2018-08-08, 12:25 AM
(2018-08-07, 09:35 PM)stephenw Wrote: [ -> ]Yes - the goal is to have a scientific model of mental events that includes mind effecting the environment through changing real-world probabilities. Hence, why I am trying to sell a methodological view to model mind that is not trapped in organic chem. But measures - if only indirectly - factors like will-power and creativity.
What is conjectured by me; is a process model for simple interaction of bio-information processing leading to natural processes of purposeful behavior. How living things understand their environment is addressed. This model is just a (useful) map.
"A scientific model seeks to represent empirical objects, phenomena, and physical processes in a logical and objective way. All models are in simulacra, that is, simplified reflections of reality that, despite being approximations, can be extremely useful" (Wiki).
"Empiricism in the philosophy of science emphasises evidence, especially as discovered in experiments. It is a fundamental part of the scientific method that all hypotheses and theories must be tested against observations of the natural world rather than resting solely on a priori reasoning, intuition, or revelation" (Wiki).
I see a rather basic problem in your enterprise. Your seeking of a "scientific model" of mental experience, of mental events, inevitably runs into the Hard Problem. This is because mental experience, qualities of mind including qualia, intentionality, feelings, knowing, etc. are in an entirely different realm of existence than the empirical objects, phenomena, and physical processes that can be "scientifically" modelled.
Qualities or elements of mind such as qualia, intentionality, knowing, feelings, etc. simply can't be reduced to physical objects or phenomena that can be physically observed. Try to find such things in the chemical and electronic interactions of neurons and synapses processing data in the brain. Or in any of the intricate cellular machinery and multicellular machinery of the body. It's a category error.
What empirical objects or physical phenomena would you seek to represent in your model? It seems to me the model you are trying to set up will necessarily be unscientific, and consequently can't ever get the imprimatur of approval by the scientific community.