MDT is a theory that treats the human and animal brain in the same framework.
I present here a possible evolution of the brain, from animal brain to human
brain. It is very important to specify that the theory is like a tool: it does
not support and also does not reject the evolutionist theory. MDT just
describes the situation.
For any external reality, the brain (human or animal) will make an image-
model. This function is basically the same for human and animal brain.
In a given external reality many similar elements could exist. For any
element, the brain has to make a YM-model.
For instance, a dog has to make a YM for any dog which it meets. Such a big
number of models use a lot of the brain resources.
When there are many similar elements, a solution is to make a concept-YM. Such
a YM will fit a big number of similar elements. This reduces the quantity of
data to be processed by an animal brain, and so, the brain becomes faster and
more efficient.
Thus, the first level of evolution of the brain (level 1) is the extensive use
of the concept models. This level is, probably, reached by all animals.
Observation: the human and animal beings continue to use, for some special
situations, pure image models. A pure image model is a YM-model associated
with a single entity of the external reality. For instance, a cub has a pure
image model of its mother.
The first step of the evolution of the brain is based on concept models. A
concept model fits an entire class of entities of the external reality. During
the interaction, the brain will use a concept model and then, in M-ZM, new
properties will be added, or even new elements, if necessary, to understand
better and better the external reality.
The evolution of the brain continues with level 2. This new facility is based
on label-models. As we know, faced with a given external reality, the brain
makes an M-ZM model that is able to predict the evolution of the present
external reality. Such models are called local-M-ZM. On level 2, it is
possible to make a new type of models, which are called label-models. A label-
model is able to activate a ZM-model, from the available models of the brain,
regardless of the local-M-ZM.
Example: an animal senses a specific smell. This can be associated with food
or with danger, for instance. In such a situation, the animal can activate a
specific ZM-model, which has no direct connection with the local-M-ZM model.
This is level 2 of the evolution of the brain.
At this level, a special kind of communication between animals occurs. This
kind of communication based on label-models is used by human beings as well.
It is not precise enough and is also very limited, but useful in many
situations, and very fast too.
The level 2 is the highest level achieved by the animal brain. The evolution
of the brain continues with level 3.
We already saw that, at level 2, a label-type model activates a ZM model. The
next step is to activate not the whole model, but only some associated truth
of the ZM-model. In this way, the brain has to manage a reduced quantity of
information and so becomes more efficient.
This is a critical point, because it is the barrier to separate the animal
world of human world.
Thus, there is a ZM-model and an associated label-model. The problem is to
associate to the label-model only some truths generated by the associated ZM-
model. A ZM-model is an image model, and so its truths are also of image-type.
The problem is to record such truths in a different way, based on a totally
new function.
MDT cannot indicate how exactly this facility works. The theory is not
concerned with the technological implementation of the functions. The theory
just says that some truths generated by a ZM-model have to be recorded in a
different way. In this way, the label-models become words, and the associated
truths become symbolic definitions of the words.
On level 3 a label-type model can activate an associated ZM model, but it can
activate only a collection of truths as well, which are different from the
'ordinary' image-truths of the ZM.
It is possible that the General Communication Language (GCL) appeared based on
this facility. The presence of a GCL in a brain will characterize that brain
as a human brain.
Example: when the word "dog" is heard, it is very probable that we activate at
least one suitable ZM. But when we use the sentence "I go to the forest with a
gun and a dog", it is very probable that we do not activate any ZM-model. The
sentence is understood based on symbolic models and based on logic and so we
do not need any image-model. In this way, the quantity of information that has
to be processed by the brain is reduced very much. The image models will be
used only when we have to make a precise model of the action.
The human brain continues to evolve with level 4. On this level we have words
and associated symbolic definitions, but no ZM-image-model.
Example: Let's take the following words: "this apple", "apple", "fruit",
"food". "This apple" is associated with a pure image model. "Apple" is a
concept type image model. "Fruit" and "food" cannot be associated with any
image model (we cannot imagine what is fruit or what is food).
So, on level 4, the human brain can make and operate symbolic models without
any connection with image-models.
On this level it is possible to develop logical and mathematical languages
and, in this way, to make positive sciences associated to the external
reality.
Example: Newton's Mechanics is a symbolic model associated with the physical
bodies. The basic terms of this symbolic model are mass, space and time. None
of these terms can be associated with image models.
The evolution of the brain continues with level 4+, but I prefer to call it
level 5 (up to now it is the highest). This level was attained only 100 years
ago. On this level the symbolic models break totally with image models.
Example: Newton's Mechanics describes the movements of physical bodies. But we
can imagine such movements. Here Newton's symbolic model can be translated
also in image models.
The pure symbolic models cannot be translated in any image models. The only
symbolic model of this type is Quantum Mechanics.
Example: in association with Quantum Mechanics there is a "classical" problem
called "the dual nature of light". There are some experiments, which prove
that light is a wave. But there are also some other experiments, which prove
that light is made of particles. It seems that we have big logical problems
here. The aberration with "the dual nature of light" is supported also by some
great physicists (R. Feynman, for instance).
Physicists in Quantum Mechanics already solved the problem of the nature of
the light. The "dual nature of light" is not a problem of Physics, but a
problem of thinking.
The problem occurs when the physicists try to explain to us what happens. At
that moment, they use terms as "wave" or "particle" which are associated with
image models. The same terms, in Quantum Mechanics, are associated with
mathematical formulae. There is no connection between the world of Quantum
Mechanics and the world of image models. If someone forces such a connection,
then some big logical problems can occur.
As MDT says, any information is non-sense without declaring the model that
generated that information. In the above example, the nature of light is well
understood by physicists in the symbolic model called Quantum Mechanics. If we
don't know Quantum Mechanics, then it is not possible to understand the
answer. So, if we do not know Quantum Mechanics, then it is forbidden to ask
any question associated with that field.
Let's evaluate the world based on these levels. There is a fraction of the
population who is staying on level 2, and just occasionally goes on level 3.
The majority of the population is on level 3, and occasionally goes on level
4. There is a small fraction, which is on level 4, and occasionally on level
5. This fraction produces scientific and technological advance.
To understand the MDT theory, at least level 4 is necessary.