an area in which informational relationships exist and move. The Hybrid Space can be any ratio or mix of Material and Abstract Space. The Abstract Space is as 'real' as the Material Space. Any conscious entity has access to these spaces. No one can deny the real feelings and material effects that can occur from pure thought. A crude map of a consciousness can be drawn by diagramming only the percentage of time that a perceptual system occupies in any two or more spaces. Examples of Hybrid Space would be throwing a rock at a target,  jumping from tree branch to tree branch, or any self-motivated movement.

Material Space is the experience that is common to every consciousness. To our human knowledge a perceptual system must exist in Material Space, in the same space that the object of perception exists. All information is stored in Material Space. This is a space of forces, of energy and mass, of light and all manner of subatomic particles. All systems which support consciousness are first rooted in Material Space. The smallest unit of contrast in Material Space is determined by existence or non-existence, there or not there, which are the precursors of the smallest unit of contrast in Abstract Space, which is the infounit, the on or off quality of information.

Abstract Space is basically defined as the area in which information moves. Abstract Space and the perceptual field share all of each others properties. More particularly, the Abstract Space supports the perceptual field, while Material Space determines the properties of the perceptual field. Informational relationships are generated, gathered, (but not stored), and move (communicated) in Abstract Space. The relationships between information occurs in abstract space, while the memory storage of information occurs in material space. Abstract space, theoretically, has infinite potential. Material Space, theoretically, could or could not be infinite. (This remains to be discovered. Big Bang or No Big Bang.)

The composition of any Hybrid Space is determined primarily by the intelligence or awareness of a conscious perceptual system. A mixed space may at first be difficult to comprehend, yet in everyday experience all complex conscious perceptual systems spend much time in this mingling of Material and Abstract Space. It is possible that a Hybrid Space is only a rapid switching from Material to Abstract Space, the switching speed being faster than the perceptual system's rate of awareness.

The common example of this Hybrid Space is the throwing of an object through Material Space. The conscious entity must exist and use both Material and Abstract Space to solve the trajectory of the thrown object. The throwing perceptual system must gauge the material forces of strength, weight, time and distance to synchronize the information gathered with the abstract ideas of movement, motivation (needs) and desired results.

 *

There are three other spaces used by this theory: the theoretical space, the potential space, and the reality space, each space corresponding to the three main divisions of the Spheres of Consciousness.

The theoretical space exists in the Sphere of Comprehension. All possibilities or informational relationships are contained in the theoretical space. It is a space where absolutely anything that may occur does happen. These possibilities are determined by the totality of the structure of the universe.

The potential space exists in the Sphere of Interpretation. All probabilities are contained in the potential space. These probabilities are determined by the structure of the perceptual system, which can be composed of organic or inorganic material. In a sense the material basis of the potential space and the abstract inhabitants of this space forms a type of bridge between the qualities of Material and Abstract Spaces. The potential space is where the past interacts with the Now, the presently perceived moment in time.

The reality space exists in the Sphere of Complexity. All of the sum knowledge of a perceptual system is contained within the reality space. This space is determined by the presently perceived information of the perceptual system. 'Presently perceived information' is not meant to be time constrained, that is, this phrase implies all past knowledge, (knowledge as defined as collections of ideas or infounit complexities), within or below awareness. Whatever exists in reality space has occurred in the Past. The outer boundary of the Sphere of Complexity and of reality space is the abstract region where the Past becomes the Now.

Just within the potential space there can exist an abstract point, called the point of paradoxical development. This point is created by any minor or major knowledge gathering event within a consciousness. This point is the defining parameter of the expansion or contraction of the Spheres of Consciousness.  



Movement in the Perceptual Field

Infounit complexity waves travel through the perceptual field, existing within the different Spheres of Consciousness. These waves are not material waves nor do they travel through physical space. Infounit complexities travel through the constant density of the perceptual field by changing relationships between infounits, this process being called communication.

It is these changing relationships that create the "waves" of consciousness. These waves of consciousness are said to abstract in nature because they are determined by relationships, not by a physical force. These waves exist in abstract space, and have all the familiar attributes of any typical material wave, such as time determined frequency and space determined length. By the recording these movements of info-unit complexities through the different Spheres of Consciousness a Cartesian, relativistic coordinate system can be used to map the communication of ideas within consciousness.

Abstract constructions are determined by relationships. Material constructions are determined by forces. Abstractions consists of ideas, as defined above. Materials are comprised of collections of forces, or energy. It is useful to speak of abstract space as opposed to material space when discussing the workings of consciousness.



COMMON TERMS
At this point it would be in the cause of clarity to define and qualify some of the common terms used in this paper. These terms have been used with great latitude in philosophic discussions and models throughout history. The vocabulary of the study of consciousness is lacking in exquisite differentiation. I have faith that the evolution of language will find solutions to the present quagmire in this field. Until then much repetition of related ideas must be endured and read with great care.

THE PERCEPTUAL FIELD 

The perceptual field is defined as all the information within the Spheres of Consciousness. The density of this abstract perceptual field is constant at all times. This constant density is a consequence of the conservative quality of information: information can not be created or destroyed. The difference between the conservation of energy and that of information is that information complexity can be made more, or less complex, while the forces associated with energy, if those forces are changed in any way, will result in a different form of matter.

The perceptual field is said to be constant in density, but infinite in potential. This infinite potential is a consequence of the ability of any infounit to relate to any number of other infounits.

The perceptual field can be seen as the 'ether' that pervades the spaces within the Spheres of Consciousness. The infounit can be seen as the basic particle of that ether. Infounit complexity can be seen as relations between infounits within the perceptual field. Communication can be seen as a movement of infounit complexities within the perceptual field. An idea can be seen as a pattern of communication within the perceptual field.

PERCEPTION

Perception is simply the physical rearrangement of sensory structures or systems, organic or inorganic. This physical rearrangement is to be understood as the direct excitation of nerve cells by any form of energy flowing in from the environment to an organism. In the case of inorganic sensory systems this rearrangement is the direct manipulation of the receiving medium of the apparatus by energy flowing in from the environment The totality of sensory structures or systems for both organisms and inorganic apparatus are referred to in this paper as the perceptual system. A perceptual system does not necessarily posses consciousness. When discussing the requirements for consciousness using the term 'perceptual system' is usually a less confusing term in referring to the objects of analysis.

