Yahoo! Canada GeoCities

New2Paradigm

The New Paradigm

The Johannson Version

If the old paradigm was the clock, the new paradigm is the transistor.

An introduction to this page's approach to the new paradigm

In Search of the New Paradigm: A New Paradigm Chronology

Challenge and Response

The Sea Change: Seminar 1. Control
Contains Johannson Model for modeling cybernetic control systems

The Sea Change: Seminar 2. Communication

The Sea Change: Seminar 3. Information

The Sea Change: Seminar 4. The Future

The Form of Reality: A Meditation on Process Dualism

The Form of Reality: Appendices

Process Dualism: Cybernetics and the Mind/Body Problem

Process Dualism: Appendices and Bibliography

Rethinking Entropy

This page will be the index page and have links to these documents, and as I add more chapters to the narrative, I will add links. As well, I have set up a Yahoo Group called new2paradigm@yahoogroups.ca. You can join this group for discussions, and for announcements of new postings to the web page http://ca.geocities.com/robert_johannson and you can email me at robert_johannson@yahoo.ca

Introduction

The old paradigm (modernism) is materialism and it's shadow side existentialism (aka post-modernism). The old paradigm is that: 1. only matter/energy exists; 2. energy can be transmitted; and 3. control systems are governed by energy processes (forces). The philosophical assumptions of the old paradigm are a metaphysics of materialism; an epistemology of empiricism; an ethics of pragmatism; and an aesthetics of functionalism.

The new paradigm begins with three basic affirmations: 1. information is neither matter, nor energy; 2. information can be communicated; and 3. control systems are governed by information processes. The new paradigm has a completely different set of philosophical assumptions: a metaphysics of process dualism; an epistemology of sophisticated realism; an ethics of ecological responsibility; and an aesthetics of harmony.

The mind boggling affirmation is the first one: information is neither matter nor energy. It is this idea that "modern" people are forbidden to think. "Modern" people are forbidden to think that anything could exist other than matter/energy. "Modern" people are permitted to think the second and third affirmations so long as there is an unstated assumption that information doesn't really exist, and by information we mean energy.

Information is radically different from matter/energy. Information is immaterial. Information is choice. Information is historical. Information is hierarchical. Information is holistic. Information is meaningful. The world of the old paradigm is atomistic, deterministic, meaningless, fragmented, single planed and ahistorical. Moving into the new paradigm is moving into a world that is related, free, meaningful, historical, and holistic.

My particular contribution is to formulate the metaphysics of process dualism. My first presentation was a scholarly paper about the mind-body problem: "Process Dualism: Cybernetics and the Mind/Body Problem." My second presentation was a paper designed to reach a broader audience called: "The Form of Reality: A meditation on process dualism." My third presentation was a series of lectures on the new paradigm that I called The Sea Change. I have been working on a fourth presentation that I call "In Search of the New Paradigm" which is essentially a narrative of my search, and some of the fascinating thinkers and scientists that I encountered on the way.

My original intention was to steadily post to this site new installments in this little detective story. But it occurred to me that one of the advantages of the Internet is that I don't have to choose. I can post my previous attempts too, and allow people to choose which they find the more entertaining and informative. As a result there is a fair amount of repetition from one presentation to the other.

One of the advantages of telling people that your stuff is up on the Web is that it gives them the opportunity to respond. Some very fine people have responded to my humble attempts to delineate the new paradigm. I have then attempted to respond to their concerns. These challenges and responses now have their own page, Challenge and Response.
In the process I have learned a number of things. The two key shifts in perspective are from control to communication, and from individuals to holons. We all have to deal with a variety of institutions and are frustrated by their performance. The key question is how can those institutions be reformed?

Description:

A Site for Discussion of Process Dualism and the New Paradigm

My URL: http://ca.geocities.com/robert_johannson/

Didn't find what you're looking for?	Want to start your own site?
	Join Yahoo! Canada GeoCities

New2Paradigm

	The New Paradigm The Johannson Version If the old paradigm was the clock, the new paradigm is the transistor. An introduction to this page's approach to the new paradigm In Search of the New Paradigm: A New Paradigm Chronology Challenge and Response The Sea Change: Seminar 1. Control Contains Johannson Model for modeling cybernetic control systems The Sea Change: Seminar 2. Communication The Sea Change: Seminar 3. Information The Sea Change: Seminar 4. The Future The Form of Reality: A Meditation on Process Dualism The Form of Reality: Appendices Process Dualism: Cybernetics and the Mind/Body Problem Process Dualism: Appendices and Bibliography Rethinking Entropy This page will be the index page and have links to these documents, and as I add more chapters to the narrative, I will add links. As well, I have set up a Yahoo Group called new2paradigm@yahoogroups.ca. You can join this group for discussions, and for announcements of new postings to the web page http://ca.geocities.com/robert_johannson and you can email me at robert_johannson@yahoo.ca Introduction The old paradigm (modernism) is materialism and it's shadow side existentialism (aka post-modernism). The old paradigm is that: 1. only matter/energy exists; 2. energy can be transmitted; and 3. control systems are governed by energy processes (forces). The philosophical assumptions of the old paradigm are a metaphysics of materialism; an epistemology of empiricism; an ethics of pragmatism; and an aesthetics of functionalism. The new paradigm begins with three basic affirmations: 1. information is neither matter, nor energy; 2. information can be communicated; and 3. control systems are governed by information processes. The new paradigm has a completely different set of philosophical assumptions: a metaphysics of process dualism; an epistemology of sophisticated realism; an ethics of ecological responsibility; and an aesthetics of harmony. The mind boggling affirmation is the first one: information is neither matter nor energy. It is this idea that "modern" people are forbidden to think. "Modern" people are forbidden to think that anything could exist other than matter/energy. "Modern" people are permitted to think the second and third affirmations so long as there is an unstated assumption that information doesn't really exist, and by information we mean energy. Information is radically different from matter/energy. Information is immaterial. Information is choice. Information is historical. Information is hierarchical. Information is holistic. Information is meaningful. The world of the old paradigm is atomistic, deterministic, meaningless, fragmented, single planed and ahistorical. Moving into the new paradigm is moving into a world that is related, free, meaningful, historical, and holistic. My particular contribution is to formulate the metaphysics of process dualism. My first presentation was a scholarly paper about the mind-body problem: "Process Dualism: Cybernetics and the Mind/Body Problem." My second presentation was a paper designed to reach a broader audience called: "The Form of Reality: A meditation on process dualism." My third presentation was a series of lectures on the new paradigm that I called The Sea Change. I have been working on a fourth presentation that I call "In Search of the New Paradigm" which is essentially a narrative of my search, and some of the fascinating thinkers and scientists that I encountered on the way. My original intention was to steadily post to this site new installments in this little detective story. But it occurred to me that one of the advantages of the Internet is that I don't have to choose. I can post my previous attempts too, and allow people to choose which they find the more entertaining and informative. As a result there is a fair amount of repetition from one presentation to the other. One of the advantages of telling people that your stuff is up on the Web is that it gives them the opportunity to respond. Some very fine people have responded to my humble attempts to delineate the new paradigm. I have then attempted to respond to their concerns. These challenges and responses now have their own page, Challenge and Response. In the process I have learned a number of things. The two key shifts in perspective are from control to communication, and from individuals to holons. We all have to deal with a variety of institutions and are frustrated by their performance. The key question is how can those institutions be reformed?