Cliology

3.1.4. Noam

Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam

A noam is an elaboration of the traditional stimulus-response model that extends to other properties such as values and capabilities. It also considers rule goverend behaviour. A noam constitutes a component of the meme framework and is composed of fabula framework elements.

 

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Attributes

Attribute Value Notes
Class NoamFramework
Name Noam
Type Framework
Symbol V)
Namespace GrandFramework_0_1_0.Cliome.Meme.Noam
Version 0.1.1
Description A system for modelling parts of individual behaviour
Example
Navigation Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam

Properties

Parent: None

Syblings: None

Children: Sigma, Nu, Rho

Other: Pi, Tau, Upsilon, Eta, Omega, Omicron, Xi

 

Name Symbol Description Example Navigation
Chi χ The environment Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Sigma
Sigma σ Sensory input into the system: stimulus V)σ Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Sigma
Rho ρ Behavioural output from the system: response ρV) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Rho
Iota ι The totality of salient situational awareness. νV) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Nu
Kappa κ The set of response options; behavioural repertoir; potential response νV) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Nu
Nu ν The value system of the person or organisation, including attitudes, opinions, preferences and so on. νV) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Nu
Pi π A measure of contentment or satisfaction. Given by the “pi rule” where stimulus and values match. Vπ) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Pi
Tau τ A measure of motivation to act. Given by the “tau rule” between values and response. τV) Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Tau
Xi ξ The link between discontentment and initiating acton to do something about it. ξ← Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Xi
Omicron ο The logical formation of stimulus-response curves. ↑ο Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Omicron
Upsilon υ Stimulus-response, curved by values.  υ◡ Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/Upsilon
Eta η Behavioural response selected from behavioural repertoir and enacted; kinetic repsonse
Omega ω Some deeper level value
Final omega Ω The Darwinian bottom line values of survival and reproduction

[noam diagram]

Specific Classes

Two specific Classes of Noam exist within the meme framework: phi and psy.

Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/phi

Drilldown: //Grand Framework 0.1.0/Cliome/Meme/Noam/psy

In brief

A noam is a unit of structure in rule goverend behaviour of humans and other systems. In difference to a meme (of which it is a component) a noam is not intended to represent transmission, nor spread, nor replication, of an idea from one person to another, or among a population. It is simply a model of a behaviour of an individual that takes into account the individual’s values, their situation, and their capabilities. It conveys a pattern of relational responding.

An individual has a set of values, things which are important to them. This is generally in a hierarchy where some values are instrumental to deeper intrinsic values, and the deeper the values, the greater their fixity.

Given that somebody (or system) enconters a variety of shifting situations, then a presenting situation may be satisfactory or otherwise. The level of satisfaction is a relationship between the situation and the person’s values. Where the situation meets with values then it is satisfactory. If there is a clash between values and the situation then dissatisfaction arises.

The individual is also considered to have a set of skills, or a repetoir of behaviours. These allow the person to respond to a situation in an attempt to support their values and attain satisfaction. So, where a situation clashes with their values and dissatisfaction results, then they are motivated to do something about it, through behavioural response, in an attempt to adjust the relationship between the situation and values to one that is more satisfying. As values have greater fixity, then the behaviour is often an operation on the situation.

Some noams handle situation via direct response where an appropriate behavioural capability is available. Higher level noams, where a capability is not available, aquire new potential responses (through learning etc) in order to build capability.

A noam then depicts the person’s values and the situation. It goes on to depict the level of satisfaction they are experiencing, and therefore their motive to act. From there, it shows the person’s capabilty to respond, the response chosen, and the impact of that response on the situation. Finally, it indicates whether the resulting situation is satisfactory to the value set. A noam then is a cyclic loop of perception, evaluation, decision and action.

Noams can model individual behaviour, but can model interpersonal interactions, the behaviour of individuals towards others, in couples or small groups. [need specific page and link]

Modelling groups can be abstracted to modelling at a populational level whereby the focus shifts from individual behaviour to the transmission of information and beahviour. A noam can become a constituant of a meme if the behavioural cycle of evaluation, decision and enactment involves other people whereby a noam is transferred among them.