A perceptual system can consist of organic or inorganic parts or subsystems. Implied in this definition of perception is the concept that a simple camera, for example, is a perceptual system. Yet the aperture, or any other single part within the camera, can not perceive anything. It is only when a collection of material is arranged in certain orders that the collection, as a whole, is then defined as a perceptual system. These `certain orders' are manifested by chance, conscious design, or by selective pressures from the environment.

Perception, awareness, and memory, all material based functions, create the channel through which material space interacts with abstract space, making the accomplishments of hybrid space possible. Infounits, in material space, enter this channel through perception and flow through awareness, to emerge as relationships between infounits in abstract space.

Acts of perception do not require the mechanisms of memory. Effects of perceptual systems, such as nerve cell inhibition, sensor lag time, and habituation are not interpreted as functions of memory. The structure of the perceiving organ or sensor is the determining factor in these types of effects. The form determines the function.

Perception can be quantified by the amount of energy that is transformed from the environment by the perceptual system. This amount of energy is called the energy used in perception. The energy used in perception is all that energy captured by the perceptual system. Once a photon strikes the retina the photon has completed its journey, but not without imparting to the perceptual system, the eye, some amount of energy, which is then translated into electrical impulses that travel to the brain. The photon is reflected from the retina, but it has left its trace. That trace amount of energy is the energy used in perception.

Since a perceptual system does not capture all energy it encounters this quantity of escaped energy is referred to as the total energy used in perception. The total energy used in perception include the energy used in perception (the energy transformed by the perceptual system), the energy used to develop and sustain the perceptual system, and the total entropy produced by the perceptual system. (In organic perceptual systems this energy would correspond to all the energy used to sustain the organism through its entire lifetime or the lifetime of the species. In inorganic perceptual systems this energy would correspond to all the energy used to conceive, invent, build, use and maintain the apparatus.)

The existing energy available for perception is determined by the structure of the organism. This existing energy does not equal the total energy within the universe because of the finite nature of perceptual systems. Only by possessing perceptual systems that can be affected by certain types of energies can a consciousness then consider that perceived energy as information. If all of humanity was blind then infrared energy would be the only form of light that we could directly perceive, that is, as warmth on our skin.. Any view of the universe would have to be translated into infrared energy before that view could be allowed within awareness. Blind humanity would have to construct perceptual systems that could record the other forms of light before any translations could be performed. The translations would have to be in resolutions of infrared energy. The existing energy available for perception would be determined, to a large extent, on the intelligence and complexity of blind humanity's consciousness.

The existing energy available for perception creates the potential space of the Sphere of Interpretation. This potential space is contrasted with the reality space of the Sphere of Complexity, which is determined by the energy used in perception. The potential space can be understood by a simple phrase; "You have to be there to perceive it." A perceptual system must have some form of direct contact with the perceived object for that object to be perceived. This may seem like a rather obvious statement, but in the mazes of consciousness even the simplest constructs must be stated when presenting definitions. The potential spaces of the multitude forms of life on earth can be observed through the behaviors of these life forms.

An example of this discrimination is found by comparing the potential space of the human with that of the squid's. Both organisms have very similar eye structures, but because of the structure of the organisms their potential space is different. The amount of energy available to perceive a mushroom cannot be achieved by the squid because of its structure, i.e., it cannot walk on solid ground. It can be seen that the existing energy available for perception depends not only on the structure of the sensory organ, but on the totality of the organism in which the sensory organ is contained. Since a human can walk on solid ground his potential space can be said to include the amount of energy available to perceive a mushroom. A squid's potential space does not include the perception of a mushroom, even though the squid's eyes are perfectly capable of perceiving the image of a mushroom.

The contrast between the potential space and the theoretical space, between the Sphere of Interpretation and the Sphere of Comprehension, can be derived from an extension of the above example. Any photon of a certain type is available to similar eyes but only a given amount of photons are actually used in perception. Any photon of a certain type may be available to the eye but not all photons available to the eye will contact the eye . Again, this is first due to the finite nature of perceptual systems. Other factors involve locations in material space and time. All energy available for perception is determined by the structure of the universe, and is called a theoretical space.

AWARENESS 

Awareness is the ability to store and retrieve information. Awareness does not create information, it is only the retention and retrieval of information. No other attributes need to be assigned to the term awareness for the Spheres of Consciousness to be explained. The degree of awareness is determined by the ratio between the storage ability and the retrieval ability of a perceptual system. Awareness is processing at the most basic level in consciousness.

If the storage of information is not accompanied by an adequate retrieval ability then the information is said to be below the awareness of the perceptual system. If the information in storage is very accessible to the retrieval system then the information is said to be within the awareness of a perceptual system. Awareness could be quantified by the ratio between the amount of information storage and the accessing power of the central processing unit, the brain, to retrieve that information.

PERCEPTION WITHOUT AWARENESS
A simple camera does not possess awareness. It only perceives and stores information. The structure of the camera allows for perception and the structure of the film allows for the recording and retrieval of the perceived information. Because the retrieval of the stored information occurs outside of the camera's basic structure and is motivated by forces outside of its structure, a camera does not possess awareness. It could be said that the photo-development process is part of the camera's perceptual system, but this would be straining the metaphor.

A single cell in the eye may have some degree of awareness but because of the relatively primitive retention and retrieval abilities of a single cell this degree of awareness will be extremely diminutive when compared to the organism within which it exist. Certainly the single cell is either perceiving or not perceiving, but the relative degree of awareness of that cell will be very low.

Perception acts to gather energy as awareness acts to make relations between energies. Perception happens without and before awareness. The information must first be gathered before it is processed. The mechanism of the gathering is separate and not dependent on the subsequent processing. This is most obvious by the existence of languages that cannot be translated. We can gather all the information about the physical properties of a language, such as the geometry of the letters, but we can not fully process this information into sensible concepts that conform to pervious concepts already in memory. We gathered the energies of the language but could not make relations between the energies.

