Unlike oxygen, honey bees and Mustang convertibles, in humans there is a considerable amount of individualization, no doubt resulting from nature's increased reliance on imagination and judgement (reasoning). But since this is an order problem rather than a privacy problem, the solution is, not to banish introspection, but to differentiate (stratify) between the more evolved individualized features (specific reasoning, specific higher emotional behavior, etc.) and the more mechanical, isomorphic processes lower in the evolutionary scheme of things (perception, fear, anger, etc.). Once accomplished (Diagram I), the individualization can then be dealt with by applying corresponding amounts of abstraction and generalization to those features (both thought and behavior) where individualization can be presumed to be most rampant (Diagram II).
From the perspective of this proposed methodology and its underlying rationale, individualized conclusions for why one selected product A over product B (e.g., Nisbett and Wilson, 1977) would be construed, not so much as evidence of the unreliability of introspective reports, as evidence of the shortcomings of "an extrinsic philosophy of science which is [forty] years out of date" (Koch, 1959-63), as explained in Manicas and Secord, 1981.
Discussions of scientific method have tended to stress problems of testability, while neglecting...those aspects of the universe which in some sense are most central and significant for the area of reality with which the science deals." "It has been frequently assumed that only those events which in principle can be simultaneously observed by multiple observers ... are to be accepted as constituting a legitimate observational basis for science." "I am suggesting that the more general and, to me, acceptable, objective intended by the criterion of interobserver agreement would be...the criterion of repeatability....a more general trust in one's own experience" ...and the abandonment of "a corresponding uncritical acceptance of the significance of verbal reports (Zener, 1962).
Diagram I
Phylogeny of Psychical Functions
Organic Kingdom
Cognitive Functions (phylum) Conative Functions (phylum)
Reasoning (class) Higher Emotion (class)
(homo sapiens) (homo sapiens)
Categorical and causal assoc- Self-worth (ego) related need and
iations resulting from the disorder(depression, suicide, etc.)
cognition of abstruse simil- serving no obvious biological
arity and difference. Highly purpose. Specific objectives and
individualized. behavior highly individualized and
frequently involved with abstract
notions(love, honor, purpose, etc).
Conditioning (class) Lower Emotion (class)
^ Categorical and contiguity Short term motivational states
^ associations resulting from (fear, anger, sexual arousal, cur-
more evolved the cognition of obvious iosity, etc.) serving obvious bio-
functions similarity and difference logical purpose. Non-volitional
(individual- (e.g., A-B sequences). Inter- psychical states evoked by singu-
ization) environmental individualiza- lar relatively well defined events
tion, intra-environmental (stimuli), with some degree of in-
less evolved isomorphism. Likely progen- dividualization superimposed on
functions ator of reasoning. isomorphic evoking events and
(isomorphism) responses.
v
v
Perception (class) Pain and Pleasure (class)
Isomorphic cognitions of Short term isomorphic motivational
stable low level information states resulting from biologically
(discernment of objects,etc.) significant tactile experience.
^ observed ^
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
v inferred v
Instinctive Functions (phylum)
Likely progenator of cognitive and conative functions found in the
human psyche. Highest probability of psychical isomorphism inferred
from isomorphic behavior within classifications of lower animals.
Inorganic Kingdom
Postulated pan-psychism as proto-mental origin of observed
functions. Extreme isomorphism likely and inferred from
isomorphic behavior within classifications of inorganic matter.
Diagram II
The Domains of Credibility
pertaining to the kinematics
(thought and behavior)
of systems at the holistic
level of description
^
^ |
more evolved |
functions |
(individual- credible | non-credible
ization) |
physical events | psychical events
less evolved (behavior) | (thought)
functions |
(isomorphism) |
v |
v |
IIa. Behaviorist/Positivist Conception
highest degrees of generalization in descriptions
statements, theories, etc. about member of a class
^
^ least credible (gradient)
more evolved - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
functions
(individual- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ization) physical events psychical events
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
less evolved (behavior) (thought)
functions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(isomorphism)
v - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
v most credible (gradient)
highest degrees of specificity in descriptions
statements, theories, etc. about members of a class
IIb. Revised Conception