 

Symbol system

Noam. The symbol for a noam is:

V) = “nun” evolved from the Phoenician into the Latin “N”

The symbols employed are an inverted triangle with the top edge missing, thereby giving “V”, followed by a back-bracket “)”, or “hook” denoting the direction of information flow.

output response <- V) <- input stimulus

The points and edges of this symbol provide locations for the noam’s properties, listed below.

 chi, sigma, rho

Sigma (σ) The imput stimulus into the system, either external from the environment, or internal to the person or organisation.

Rho (ρ)

Main Points. The three points of the inverted triangle represent the most important properties: iota, kappa, and nu.

Iota: and the totality of salient situational awareness

This is located at the top-right point of the inverted triangle (superscript).

V)σ

Kappa (κ) The potential response, behavioural capability or repetoir, usually resulting in some kinetic response (ρ) as action or behaviour. This is located at the top-left point of the inverted triangle (superscript).

ρV)

Nu (ν) The value system of the person or organisation, a motive, including attitudes, opinions, preferences and so on. This is located at the bottom point of the inverted triangle (subscript, usually to the left for convenience).

νV)

 

Edges. The two oblique edges of the inverted triangle, along with the missing top edge represent relationships between the three main points.

Pi (π)  A measure of contentment or satisfaction. Given by the “pi rule” where stimulus and values match. This is the right edge between the points iota and nu and can be represented equivalently as:

Vπ) = ν/ι , or simply /

Tau (τ) A measure of motivation to act. Given by the “tau rule” between values and response. This is the left edge between the points kappa and nu and can be represented equivalently as:

τV) = κ\ν   , or simply \

Upsilon (υ) Stimulus-response, curve or instruct. This is the missing top-edge between the points iota and kappa and is represented with the upsilon symbol denoting direction of flow, to the top-left (superscript) as:

υ◡, which can be expanded to κ\ν ◡ ν/ι

 

Other minor inter-relationships are also represented where needed, including:

Xi  (ξ) The link between discontentment and initiating acton to do something about it, sits between tau and pi.

ξ← , or expanded as κ\ν ← ν/ι

Omicron (ο) The logical formation of stimulus-response curves connects xi to upsilon.

↑ο , or put another way as ξ →ο υ

Omega (ω) a deeper level value, these can be nested any level deep (currently synonimous with an indexed nu)

Omega (Ω) the deepest level of value of biological survival and reproduction; the Darwinian bottom line.

 

Sets and elements. According to set theory, upper case is employed to denote the set, while lower case is denotes an elements. This system of upper and lower case, for Latin, Greek, and Phoenician is used (with a small amount of licence) in the frameworks. They may or may not be indexed for clarity.

S = {a, b, c}

Ρ = {ρ1, ρ2, … ρn}

Noam indexing. indexes to nomes are subscript after the hook. As noted the indexes of phi and psy refer to specific classes of noam. A noam called “phi” would be:

V)φ

Potential and kinetic behaviour: Ρ (capital ρ) is the set of all possible behaviours. Of this, an individual, organism, or organisation has a sub-set available to it consisting of members ρ. A (rho) member of that subset then is a potential option from which to chose an action. These are termed potential and kinetic responses. When a potential response is enacted, then it becomes a kinetic response, an action, which can affect the system and its environment. This relationship can be expressed in modal logic.

  • ρ = ◊η
  • []ρ = η

Meme symbolisation from noams: noam (and therefore meme) properties are given in Greek symbols; the symbols for noams, memes, and cliomes are given in Phoenician. Toulmin and FABULA use Latin.

W) = “meem” similarly became M, and has an obvious association to meme.

Notably, there is a convenience in these contrivances as a meme is the conjunction of two noams (using the logical and symbol ‘∧’).

V)∧V)=W)

The phi on the hook shows that it is physically implemented as action, while psi would indicate that it is conveyed from mind-to-mind.

V)φ ∧ V)∞ψ = W)

Information flow: In the West we envisage time running from left to right, and that is the direction in which we read. Other cultures read in different directions: Arabic is written “backwards” from the West’s point of view. For the dynamics of noam and memetic symbolism, it doesnt really matter how the flow of time or information is depicted, as they are essentially systems diagrams. Their interpretation is contextual and the important thing is that the meaning of the noam symbol is conveyed unambiguously.