The second component of awareness is retrieval. The power of retrieval is determined by the perceptual system's central information processing center, which, in animals, is the brain. Retrieval has two parts, which are knowledge and power. Knowledge is a collection of infounit complexities, or ideas, stored in memory. The retrieval power is determined by the speed and capacity of the central information processing center within the consciousness ( 40Hz in humans).

Perception and awareness occur in material space, and therefore are subject to the restrictions imposed by time and distance. One of these restrictions is the forward direction of time. The actions of perception (gathering) must occur before information can be processed (digested) by awareness. This is only logical, that something must be gathered before it is digested. Perception is the agent of acquiring. Awareness is the agent of digestion. This stream of processing creates a bridge from the material to the abstract. It is only after perception and awareness has occurred that the material collected can be formed into abstract concepts, ideas.

The Spheres of Consciousness is a hierarchical definition scheme. Functions of consciousness must occur in sequential order. Information must exist for perception to occur, as perception must be accomplished before awareness is obtained. The capacity for memory must exist before the capacity for awareness originates. All these elements must be present to finally define consciousness.

Memory
Memory is simply the storage of information. Memory is one part of awareness, the other part being the retrieval power of the perceptual system. Memory exists only in Material Space. The storage of information must have a correlate to the energy used in the communication of information, which just means that because information is material in origin the storage of that information must also have a material basis. Said in another way, information and the storage of information must occur in the same space.

In many instances, the term awareness and the term memory could be interchanged with no change to the definition of awareness. Without memory awareness would be impossible. The distinction between the terms awareness and memory is that the definition of awareness is unaffected by the discriminations of form. There is only one form of awareness. There are many forms of memory, such as short and long term, false memories, and genetically conditioned memories, just to name a few.

In abstract space it is not actual information that is manipulated, discovered, or created, but rather the realm of abstract space operates only with the relationships between material based information that was gathered through perception and memory. Memory exists only in material space.

Memory is vital to consciousness. Information about abstract concepts in an unconscious memory can affect the material space of a conscious entity. Without the constant updating of memory by awareness a consciousness would evaporate into the perceptual field in a short time. Certain types of brain dysfunction simulate the loss of the shortest of short term memories. Those affected by this dysfunction are perpetually lost.

It is almost possible to imagine what quality of consciousness one would have without any short term memory. Imagine trying to navigate through an unknown landscape. You have a good map in your hand, but each time you look up from the map to get your bearings you forget what you just saw on the map. You would be instantly immobilized by the lack of short term memory. Your degree of awareness would be lowered to a dangerous state. Your needs would soon go unfulfilled.
 

Need
The retrieval of information is always motivated by some type of need. A need is anything that is required for the continued existence of the perceptual system. You need to find your way out of the unknown landscape. So you look at your map. You have no trouble perceiving the map as it is drawn. You have clear ideas of maps and of north and south. You have the knowledge to use the map correctly. You motivate your memory of the map as you look to the landscape. But because of your unfortunate dysfunction the awareness of the map immediately slips to nothing. It is as if you never looked at the map. The need remains, and all you can do is to try to remember or look at the map again.

Without a motivating force (a need) retrieving memory, memory is only dead storage. Memory must be remembered for the awareness of that memory to exist. A memory can be below the awareness of a perceptual system. A conscious entity can be affected by a memory it can not access with its awareness. This can be seen in the myriad effects of the unconscious, which is by definition, below awareness.

INFORMATION

THE INFOUNIT 
All information consists of the smallest perceptual contrast that is observable. The most basic unit of information is a matter of contrast; off or on, yes or no, excited or not excited. This ultimate unit of contrast is called the infounit. Information, (the plural of infounit), is never created or destroyed. Infounits are either within awareness or outside (above or below) of awareness. Any infounit has the capacity to relate to an infinite amount of infounits.

INFOUNIT CELLS AND COMPLEXITY 
Infounits are usually experienced in groups. These groups are called infounit cells. An infounit cell is a group of infounits related to each other by direct or indirect connections. Infounit complexity is the measure of the relations that infounits have within an infounit cell. An infounit cell that has a large number of infounits and a large number of relations between these infounits is said to have a large infounit complexity. Infounit complexity can be destroyed, while the infounits that make up this complexity can not be destroyed.

Infounit cells that are considered to be organized in some consistent manner are called ideas, as in the phrase, "an idea of evolution", or "an idea of prioritizing". An idea implies a discernible rhythmic fluctuation of communication within the Spheres of Consciousness. An idea can be seen as a pattern of communication within the perceptual field, or, as tendencies toward certain relationships within infounit cells.

An idea may be expressed by a consciousness without that idea being communicated to that consciousness. If the complexity values of an idea are high enough the consciousness will not be aware of the idea it may be expressing. A bird may express the idea of building a nest but because of the low amount of energy used in perception and the low infounit complexity values within the bird's perceptual field the complexity values of an idea of evolution are too high to be within the awareness of the bird. The bird has an idea of building a nest of which it is aware, but the bird does not have high enough infounit complexity to have an idea of evolution, even though the idea of nest building is within the complexity values of an idea of evolution. Simply stated, the idea of evolution is more complex than the idea of nest building. The bird's consciousness is complex enough to be aware of nest building, but not of the idea of evolution.

Comparing the potential space of the human with that of the squid yields similar results. A squid's eye may be able to record the image of a mushroom but, because of the limited potential space of the squid, (namely, a squid can not walk on land), the squid does not have the ability to be aware of the idea of a mushroom. Similarly the bird may have an idea of nest building, but does not see the nest building idea as part of a more complex whole, which is the idea of evolution. The high complexity value of the idea of evolution restrains the bird from being aware of the idea, just as the limited potential space of the squid restrains it from including within its awareness of the idea of a mushroom.

The image of a mushroom on a squid's eye is like the idea of evolution expressed by the bird through the bird's nest building behavior. The squid does not see the mushroom as a mushroom, and the bird does not see his nest as an expression of the idea of evolution. The image of a mushroom is being expressed in the squid's eye, as is the idea of evolution being expressed in the nest of the bird. The image of a mushroom and the idea of evolution are being expressed by the squid and the bird, yet the idea of a mushroom or of evolution is not within the awareness of the squid or the bird. These ideas are below their awareness. The squid and bird express the ideas, but they are not affected by the communication of the ideas.

