THEORY OF SYMBOLIC TRANSFORMATIONS

This monograph presents the theory of symbolic transformations. The theory consists of two postulates which are meant to give an account of the qualities or characteristics of human experience. In their most general terms the postulates can be expressed in the following way: Postulate I. If no physiological stimulation is present, our experiences will equal our symbolized meaningful representations (PS = O, E = SMR). Postulate II. If no symbolized meaningful representations are present, our experiences will equal our physiological stimulation (SMR = O, E = PS). The exposition of the theory was preceded by a presentation of Newton's laws of motion which provide the model by which the theory of symbolic transformations is to be evaluated. Newton's laws were examined and they were found to be abstract postulates or axioms rather than empirical generalizations. Furthermore, they are axioms about events that can never occur as empirical happenings. The postulates of the theory of symbolic transformations follow immediately the presentation of Newton's laws so that the adherence to that model can be judged readily, for here too the postulates are abstract idealizations about events that can never occur. The postulates are followed by some deductions and the deductions are formulated as empirical predictions about the seeing of colors, of motions, of spatial orientation, and of size (the seeing of shape is dealt with in a later section). Empirical information about the seeing of apparent motion had already been provided by other investigators and their results, in each instance, confirmed the predictions deduced from the postulates of the theory. © 1969.