Thoughts and Notes on Cognition - Understanding Understanding: Essays on Cybernetics and Cognition - page 184

3 In a stationary environment, anisotropic with respect to parameters p i ,a
movement dG of the organism causes a change of its sensations dr x . Hence
we have

( ) Æ ( )

movement change in sensation

but not necessarily

( ) Æ ( ) .

change in sensation movement

3.1 The terms “change in sensation” and “movement” refer to experi-
ences by the organism. This is evidenced by the notation employed
here which describes these affairs r x , m z , purely in proprietory coordi-
nates x and z. (Here m z has been used to indicate the activity of contractile
elements m z . Consequently m z is an equivalent description of dG: m z Æ
dG.)

3.11 These terms have been introduced to contrast their correspond-
ing notions with those of the terms “stimulus” and “response” of an organ-
ism which refer to the experiences of one who observes the organism and
not to those of the organism itself. This is evidenced by the notation
employed here which describes these affairs S x , dG x in terms of environ-
mental coordinates x . This is correct insofar as for an observer 0 the organ-
ism W is a piece of environment.
3.111 From this it is clear that “stimulus” cannot be equated with
“change in sensation” and likewise “response” not with “movement.”
Although it is conceivable that the complex relations that undoubtedly hold
between these notions may eventually be established when more is known
of the cognitive processes in both the observer and the organism.
3.112 From the non sequitur established under proposition 3, it
follows a fortiori :

( ) Æ ( ) . not necessarily: stimulus response

3.2 The presence of a perceptible agent of weak concentration may cause
an organism to move toward it (approach). However, the presence of the
same agent in strong concentration may cause this organism to move away
from it (withdrawal).
3.21 This may be transcribed by the following schema:

S 0 S x

≥

m +

dG +

r x

w(r x )

m -

S 0 < S x

dG -

where the (+) and (-) denote approach and withdrawal respectively.
3.211 This schema is the minimal form for representing