Perhaps I didn't write it correctly. Of course, the processing of information takes place within the individual; there is no such existential 'thing' as a 'collective'.
But, doesn't the knowledge base rest within the collective? For example, I did not, myself, make my computer. I rely on the knowledge base of the collective that it can provide me with this 'thing' that operates as a computer. I 'know' that some disease is caused by germs; I know it on a surface level (in words) because it is the knowledge of my community - but I do not 'know' it from any individual empirical evidence; I've never seen a germ. If I had to rely on my own small knowledge base, I'd be very limited in what I could do. But, relying on the massive storage and innovative capacities of the collective knowledge base - and knowledge producers - I can reap the benefits. I did not, myself, invent the airplane. But, relying on the innovative capacities of the collective of my species - I can make use of such a technological advance. That is, the human species, because it moved invention (abduction) out of the biological domain and into the 'imagination', into speculation, into anticipatory thought - this meant that the species as a whole could develop adaptive technology. And then, this new adaptation could be made use of by others - who had not had a thing to do with the development of this new adaptation! Edwina ----- Original Message ----- From: Danko Nikolic To: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; Edwina Taborsky ; [email protected] Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2015 4:26 PM Subject: Re: [biosemiotics:8130] Abduction and Practopoiesis Dear Edwina, On 29/03/15 21:59, Edwina Taborsky wrote: Edwina: Does the massive storage of knowledge and the number of adaptive levels function within the individual - or is it instead the case that such a complex intelligence operates within a collective, within the 'community-of-knowers, so to speak - and no one person is required (or even has the ability) to develop novel adaptations on their own. It functions within individuals. For example, this is how we learn and a new fact or a new skill; when we learn something new, we change our ideatheca. Danko -- Prof. Dr. Danko Nikolić Web: http://www.danko-nikolic.com Mail address 1: Department of Neurophysiology Max Planck Institut for Brain Research Deutschordenstr. 46 60528 Frankfurt am Main GERMANY Mail address 2: Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies Wolfgang Goethe University Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1 60433 Frankfurt am Main GERMANY ---------------------------- Office: (..49-69) 96769-736 Lab: (..49-69) 96769-209 Fax: (..49-69) 96769-327 [email protected] ----------------------------
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