Using this semantic of definitions it is clear that we can receive and express information without being fully aware of the information processed in our brains. The real fact is that most of the information humans process is located somewhere below our awareness. For our bodies to survive and grow our bodies need information every moment of our lives. We are able to perceive pain when a subsystem of our body needs critical attention, but for the majority of our life span the work of millions of cells and thousands of the subsystems of our physicality occur below human awareness.(reference: selective conscousness of body parts.)

An example of the effects of infounit complexity in perception can be seen by comparing the olfactory world of the dog to that of a human. A dog's olfactory perceptual system is able to discern more and finer energies than a human's system. Because of this the dog is able to create more complex relations with the olfactory infounits, mainly because there are more infounits available to the dog than to the human. The dog's perceptual field contains these complexities and is able to affect behavior influenced by these complexities, i.e., the dog will follow his nose to find the food. A human's olfactory perceptual system is unable to perceive the same energies as a dog's system, and therefore cannot build complexities that are contained in the intelligence of a dog.

If a human and a dog were placed in a large dark room with a dish of food hidden somewhere in the darkness, the dog will go directly to the food, whereas the human, even if he can detect the smell of the food, will still have much greater difficulty locating the food. This is because the human can not build infounit complexity sufficiently complex to find the food as fast as a dog. The dog has more information available for infounit complexity and therefore completes the task faster than a man.
 

THE OBSERVER AND THE OBSERVED
Where there is energy there is the potential for information to exist. This could imply that when a tree falls it makes a sound, even if no one is near to hear the sound. That unheard sound would be included in the existing energy available for perception. The sound of the falling tree does not qualify as information in material space, but only as a potential to become information, as visible light is for a race of blind humans. The material and potential aspects of information may be created simultaneously, but the information of that creation is not accessible to perceptual systems because of the time and space restrictions imposed on material perceptual systems.

The uncertainty principle states that the act of observation always affects the thing observed. Accepting that energy must be processed to be perceived it can then be discovered that not only is the observed object affected by observation, but the perceptual system that is performing the observation is also affected by the thing observed. In fact, in the chronological order of perception's functions, the observer is first affected by the object that will then, in its turn, be affected by the observer. When a perceptual system observes an object, that object has already captured the attention of the observer (has already affected the observer), if only with its physical existence. This is the justification for my placement of terms in a hierarchical scheme; perception to gather, and awareness to process or collate.

That which can be observed is not necessarily actually observed, which is defined in the Spheres as the total energy available for perception. The conservation of energy and information allows the existence of the duality of observer and observed by maintaining the informational potential of the observed. The potential of the unobserved is still maintained without the existence of the observer. Therefore, the potential for information to exist does not depend on a perceptual system to observe the object containing the potential.

Information has a dual nature, in that information affects both material space and the abstract (potential) space, independent of an observer. The source of information remains in material space, but the potential of that information exists only in abstract space. This explains the duality between material information and the potential of that information. Any perceptual system can enforce this duality by simply accessing the potential of information, and the system need not possess consciousness. The presence of a perceptual system uses the conservation of information to split the observer from the observed by invoking the effects of the uncertainty principle. A simple perceptual system can access abstract space, but if the system is too simple it may not have any affect in material space, therefore it would not leave any material evidence of its ability to access abstract space. Consciousness is not involved in this duality creation, only in the functions of perception and awareness. The presence of Consciousness does not create the duality of the universe: Consciousness evolves to cope with the universal duality of nature.

The inherent duality of information in its most basic form is manifested by the most basic forms of existence, which is the fact (and awareness) of existence and non-existence, the 'off' and 'on' that any perceptual contrast demands. From this simple duality arises the actual and the potential, the material and the abstract, and, of course, the idea of duality itself. (reference; primitive culture and their lack of duality and the possible effects it has on the evolution of societies.-- the realization of potential as it relates to the idea of evolution.----an idea is like a map, which is usually associated with some type of scale, or conversion from the material to the abstract- an idea is about something, but not the actual something.)

Consciousness can not exist without information, but not vice versa. Perhaps a consciousness could exist without energy, but, as can be seen in the map of the Spheres of Consciousness, the motivation of that consciousness would be entirely in the past. It could not advance its own level of infounit complexity. It could never reach a point of paradoxical development. If any needs arouse that demanded a higher level of infounit complexity than the consciousness has experienced in the past then that new, more complex need could not meet.

THE POINT OF PARADOXICAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Infounit contrast is absolute. The types of infounits are only two; those that have existing connections within the perceptual field and those that do not. Yet how can something that presently is within awareness relate to something that is presently outside of awareness? This is the subject that the point of paradoxical development tries to address.

What we don't know is as important as what we do know. How a consciousness relates what is within its reality space with what is contained within the potential space is the basis for the accumulation of infounit complexity. This is how an infounit that does not have a presently existing connection in the perceptual field of a conscious entity can have effects, both in the material and abstract space. This is why the word paradoxical is used to describe that point in time and space when a consciousness bootstraps its past knowledge with the potential for further gathering of knowledge. How we relate what we know with what we do not know sets the stage for the expansion of the spheres of consciousness. The point of paradoxical development is the point in time and space when an infounit complexity, (idea), becomes more complex, when new ideas are assimilated into the knowledge banks of the consciousness.
 

COMMUNICATION 

The term communication is defined as a "movement of infounit complexity" within the perceptual field. When information is communicated a pattern or patterns of infounit relations are replicated elsewhere within the perceptual field. This movement within the perceptual field does not travel like a wave through physical space. Infounit complexities travel through the constant density of the perceptual field by changing relationships between infounits. The particle of force that must be present for energy to act at a distance has no allegory in the movements of infounit complexities through the perceptual field. The constant density of the perceptual field imposes conditions that does not exist in the material universe. This is why the perceptual field is defined as an abstract space. The material universe appears extremely lumpy when compared to the uniform and constant density of the abstract universe. Interesting questions of causality and time arise in this scheme.

