Formal net
Includes only formulated ideas, i.e. Questions, Hypotheses, Predictions, and Observations
Hypothesis
All inquiry thoughts or ideas can be structured into observations, hypotheses, and predictions
**Observation:** An observed empirical fact, indisputable for reasonable people.
**Hypothesis:** A conjecture that is generalized from observations (induction), or deducted from other hypotheses (deduction).
Collectively, hypotheses constitute our model (or theory) of the world.
A hypothesis, often together with other hypotheses, can produce predictions. We use the broadest sense of this word, not limited to untested theories of how something works. It encompasses assumption, theory, putative knowledge, and the narrow sense of hypothesis.
**Prediction:** A yet-to-be-made observation or (observational categorical per Quine). It's usually based on one or more hypotheses.
The relationships between these categories of thoughts are fixed. In another sentence, there is an algebra in these elements of thoughts.
This theory (or "hypothesis" as defined in itself) has
[a philosophical basis](https://www.themind.net/hypotheses/M1qolEkbTje29ze62yEfQg): our knowledge of the world consists solely of prediction models.
and [a neuroscience one](https://www.themind.net/hypotheses/M4p8C9lOTRu8ipf5zGtEJA) (and [independently](https://www.themind.net/hypotheses/n3Tx6wlrSWOjsXHSYggrFQ).) Out brain's intelligence is solely neurons trained to that predicts inputs working collectively.
71.9%
Based on
One mundane series of thoughts can be formulated into Observation/Hypothesis/Prediction
During a doctor office visit, Tom enters the waiting room and sits on a chair. Tom's thinking process and decision-making barely come into his consciousness, but the actual process can be organized into observation, hypothesis, and prediction.
When he entered the room, he made the observation that something looks like a chair in the room.
Then there is the hypothesis that the thing **is** a chair.
Finally, he made the prediction that if he sits on it, he will be supported.
96.0%
Infers
Digitalized minds
A system can be created to let users record their inquiry thoughts/ideas as observations, hypotheses, and predictions (OH&P). Thanks to the intrinsic structure, the system can digitalize these thoughts/ideas with auto connections and visualization, thus providing an automatic way to organize these thoughts/ideas.
We can call this digitalized mind.
The digitalized mind makes thoughts/ideas easier to consume, assess and generate new insights.
66.7%
Predicts
Validated by
Infers
Collective digitalized mind
A system that lets users record their inquiry thoughts/ideas as observations, hypotheses, and predictions (OH&P) can provide a new mode of communication and collaboration between users - they can structurally connect their atomic OH&P directly to other users' OH&P. ([This is challenging](https://www.themind.net/observations/4fcVuFGoTEa43ez-xhSAsg) when thoughts/ideas are organized in the usual narrative structure, such as books, lectures, and talks).
Such a system that connects atomic ideas and thoughts between users might achieve a **digitalized collective mind**. Digitalized mind means all ideas/thoughts are digitalized, collective meaning that these ideas/thoughts are contributed by multiple users and digitally connected to each other.
43.6%
Infers
Collective digitalized mind does not automatically enable collective intelligence
Collective digitalized mind, i.e. digitalized and connected thoughts/ideas from multiple users by itself, may not automatically achieve collective intelligence (the intelligent capabilities of solving problems collectively). If all thoughts and ideas are given equal weight and importance in the collective mind, it may be too swamped with them and fail to be coherent or useful.
Infers
Based on
The whole neocortex, regardless of its specific function, works on the same principle.
Based on
Human perception is a hypothetico-deductive process
Human perception is a controlled/controlling hallucination process in which the brain
1\. constantly generates hypotheses of the world around and
2\. makes predictions about incoming sensory signals based on these hypotheses
3\. correct hypotheses according to differences between observations \(actual sensory signals and predictions\. \)
88.0%