DEFINITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASIC TERMS
This theory is a symbolic model. Any symbolic model has a limited number of fundamental terms. For these terms and only for them, there are accepted descriptive definitions. A descriptive definition is, usually, not precise enough for a scientific approach. This lack of precision is due to the fact that it uses terms which must be defined before. The terms used in the definition must also be defined using already defined words. This process seems to be endless.
In any positive science, the descriptive definitions are accepted only for a very limited number of terms. These are called "fundamental terms".
For instance, in the symbolic model of Newton's Mechanics, the fundamental terms are mass, space and time. None of these terms have a normal definition (i.e. generated by the model). They have only descriptive definitions.
Once the fundamental terms are introduced by description, all the other terms have normal definitions, which are generated by the symbolic model, by logical and mathematical operations.
Let's see the definitions of the terms used by the MDT theory.
Model: this is a term used on large scale in science and technology. The MDT theory accepts the definition used there.
A model means some fundamental elements and some fundamental relations between the elements.
The elements could be of any type (physical objects, the representation of any object in any form, including pictures of any type or images of any type or mathematical symbols of any type and so on). In fact, an element could be associated with anything which can be considered as an entity. The elements have some properties, which must be specified somehow. There are a number of relations between the elements, which must also be specified.
An image model (or analogic model) contains an unspecified number of elements and an unspecified number of relations between the elements. An image model is just given as it is. It is not possible to specify in explicit and precise ways which are the elements and which are the relations.
Examples of image models: maps, models of an object of any type, an assembly of such models including any material elements (water, air and so on), any representation in any form of such elements.
A symbolic model uses as elements letters, numbers or words. The relations are of logical or mathematical type.
The most important symbolic model is the General Communications Language
(GCL). The elements are usually nouns and the relations are usually verbs.
Warning: GCL is not really a symbolic model. The GCL just contains all the elements and all the relations. When a symbolic model is made (a sentence, for instance), elements and relations from GCL are used. Thus, because there is no available word, I decided to consider, by extension, the GCL as a symbolic model. In this frame, GCL has to be considered as "symbolic model".
Once a model given, it is possible to simulate some situations on it. For simulation, a change must be made to the model. After that, the entire model will be changed because all the elements have some relations between them.
Any implicit or explicit information which is generated by simulation by a model, is called "truth". Any truth must be associated with the model, which generated it. This is the definition of the term "truth" in the MDT theory.
All the information, which is or could be generated by a model by simulation, is called "reality" associated to that model. This is the definition of the term "reality" in the MDT theory. We also see here that before declaring the reality, one needs to declare the model which generated it.
We already used the term "information". This term is a fundamental term. It has no normal definition. MDT accepts the descriptive definition from common life and from science. The same situation is for the term "entity".
Warning: in connection with the term "information", something is considered as information after that "something" is processed somehow by a device which takes and processes that "something".
This somehow confuse situation is normal for any fundamental term. Just think, for instance, how one can explain what is "time". The only possibility to explain what is "time" is to use examples that already use the term "time". In fact it is impossible to define terms as "mass", "time", "space", "information" or "entity".
Let's introduce two new terms: "harmony" and "logic".
Once a model is given, it is possible to make simulations on the model, as it has already been explained. By simulation, it is necessary to change an element or a relation. The model goes into a temporary unstable situation because all the elements are connected between them. The model will evolve to a new stable situation. For an image model, the evolution to stability is based on harmony laws. For a symbolic model, the evolution to stability is based on logic. Thus, a stable model is a harmonic or logic model and, after a perturbation, the model will regain the stability based on the laws of harmony (image models) or logic (symbolic models). The evolution of any model toward stability (to become harmonic or logic) is also a basic hardware facility of the brain.
Because some situations from external reality can be associated, sometimes, with both types of models, there can be a corespondence between harmony and logic.
Thus, the implicit definitions of the terms "harmony" and "logic" are associated with the methods to regain the stability of an image model (harmony) or symbolic model (logic). An "implicit definition" means that we are able to recognize the effect of harmony or logic in an informational structure.
We are now in the situation to present the basic hardware function of any brain, based on the terms, which have already been defined.
The basic hardware function of any brain (human or animal) is to make models associated to external reality and to predict, by simulation, the possible evolutions of the model. Because the model is associated with external reality, it is possible to predict by simulation some probable evolutions of the external reality.
We already used the term "external reality" which is not defined yet. This fundamental term is considered as a source of information, which is not localized in the structure of models of the brain. I want to emphasize that the external reality is not a source of information, but is just considered so by any brain.
Thus, one of the main hardware functions of the brain is to make models of the external reality and to predict, by simulation on the model, the possible evolution of the associated external reality.
We already defined the reality as all the information which is or could be generated by a model. This means that we understand the external reality by the reality, which is generated by a model, which is associated with the external reality.
Example: For a given external reality, any person makes an associated model. Any person has his/her own model associated to the same external reality. We think and act based on our own reality and not based directly on the external reality.
In fact, external reality is rather an invention of the brain to explain its structure of models.