The idea behind the book: trying to explain how does an “I” (in terms of the self) comes from things that don’t have any meaning or self?
How do a bunch of meaningless primitives get to an “I”?
Tools for thinking:
- Isomorphism: Two systems play similar roles on their respective structures.
- Recursions: A function that calls itself, with arguments on a scale proportion to the original arguments.
- Paradox
- Veridical
- Falsidical
- Antinomy: The lier’s paradox, as “this sentence is not true”. If it is true, it is not. If it’s false, then it is true…
- Infinity
- Formal systems
On Formal Systems
String => a sequence following a certain ruleset
Axium => the starting point of the sequence (like the successor of zero is 1)
Theorum => starting with an axium, the string which results at the end on a derivation you are trying to prove. The derivation is like a proof.
Rules of inference => the rules fueling the concepts above
The levels of thinking:
Mechanical mode (you follow the rules above)
Intelligent Mode
Metathinking: go outside the rules and interactions on the system above, and “think outside the box” about them