Communication does not increase the density of the perceptual field. When communication occurs the infounit complexity within the perceptual field increases, but no new information has been added to the universe, (or infoverse, if you please). The number of connections within an infounit cell is said to increase with communication, but the density of the perceptual field always remains constant. Ideas can grow more complex, but ideas never produce facts, or infounits. Ideas increase the probability that more complex perceptions can be conjured, and increase the possibility that awareness will be able handle this new complexity and ultimately lead to the further increase in the infounit complexity available to a consciousness.  This is another seemingly paradoxical quality of the perceptual field and movement within it.

Communication can be imperfect, incomplete, or distorted. There are many types of communication, the types usually determined by relative intelligence and physical and perceptual conditions.

It is these changing relationships that create the "waves" of consciousness. These waves of consciousness are said to abstract in nature because they are determined by relationships, not by a physical force. By recording these movements of info-unit complexities through the different Spheres of Consciousness a relativistic coordinate system can be used to map these movements within consciousness. This is a powerful use of the Spheres of Consciousness.

CONSCIOUSNESS

Consciousness exists in any perceptual system that exhibits the ability to store and retrieve information under its own motivation. Nothing which is obviously alive could be said to be without some degree of consciousness. An amoeba moves about a Petri dish in a random manner, at least at a human's scale of consciousness. But in reality that amoeba is perceiving fine currents of nutrients occurring below our perception, and is consciously following the currents. It is acting on its own motivation. The amoeba definitely possesses consciousness.

On the other hand, consider the modern day computer. A computer can perceive, store, and retrieve information. It perceives through man-made sensors. It stores information with magnetic fields. It retrieves information with the help of man-made programs. These programs can give the computer routines that can mimic conscious activity. But it is the human which is motivating the computer. Two of the three requirements for consciousness are satisfied by the computer. No computer known to man can be said to possess consciousness. A computer can not motivate itself.

Consciousness is sometimes said to be universal, that is, that everything is conscious. Consider a rock in the earth. A rock can be said to store information in its very structure and placement in the earth's strata. That information can be extracted by the awareness of a geologist. As with the computer, the rock exhibits no motivation of its own. A rock does not need to be discovered. As with computer programs, the awareness and consciousness of the geologist motivates the retrieval of information. It is the geologist that has a need to discover which motivates the retrieval of the information contained by the rock. A rock can not possess consciousness. Therefore, consciousness is not universal, in that sense.

For a perceptual system to be conscious it must have available to its awareness, in any degree, all of the structures of the Spheres of Consciousness. It must be centered as an individual within a reality space, the Sphere of Complexity. The individual must also have a finite potential space, (a finite life span), in the Sphere of Interpretation. And, of course, since it is defined as an individual it is separate from its total environment, the theoretical space of the Sphere of Comprehension.

THE CONSCIOUSNESS TOTEM

 

INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence is a relative term. The idea of intelligence take place in the reality space since it is the comparative degree of awareness that determines intelligence. A conscious entity could have an equal potential space as a reference consciousness, but have a smaller reality space than the reference consciousness. The reference consciousness would then consider itself more intelligent.

Modern man has a larger Sphere of Complexity than stone age man but their Spheres of Interpretation are practically the same size. Modern man retains more information and the organization of his sensory organs are more complex than stone age man's, due primarily to advancements of exosensory apparatus. The individual and collective memory of stone age man remained virtually unchanged. Even as the arrangement of both stone age and modern man's sensory organs remains unchanged, it is modern man who now is equipped with writing and computers. Modern man considers himself more intelligent than stone age man. It is the quantity of information and the complexity of the methods used in information gathering that determines intelligence. Intelligence is expressed in a ratio.


The Experience of Self Consciousness
The so-called "conscious experience", the experience of consciousness, or what I label as "self consciousness" and define as to perceive the experience of consciousness, has caused much confusion over the centuries. (Experience is defined as the totality of the acts and effects of specific perceptions and awareness.) If we are aware of our consciousness this means that we store and retrieve information of our own self-motivation. This also implies that there exists a perceptual system that can detect the workings of consciousness.

Can a consciousness actually perceive the workings of its own consciousness? Not without a perceptual system that can be affected by the presence of consciousness.

Perception is defined as simply the physical rearrangement of a perceptual system. If a perceptual system can not detect a stimulus then that stimulus is said to be below the perception of that perceptual system. It can not be aware of the stimulus. Yet the common experience of self consciousness points directly to the existance of a physcial organ that can detect the presence of consciousness.

This does not exclude the possibility that a consciousness can be influenced by ideas and forces below of its perception. We can blow on an ant but it is safe to say that the ant has no perception or idea of what caused it to suddenly lift and be thrown, even though it is probably aware that it is suddenly not where it was a moment ago. An ant may not be self aware. Since we have not discovered the organ of self consciousness in humans we can not extrapolate that self consciousness is universial to all perceptual systems that possess consciusness.

It is seen that a perceptual system can not perceive the workings of consciousness without a perceptual system to be affected by the workings of its own consciousness. Yet consciousness can receive information from perceptual systems that are not within its awareness. This is the fact that stops this path of logic from extending to infinity. One does not have to imagine a perceptual system that acts like a mirror reflecting itself to explain self consciousness. It is highly probable that an ant is not aware of the idea of vision being provided by its eyes, but still it sees.

I can not deny the subjective experience of self consciousness, or the existence of qualia. For this experience to be labeled objective experience there must be some perceptual system or organ that is found to be affected by the workings of consciousness. I have not discovered the perceptual system that is actually rearranged by the workings of my consciousness. I do believe that it is probable that somewhere in the body and/or brain is a perceptual structure that is affected by the qualities of an individual's consciousness. Perhaps deep with every cell is a system of near quantum structures that are tuned to the totality of a consciousness. There is much to be discovered.

This consciousness perceiving organ will be exceedingly subtle in character, perhaps as (or more) subtle as consciousness itself. If it is proven that there is no such organ, then, perhaps, the experience of my own consciousness is only a type of by-product of the nature of perception and awareness working together.

I have an idea of the workings of my own consciousness (the effect of self consciousness), but I can not point to the organ that allows me perception of my consciousness. At this time in history the perception of that hypothetical organ is below the awareness of all humans. We are like the ant with no awareness of vision being provided by the eyes, but we still have the experience of vision. How can we deny vision?

