In a previous blog post I introduced a way of thinking about learning, called the heuristic stack model of the agent. This is a model of an agent as a stack of heuristics.
In this post I wish to present two kinds of thinking, argue that the thinking that you do falls into either of these classes, and propose some small thought experiments.
In Kahneman’s famous book are described two systems, namely the fast one, which is automatic, and the slow one, which is used only when necessary.
I am also going to suggest two systems into which all thought can be divided, but divided along a different axis.
I will present two styles of thinking, Integral thinking and Continuum thinking, which are meaningfully distinct, and which together comprise the whole of conscious human thought.
Integral thinking corresponds to integers, such as 0 and 1, standing for truth and falsehood. This includes the languages of logic and mathematics.
Continuum thinking is characterized by the real numbers and corresponds to degrees of belief or uncertainty.
Humans use continuum thinking to decide what to do, to evaluate their position in the world, and to measure anything outside of ourselves. It is the only practical kind of thinking in literally any practical situation.
We use logical or integral thinking in understanding continuum thinking, and in imposing mathematical models on the world we bring more and more practical affairs within remit of logical thinking. Integral thinking is always derived from continuum thinking. Integral thinking enables fields like law or mathematics. Integral thinking can be transmitted precisely: it is digital.
Continuum thinking is the only thinking we can do about anything in the real world.
Anything that has measureable information behind it is in a continuous domain.
Integral thinking maps to logic, and includes mathematics. Continuum thinking maps to probability and information theory.
Integral thinking arises through symbolic means.
When we think in terms of
Computer hardware itself works in the logical domain. On top of this we build software which generally (and classically) has been regarded as purely integral: a program is either correct or not, it is given input and either gives the correct output or otherwise contains an error. AI is the field of applying computers that work in the integral domain to real-world problems, in which deciding what to do is continuous.
If there are two ways of thinking
All political thinking is integral when it appeals to logic, but continuous when it connects to values and wants.
Violence can be justified by either integral thinking or by continuum thinking. However, integral thinking is inherently strong, and this power can make it a useful weapon. Thus, people who do not use integral thinking may experience it as violent.