SURFACE AND DEPTH

The following considerations arise in relation to the question, in Kinds of Knowledge, of the communication through a minimal external manifestation of a complex of inner states. They also relates to Wittgenstein’s argument regarding such communication

Document Status: June 6, 2003

The essential idea is in Journey in Being

No action necessary

SURFACE AND DEPTH

On the surface there is expression of what lies within – in the depth of the organism. The concept of surface vs. depth is an abstraction and a reification

Expression:

… is the surface correlate of depth, of inner phenomena

… evokes depth, corresponding inner phenomena, in other organisms. This is possible due to structural similarity among organisms

… dimensions of similarity include

genetic

cultural

experiential

… has modalities that converge in origins

assertive, directive…

… generalizes to language and communication

… and crosses over into thought and its vehicles, and to knowledge

e.g. iconic perception becomes a modality of imagination… and, then, thought

How does this happen? What is the origin and differentiation of the modalities?

Superficially: expression as representation

Deeply: expression as the form of knowledge