Peter, in the FedWiki we try to capitalize keywords in page titles.

This is a table from the book I am working on. I surfaced some returning patterns in my thinking. So I called that the [[Epistemological]] Approach. Sounds scientific, but it is more personal because I can't change this way of thinking.

Table 1 The Epistemological Approach

1st Principle: 3-Dimensions PLUS Time

Think always 4-dimensional. This short statement means to me that I always try immediately to visualize or think, whatever it is, as a [[Process of Time]] (πάντα ῥεῖ) or asymmetry, as opposed to the symmetry of the eternal natural laws of physics. This must also be true for human beings, their brain, and mind.

2nd Principle: Root Parts and Actions are Sparse

Think always that to create the [[Degrees of Freedom]] to create [[Complex Adaptive Systems]], only a few elementary constituent parts are allowed as their dynamic roots. In the field of the study of complex adaptive systems as studied by natural sciences like ecology, biology, and related sciences, but inclusive psychology, sociology, economy, and related fields, these constituent parts are the elementary interactions of feedback and feedforward control. See the 3rd principle below.

3rd Principle: Interconnect Dynamically

In every instance, think [[cybernetics]]. Always think in terms of feedback or modulators & feedforward or drivers, their ratio, the [[Law of Multi-Scale Requisite Variety]], upward [[Emergence]], and downward [[Control]]. Without cybernetics, nothing works.

4th Principle: Words exist only In Time

Always realize that words never have a fixed [[Meaning]]. Their meaning emerges from the context. Words only have meaning after they are formed (spoken/written or thought) and never before that moment (something must be [[Moving]] to become [[Information]]). To give an object that is time-dependent a name and use that term as if it is a “[[Thing]],” which is called “[[Reification]],” is to be avoided at all times.

5th Principle

Always think in terms of waves, sinusoids, fractals, [[Power-laws]], and rhythms or oscillations. Our friends Fourier and Heisenberg are still just around the corner. For understanding the human mind, [[Calculus]], the math of change and movement, has a priority above statistics.

6th Principle: Think Biologically

Always base the thinking on the natural sciences, especially complexity theory, evolutionary theory, biology, physics, physiology, etc., but also never think beyond the biological world into deeper levels like quantum mechanics or higher levels like the cosmos. The thought that “my mind is made of the same stuff as my kidney” helps me if I wander too much off the track from the biological world.

Another consequence of this principle is never to assume a fundamental difference between animals and human beings (go beyond the classical comparing elephants, dolphins, and primates with human beings).

7th Principle: Dynamic Emergent Properties form Representations After The Fact

There is no [[Representation]] of anything within the brain. All “representation-of-whatever” is emergent from a high-frequency circular rhythmic process between brain and environment (body included). All hysteresis (memory) is related to the 1st & 5th principle and [[Hebbian Learning]] or [[Neural Plasticity]]. The observer emerges after the observation. The will emerges after the action.

8th Principle: Static Data, Emergent Ephemeral Information

Always realize the difference between [[Data]] and [[Information]] as being the difference between symmetry and asymmetry. Consequently, if something is not time-dependent (can be stored and is theoretically eternal if there is energy enough to fight entropy), it is data and not information (cannot be saved). Information is the pattern emerging from the interaction of matter. Can you store it? It is data. When it is impossible to store, it is information.

9th Principle: Always Inside->Out

Always go inside-out in explaining what happens within the [[Brain]]. Inside-out means looking to the inner workings of the brain before concluding how the [[Mind]] might work. Never use the outside-in concepts. These concepts are still the most used in the academic humanities and layman’s world but consolidated in a historical period (1890-1940) when no fundamental knowledge about the brain or complexity was available. If you don't know how the brain works, don't talk about it.

10th Principle: Abduction (Poetic Thinking)

Use “Abduction” as a method of preference. [[Abduction]] is the method of pulling together all knowledge derived from consistencies, the [[Relevance]] of [[Resemblance]], and [[Evidence]] considered.

11th Principle: Non-Linear is the Rule

Always think in terms of non-linearity, [[Condition-Effect]], self-organization and use linear, cause-effect, top-down control only with extreme care.

See [[Four Nested Questions]] by JMP

12th Principle: More a Part than you can Realize.

Always realize you have less free will than you think you have, even if you follow this rule. Always realize you are more part of the system than you think you are, even if you follow this rule.