Over history this experience of self consciousness has been denied because there is no obvious organ that can perceive the experience of consciousness. It is to be expected that the organ that could perceive consciousness would be hard to locate or even conceive.

The awareness of our own bodies in space is now considered a bona fide experience associated with perceptual systems within our bodies. It was only after the discovery of the organs that perceive the body in space was the validity of such awareness accepted.

The experience of self consciousness may be common but the infounits involved in an idea of an experience, without the awareness of the organ that perceives the experience, can be found to have a very high infounit complexity. For this reason it can be expected that the more complex consciousness will have a greater awareness of its self consciousness. A single cell's self consciousness may never reach the cell's awareness. A dog's self consciousness may come within the dog's awareness during certain periods of lucidity, but for most of its life the dog is unaware of this experience. Also the energies used in the perception of consciousness probably involves very fine energies. This may also limit the experience of self consciousness by setting some threshold complexity level to self consciousness. I believe much of the contents of the unconsciousness consists of the incomplete awareness of self consciousness, even in a highly complex consciousness.

Questions of Knowledge
Is knowledge gained without perception? Can ideas be perceived? Can communication be accomplished without perception? Before attempting to answer these questions the difference between acts, effects and cause must be understood and agreed upon. The confusion of these terms must be eliminated.

Acts, Effects, and Cause

Another window for confusion in the study of consciousness occurs when the discussion turns to the motivation of consciousness. To examine this motivation one must speak of cause and effect, and the acts of consciousness as a whole.

The typical definition of ‘cause and effect’ is not valid at the scale in which consciousness is examined. In fact, this typical definition is not used by the new physics. The consequences of the uncertainty principle has separated cause from effect.

Acts refer to physical or abstract rearrangements. The term act or acts when used in the discussion of consciousness always implies some physical or abstract differentiation associated with changes occurring in time and space. Perception is the physical rearrangement of a perceptual system, so it is useful to speak of the acts of perception, (not the effects), when referring to the functioning of perception. Acts of perception are never exactly reproducible.

A cause is an abstract certainty. A cause can be shown to be the results (equal) of certain acts and effects, but in an exclusive manner, meaning exactly replicated. Any cause is the end result of the acts of perception and the effects of awareness. By dividing the idea of the common definition of cause by the idea of acts and effects a more stable meaning can be given to the term cause. A cause will always be without change. A cause is timeless in this manner. A cause is infinitely reproducible, in abstract space. The only uncertainties associated with a cause occur when material structures are required to reproduce a known cause, one that will be within a conscious awareness and accessible by perceptional systems. It is easy to get confused here, because a cause is usually seen as relative to, and occurring after, certain specific acts and effects. Yet acts and effects are filled with uncertainty, since it is seen that most acts and effects can increase the probability of any number of different causes. The scientific method of experimentation is mankind's attempt to categorize causes with certain reproducible acts and effects.

There is a logical fault with assuming any physical experiment can be perfectly reproduced by exactly duplicating the conditions under which it was first observed. Nature lets us come only so close to mimicking its complexity. It is now known that nothing material can be exactly duplicated, an effect of the uncertainly principle, which is very tightly connected to the relationship of the observed and the observer. The very light we use to discover material causes and effects of abstract certainties manipulates those causes and effects before we become aware of them. Most of the time this quality of uncertainty does not immediately affect methods of generating everyday causes which we depend on at the marco level. But this does not change the fact that it is happening below our awareness, and could possibly be the source for all sorts of mysteries of the so called human condition.

Acts, in abstract space, can be duplicated. The thought experiment is an example of how abstract acts can be exactly duplicated. Since human logic is not complete, or universal, even time independent, duplicated abstract acts will always produce effects that are in some degree uncertain.  It is not like simple numerical computations, where the same solution is always reached when identical equations are used.  Mathematics, in this sense, is a purely abstract undertaking. The source of the rules of mathematics are contained within the specific nature of the computing consciousness, and not based upon material effects. One plus one may equal two all throughout the universe, but the conception of "one" and "two" is determined by effects of abstract space.
 
Effects are the products of acts, and are disassociated from any cause. Effects are time restrained. This means that effects are striped of anonymous or unknown ‘causes’. This is different than ‘cause and effect’ in that no effect is implied by any act. Cause is associated with certainty. All occurrences in the perceptual field are determined by effects which are produced by acts in material space. A linkage between material and abstract is constructed from causes, effects, and acts thus defined.

There are no effects exclusively associated with certain individual acts. The same act can result in many different effects. In theory, any act can have any effect. For a cause to be ascertained a collection of acts must be exactly duplicated. The degree that the collection of acts conforms to the ideal duplication is the degree to which the effects of that cause will be certain. In reality the direction of time prevents any exact duplication to be achieved, for an exact duplication would have to occur at the same time coordinates as the original acts and effects.

Yet an exact cause is not impossible to achieve, chiefly because of the abstract nature of a cause. While acts are never reproducible, the effects that are associated with a cause can be aroused to bring about that exact cause, without a reproduction of the acts that may have been involved with the initial production of that particular cause. This is the only way humans, without time machines, can claim any mastery over material things. This is not to say that effects of causes happen before the cause, but that the very qualities that create uncertainty allows the workings of consciousness to gather legitimate knowledge about the material world. In theory, any number of acts can produce the same cause, as any single act can have any single effect.

Knowledge
Knowledge is a collection of infounit complexities. Infounit complexities can be seen as a collection of perceptions which are within awareness. It is the effects (not an immediate act) of awareness that develop infounit complexities, which are then collected into banks of knowledge by intelligence.

Knowledge is rarely without uncertainties associated with its execution. In a sense, knowledge is primarily concerned with causes, for it is though the discovery of causes that abstract ideas can affect material space, so the effects of which can be observed by all. Yet the uncertainties contained with the productions of acts keep a continuous pressure of uncertainty on all effects produced in material space. It is often extremely difficult to reproduce another scientist's experiment. (The conditions of a thought experiment are much easier to reproduce since this experiment takes place in abstract space.) Science is, at its core, the discovery of the degree of uncertainty of acts and effects, and their recordation.