I have opted for an Arabic time-line of right-to-left in showing information flow. If sigma is the situational awareness arising from imput stimuli final-sigma, and rho the potential behavioral response, leading to kinetic response eta, then the sequence of a noam might be drawn from right to left.

η <- ρ <- V) <- σ <- ς

Perterbations in the environment (final-sigma on the right) are processed by the noam to provide intervention (eta on the left). The sigma and rho points can be labeled more simply:

ρV)σ

The back bracket ”)” or “hook” indicates the input side; the non-hooked side is therefore the output. As  the sigma and rho are implied by the unannotated “V)”, then they can be ommited. I’ve opted for this order, in difference to Western mathematical convention, to highlight the perceptual-position of analysis. My time line appears to me as running left-right, and my assumption is that another westerner would have a similar perception of theirs. To me then, looking face-to-face at another, then their timeline would be right-left. This view of other (second and third positioning) is adopted because the frameworks are predominantly about influence and the mental models in other people’s minds. Noams are about how one person’s (other than my) communication affects another person, while memes operate on a populational level of other people.

The schema is flexible and my memes/noams might be denoted the other way around, and the following would left-to-right sequenced in the first person perspective as the author of a meme (ie me), in contrast to any other recipient of the meme as which would be the other way around.

σ -> (V -> ρ

interaction [new page]

 

σ -> [ V) ] -> ρ

Polynoamial conjugations

Engagement, aquisition, meta-learning [new page]

V)V)V) = VVV)

Details

[cf. Argyris Double-loop learning]

[a detailed account of noams along with extensions and commentry]

Traditional behaviourism considered the relationship between stimulus and response as a form of conditioning through reinforcement. The noam model elaborates on stimulus-response from a general systems and complex adaptive systems angle. From the persective of a particular system, human, organism, or organisation, then it exists in an environmental context of other humans, organisms and organisations, with which it interacts. From this view, perterbations in the state of the environment may affect the state of the system, and conversly perterbations in the state of the system may affect the state of the environment. Consequently, this input-output, or stimulus-resonse, can be cyclic. The noam model then offers an abstraction of how the input, via the states and processes of the target system, leads to output. Further, the system with intellegence might adjust its responses based on how the environment (ie other entities in the environment) responds to the system’s response. Such adaptation is learning, the system is constructing a model of its environment. Hence, the noam framework offers a descriptive language for modelling how systems, including ourselves, build models of the world – the noam framework is a meta-model.

Figure 1. System and environement

Systems theory places a boundry between the system and the environment. Where this boundry is permiable then interaction between the system and its environment is possible – for example the transmission and reception of informtion. In Figure 1. The environment is in red, the purple dashed line is the permiable systems boundry within which is the system (depiced with the noam symbol in blue.). Input and output, cross the boundry as stimulus (final-sigma “ς”) and response (eta “η”), and the S-R line of behaviourism can be seen in orange. The noam framework extends this within the boundry to consider situational awareness (sigma “σ”) which includes the environmental stimuli; and the what the system is capable of doing (rho “ρ”) which include the actual response. Contextual behavioural responding then, goes beyond the S-R pattern; rather, it becomes a relationship between situational awareness and potential response, as shown by the orange curve (upsilon “υ”).

Now, the stimulus and response (final-sigma “ς” and eta “η” herein) are available to an observer; anything within the boundary was not (before fMRI), and was a problem for behaviourism as a science. Cliology, and its frameworks are engineering models, not scientific theories, and so demand modelling that is sufficient and necessary to achieve intentions, but without cluttering up with unnecessary details – they represent functional abstractions, not anatomical detail. The components, or elements, of a noam, in accordance with object orientation modelling terminology, are called its properties.

Hence stimulus and response cross the boundry as final-sigma and eta respectivly, and link internally to the noam’s properties of situational awareness sigma, and potential response rho. Final-sigma (stimulus) is but a part of sigma, as sigma is the culmination of relevant situational awareness. That is, anything, internal or external, that the individual, organism, or organisation might be aware of, albeit at some unconscious level, and can include self-awarenesses of other noam properties such as values or capabilities. Eta, is an activated behaviour, which is one response from a collection of potential behavioural responses available to the individual, organism, or organisation. For behaviourism, S-R was observable. In this internal abstraction, upsilon represents some internal rule, instruct, or association between the culmination of relevant situational awareness (including stimulus), and the choice of actual response from the collection of potential behavioural responses. The distinction then between rho and R (of behaviourism) is that it contains the potential responses out of which comes the kinetic response (or the R of behaviourism).

