Thread: Visualization through concepts

Originally Posted by ZmillA

Not to get off topic but I think IT IS different when you are awake. Yes we make assumptions about things, but the fact is those things really can be seen by us, they can produce sounds that we pick up, and by them existing we can feel them. Yeah we make assumptions but just because the nature and properties of them is constant and well known to us. With dreams nothing is constant, and every "object" is formed by our minds and thus its properties can be anything we decide.

The key word here is "expectation". A concept is a definition of what we expect. The only difference between the waking state and sleeping is that you do have those inputs. Thus, you have a reality composed of both raw input and expectations. Of course, the raw input is analyzed quite a bit before you perceive it by using your expectations. Take text for example. Wrods tht aer scmarlbed can stlil be read. Without being analyzed using expectations, the raw input is just blotches of color.

You can think of it as:

Blotches of color ----> what you think you see (concepts used to help create this)

But in a dream its more like:

Concepts ------> what you think you see

So, you get to the same end result through a different means. Thats why I say they aren't really that different =O

You are right that nothing is constant which is what makes visualization so great =) Using the pencil, you could give it the property that it is a bomb in disguise and then BOOM =P

Anyhow, don't be afraid to critique. I am more then happy to try and explain things, change things or discuss. Tis the point of this thread =)

EDIT: on the above note, I'd like to point out that conceptual thought is essentially just a modular way of talking about mental schemata. Alot of people are more familiar with that so I'd just like to point it out =)

EDIT EDIT: Oh, and I don't want to get into an argument about how much these concepts play a role in real life. They may do less then I say, they may do more but that's unimportant to the underlying theory =P They still reign supreme in the dream world.