There is no direct perception of knowledge. I have never experienced anything that could be called knowledge, not in the same sense of experiencing self consciousness, or even an experiencing of a flower. Unless there is a specific perceptual system or organ that perceives (is directly rearranged by incoming energy) infounit complexities there can not be direct perception of knowledge. I doubt that there are any organs that can perceive knowledge directly since it is a totally abstract entity and outside of the material space of the structures of a perceptual system.

Knowledge is built from separate acts and effects of perception and awareness. In the experience of self consciousness there seems to be a heightened awareness of `cerebral' objects, and the idea of knowledge may gain infounit complexity, but in no way can this effect be mistaken for a true perception of knowledge.
 


MAPPING CONSCIOUSNESS

When exploring unknown territories, such as in the study of consciousness, it is always useful to have a map. Using these precise terms, the phenomena known as consciousness can be observed and mapped with some degree of objectivity.

There are two types of maps. The General Map uses the most universal aspects of this theory to describe species and individuals in a general manner. The Personal Map is applied to the psychological and individualistic aspects of consciousness. Any map can be viewed through linear or holographic methods.


THE GENERAL MAP
DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL MAP

Consider the illustration labeled GENERAL MAP. This is a visual representation of the most universal aspects of this theory. The widest interpretation of the possibilities of consciousness characterizes most of the presumptions in this theoretical model.

The Sphere of Comprehension corresponds to all the energy available for sensory perception. It is a theoretical space and is theoretically infinite. It is a space which contains within its space all order as a consequence of its potential infinite characteristics (also all disorder). It is, in effect, the entire structure of the universe.

The Sphere of Interpretation corresponds to the existing energy available for sensory perception. This quantity of energy is determined by the structure of sensory organs and the complexity of the organism. Although the eyes of a human cannot directly perceive infrared light, the complexity of the human organism allows the human to indirectly perceive this light through instrumentation. Therefore the energy of infrared light is available to the human consciousness. In fact, because of the nature of light and the complexity of the structures of the human mind, all forms of light are potentially available for sensory perception by human beings. The Sphere of Interpretation is called a potential space as opposed to the theoretical space of the Sphere of Comprehension. This potential space corresponds to the observable universe, which includes both Material and Abstract Space.

Within the potential space of the Sphere of Interpretation is the Sphere of Complexity. The Sphere of Complexity corresponds to all presently perceived information of the consciousness being mapped. It is determined by the sum knowledge of that consciousness, which include genetic information. Knowledge is defined as a collection of ideas. Because it is observed that perceptual systems are most obviously influenced by previously acquired knowledge and presently occuring needs the Sphere of Complexity is said to contain a reality space.


THE PERSONAL MAP
DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSONAL MAP

Consider the illustration labeled the Personal Map. This is a visual representation of the most universal aspects of this philosophy as applied especially to the psychological and individualistic ramifications of this model. This map has the same major divisions as the General Map and is complementary to it.

The Sphere of Comprehension in the Personal Map closely corresponds to the same sphere in the General Map. It is the total environment, which is all energy available for sensory perception, and therefore is a theoretical space. The Sphere of Comprehension is determined by the structure of the universe, and contains infinite possibilities.

The Sphere of Interpretation is the determined by life span of the organism, which could imply an entire species or an individual consciousness. Being the existing energy available for sensory perception, ( determined as a fixed quantity after the life span of the mapped consciousness ), it is named a potential space. Since the life spans and perceptual organs of an organism are determined by the structure of the organism this sphere's limits are defined by these same perimeters.

The Sphere of Complexity corresponds to individual consciousness, which could be species related or an individual organism's consciousness. It is the presently perceived information of the individual consciousness and is called a reality space. It is determined by the development of the species or the individual, its personal history, and includes the sub-consciousness. It is the space in which probabilities are selected from the potential possibilities of the potential space of the Sphere of Interpretation. All events and knowledge of the individual are contained in this sphere. Everything in the Sphere of Complexity has taken place in the past. The outer edge of this sphere is delimited by the present moment, the Now.

Deep within the Sphere of Complexity is a sphere determined by the development of the species, which corresponds to the collective unconsciousness, as described by Carl Jung. Within this sphere are all involuntary reflexes, unconscious memories, archetypes, and mythologies. The history of the individual unconsciousness does not determine the outer boundaries of this sphere. The individual unconsciousness can be said to be within this sphere but does not support any of its structure at any time or place. These parameters mark the boundaries of the unconscious space.

LINEAR AND HOLOGRAPHIC VIEWING

The most practical use of the Maps is to describe behavior and states of consciousness. It is hoped that through the use of these maps and their definitions that, besides our own consciousness, even unknown or alien forms of consciousness can be mapped and perhaps more fully understood.

There are two methods of viewing the Maps.

Linear viewing, which produces the familiar continuous two-dimensional waves with typical characteristics, that is, wave length and frequency. Holographic viewing, which produces standing waves in three dimensions. Linear viewing is most advantageously used when the sequential time sense is to be highlighted. Linear viewing produces oscillation patterns in two dimensions, displaying the standard wave form with measurable length and frequency. Linear viewing is most advantageously used to explore areas in the perceptual field.

Holographic viewing produces standing wave forms, used most advantageously when a topographic time sense is to be highlighted. Whereas linear viewing draws a flat map holographic viewing produces a relief map. An example of standing waves is a barrel of water which is rhythmically vibrated. The wave forms that can be perceived on the surface of the water in the barrel are the types of wave forms produced by holographic viewing. The contrast in holographic viewing is caused by time densities, that is, the relative duration of occupancy in any range of consciousness.

The "radius" is a useful term in consciousness mapping. Each radii is named for the sphere into which the consciousness wave extends. The length of the radius of comprehension is theoretically infinite. The maximum length of the radius of interpretation is equal to the radius of the observable universe, or is determined by all potential energy available to the senses. The maximum length of the radius of complexity is determined by the actual energy used in perception. The number designating the radius of any consciousness wave can be seen to be the same number for both methods of viewing; the linear viewing and the holographic viewing methods.
Linear viewing leaves a record of the past, giving only implied pattern, which can be interpreted in any number of ways. Holographic viewing is a product of the patterns of the past, the Now, and the future of the consciousness being mapped. This is an important difference, and this difference gives each method of viewing its own special advantage when constructing maps of consciousness.