The noam is drawn as an inverted triangle (fig.2) because, in addition to the sigma and rho properties, a third main property of values, otherwise known as motive, is modelled – this is denoted a nu (“ν”) and what is important to the individual, organism, or organisation. Being unobservable to behaviourism, when watching pigions, then intentionality and value didn’t feature in their model which lead to confusion that behaviour was just about some mindless associated reaction to stimuli. Even observations of non-human animals would suggest that there is something going on in their heads, and a human would very much state that they had intent. The discussion of the existence of intentionally is best left to philosophy, but the noam model takes value as an important property in its model, whatever intentionality might turn out to be. In any case, it is the property of value that drives the selection of kinetic response from those available, given the awareness of the situation. So, the situation is influential to the choice, but via values.

This leads to the relationships between the three main points; the edges of the inverted triangle. The top edge upsilon is a relationship between sigma and rho, which has some similarities to S-R, but is affected by values nu. Hence, the connecting pattern upsilon between sigma and rho, is not straight, as with S-R, but curved reflecting the influence of values on the behavioural decision. Upsilon can be thought of as a kind of Rule Governed Behavioural (RGB) pattern of the form: “If I am in situation sigma, and I value nu, then, from rho, I should chose eta.” It is an internal structure, or “instruct”, that acts as an instructional link to a behavioural choice.

Figure 2. Values and instruct

Although upsilon is curved it connects the situational awareness to the choice of response directly as a decision rule. This rule is derived from the other two relationships on the three main points that are the oblique edges of the inverted triangle.

The right edge between awareness and values (sigma and nu) corresponds to a measure of satisfaction denoted by pi. The individual, organism, or organisation is “satisfied” where the the situation matches its values; where there is a mismatch, then dissatisfaction may arise.

The left oblique edge between capability and values (rho and nu) is the level of motivation denoted by tau. As values are a motive then the link to a behaviour is motivation; this is the connection between what is important to the individual, organism, or organisation, and the action it takes. The level of importance (in context) will correspond to the level of drive, and the probability of action.

For tau, both values and context are important in determining the motivation to decide and act. That is, the level of satisfaction (pi) derived from the situation (sigma) evaluated against values (nu) becomes a criterion for action. Hence, experiencing dissatisfaction (pi is dissatisfied) of something important (nu) will become a factor in initiating and motivating (tau) some capability (rho). The relationship between satisfaction (pi) and motivation (tau) is the invokation denoted by xi. So, where an individual, organism, or organisation has some important motive, but they are dissatisfied with the situation, then they will be motivated to do something about it. From their behavioural options (rho) they may chose to act (eta).

We can see therefore, a cycle:

  • the enviromnent stimulates the culmative relevant situational awareness (sigma)
  • the situational awareness (sigma) is evaluated against values (nu) as a level of satisfaction (pi)
  • dissatisfaction (pi) initiates the motivation to act (tau)
  • the motivation to act (tau) initiated by dissatisfaction (pi) invokes descision upon the the range of potential behaviours (rho)
  • the chosen potential behaviour (rho) is enacted as kinetic behaivour (eta) as response
  • the response (eta) affects the environment in some way
  • the change in the environment is picked up by situational awareness (sigma) and the cycle goes on.

Where the choice of behaviour (eta) has lead to a favorable outcome where pi is now satified, then there is likely no need to act further, until the environment is perterbed again by some external influence. If it is not then some other choice of action (or aquisition of new choices) may be reasonable.

Dynamics and Terminating uni-stability

While noams dipict the state of a system, they also depict the dynamics of a system. Given the current state of the properties of a noam, then subsequent states, or at least their possibilities, can be determined. From the perspective of the noam, the aim is to achieve satisfaction (pi), that is, to be in a situation that services the values. Given the noam’s cyclic nature, then choice of behaviour is directed at that satisfaction. Where the behavioral means are available, then the noam is likely to tend towards settling on a satisfying situation. If not, then the noam model will move towards the aquisition of those means, then settle on a satisfying situation. Where those means are not aquired then there will be frustration and the noam would suggest another approach. Eventually, noams which settle on some some state, rather than flip-flopping around, and are called “terminating uni-stable“. There is a single stable state upon which they terminate, until there is some further perterbation either internally or externally.