Tendencies are more easily discerned through linear viewing. Immediate behavior is more easily understood through holographic viewing. Intensities are displayed in holographic viewing. In linear viewing intensities are not directly displayed but are implied in the recorded patterns of consciousness waves. The future may more easily be predicted with linear viewing, but the effects of all time frames can be more easily seen through holographic viewing of consciousness waves.

EXAMPLES OF CONSCIOUSNESS RANGE MAPPING

 

The consciousness ranges I will use as illustrations are: psychotic, neurotic, the typical consciousness range, self-actualized range, and the transcendental range. These selected ranges will cover all the spheres and show how this model of consciousness can simplify discussions of consciousness ranges.

The psychotic range remains predominately in the unconscious space. The nature, or texture, of an individual psychotic is determined by the length and frequency of the consciousness wave within this range. The psychotic is mostly concerned with past experiences, which is to say he very rarely leaves the complexity sphere. The longer the wavelength and the shorter the wave frequency the more severe the psychotic condition ( This is general rule of consciousness mapping: long wavelength coupled with short frequency indicate extreme effects within the mapped range. ) A psychotic's ego strength is usually very low.

The neurotic range remains predominately in the Sphere of Complexity. Neurotic consciousness waves are similar to the psychotic waves in their extremes of wave lengths and frequencies and in the general patterns they create. The neurotic waves differ from psychotic waves in that the neurotic waves tend to occupy more of the outer regions of reality space than the psychotic waves. Most neurotics have large ego strengths, though it is usually distorted to some degree. The neurotic's conditions is determined by his own personal history with no concrete concepts of his potential space. In fact, this is how a neurotic is cured, by forcing him to confront his potential space.

A neurotic fixation is represented by short frequencies and long lengths of which reach deep within the unconsciousness and then to nearly maximum ego strength. It seems to an observer that he has both a large ego and a small ego. Sometimes the frequencies are so short as to make it seem that these contradictory factors are existing simultaneously. Schizophrenia wave patterns are similar in this manner, but with perhaps longer frequencies and some intrusions into the spheres above the Sphere of Complexity. This difference is most clearly shown in the holographic view, and serves as a good example of how the two views of linear and holographic can compliment each other in accurate representations of consciousness states.

The typical consciousness range is that form of consciousness which is most common to the modern human. (Relatively speaking, any typical consciousness range is the most common to its experience.) It occupies the reality space of individual consciousness and sub consciousness most of the time. It is characterized by long frequencies and generally shorter lengths. It intrudes into the lower unconsciousness and above to the potential space only periodically. These intrusions are vital for normal functioning. The unconsciousness intrusions occur during sleep or daydreaming. The potential space intrusions usually occur when a person is performing new tasks or confronting novel ideas. Maximum ego strength is experienced in this range, but the typical consciousness range usually remains below this level. Patterns of typical consciousness waves show that much time in these states is spent in the subconscious realms of the reality space.

The self-actualization range reaches within the unconscious space, passes through the typical waves in the reality space, and is distinguished by its extended intrusion into the potential space. A self-actualized person is functioning beyond his typical consciousness range by occupying more of the Sphere of Interpretation than normal. He can be said to be in the Now more often. These waves are usually of short frequencies but of longer lengths. As mental concentration grows the frequency also becomes longer in the potential space.

A good example of these wave forms is the athlete who is at the peak of his performance abilities. During these times of self actualization his ego strength is nearing minimum. His concentration is intense, the goal is clear, and the mind is ready to encounter the Now in all its subtly . He goes beyond the development of his individual history and enters the potential space of the structure of his organism. He is ready to break records. He rises above the commonly accepted limits of the human body and pushes the Sphere of Complexity outward, creating points of paradoxical development along the wave of communication into the Sphere of Interpretation.

The transcendent consciousness range can occupy any or all spheres in both Maps. It is, in effect, an ego less state in a theoretical space. Minimum ego strength is passed, and this accounts for the difficulty in describing these highly subjective states of consciousness. These state are sometimes described themselves as indescribable. Since the ego is effectively eliminated the principal reference point of all language is absent. It is generally accepted that 'real', concrete knowledge can not be usefully extracted from the transcendent consciousness range. This could be true, for if one cannot communicate an experience to someone then the knowledge is to forever remain a personal knowledge which cannot be collectively acted upon, or with which no exact cause can be generated. Points of paradoxical development may not be formed in potential space, depending on duration and placement of infounit complexity waves within the Sphere of Interpretation. It is a general experience of LSD users that they completely forget knowledge obtained while within the drug induced transcendent consciousness range.

When the transcendent consciousness range is viewed through the holographic method interesting patterns can be seen in the development of collective or individual evolution. The duration and effect of any consciousness range can be said to leave an imprint in the holographic picture of the Spheres of Consciousness. No matter what consciousness range one is presently occupying any transcendental experience will affect the holographic viewing of that consciousness, just as any strong experience in any range would affect every holographic viewing. In this manner the transcendent consciousness range, (or any range, for that matter), can be seen to have an singular effect within the Sphere of Complexity, and perhaps generate an actual cause, and can in reality have a chance of being communicated outside of purely personal knowledge.

The linear viewing of transcendent consciousness could also create some peculiar consciousness wave forms. In linear viewing this range could be seen as a straight line going through all the Spheres of Consciousness. This is possible because time direction determines the horizontal scale of any Map, and in conjunction, because the theoretical space creates and is created by infinite possibilities. Therefore the cessation of time is incorporated into the possible linear viewing patterns of a transcendent wave form.

REFERENCES

Gleick, J. (1988), Chaos, Heinemann, London.

Josephson, B.D. (1988), Found. Phys. 18, 1195-1204.

Langer, S.K. (1957), Philosophy in a New Key, Harvard, London and
Cambridge, Mass.

P. Pylkk\"anen (1989), ed., The Search for Meaning, (Crucible,
Wellingborough, Northants., UK, 1989).

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