Derived Rule Governed Behaviour

A shortcut to this cycle of evaluation and decision may be provided by Rule Goverend Behaviour, or instruct (upsilon), whereby the rule, when meeting a criteria given by situational awareness (sigma) connects directly to a capability (rho) thereby invoking some response (eta). There is a relationship between the cycle and the more direct path, in other words, the instruct, or rule, is influenced by the values (hence upsilon being curved down to nu, instead of being straight). This instruct is related to the motive through the other relationships between the main points, and their further interrelationships; this reduction can be boiled down to omicron.

  • motive (nu) and situational awareness (sigma) are evaluated as a level of satisfaction (pi)
  • motive (nu) is related to potential behaviours (rho) as motivation (tau)
  • the level of dissatisfaction (pi) provides the initiation (xi) of motivation (tau)
  • this initiation (xi) has some functional equivalence (omicron) to the instruct (upsilon)

Omicron is a minor property of the noam model, but can be thought of as a kind of learning, whereby the results of trial and error, where successful (ie. terminating uni-stability) become fixed as Rule Goverend Behaviour, and thereby provide a shortcut from the evaluation-descision loop. It might also be thought of as where reinforcers and success, bolster the association between sigma and rho. Another source of RGB comes from others as instructions. Teachers might instruct pupils on how to approach a problem; a military commander might give orders to their troops; an instruction video on YouTube might show the watcher how to perform a task, such as changing engine oil; a martial arts student imitating the master’s movements. Where such instructions are given (plies, tracks, augments), then the instruct (upsilon) between the situation (sigma) and behavioural choices (rho) is aquired directly, and not though a cyclic trial and error iteration. Instruction derived instructs, whether imitated, dictated or otherwise, are the substance of cultural learning and evolution. Here we can see how the noam framework becomes the foundation for the meme framework.

3MVW3

There are 7 loci of an issue (Kippling detailed 5) which are called here 3MVW3, and are detailed in the relevant subsections.

  • 3M pertains to behavioural capability (rho) and consists of: mission, method, material which are neccessary to invoke action. They involve knowing what to do, knowing how to do it, and having the resources to act.
  • V is given by the value (nu) and related to knowing why to act.
  • W3 pertains to situational awareness (sigma): when, where, who (or whom with) and present contextual cues for activating an instruct.

[diagram]

[means, motive, opportunity]

This can be thought of as an instruct relationship and can be given sententially as:

If you value something, and when you are in a situation with certain features and people, and you know what to to, know how to do it, and have the resources, then act.

or reduced to:

ν ∧σ ∧ ρ ⇒η

Polynoamials

Although noams can be modelled individually, the framework allows for the modelling of noamic interactions. That is, across multiple noams, and noams between different parties, whether collaborative or combatative. There are a set of “uni-noams” which might be considered as atomic prototypes. these can be considered in isolation, or in conjunction to form “molecules” or polynoams, that work towards a state of terminating monostability. It is expected that there will be many possible atomic and molecular combinations. The combinatorial phase-space and some Mendelievian taxonomy remains to be drawn up. Some of those documented so far are:

  • homeostasis: a systems self regulation, usually in response to some environmental perterbation, but could also be a response to internal changes. Blood temperature maintainance is an example in mammals and birds. Should the system become “aware” (sigma) of a change of its internal state  then it will invoke some regulatory action (eta) to return to that state. The cause of change may eminate either internally or externally, but the homeostatic prototype operates within the system.
  • engagement: this prototype can also serve a regulatory function, but its operation is outside of the system. Again, the cause of change could be internal, but is usually external. The system engages with its environment to generate a more favourable situation for itself. When I get cold, I turn the heating up.
  • aquisition: the evaluation-decision loop, or the upsilon link, select kinetic behaviour from the potential responses. However, an appropriate response may not be available, possibly due to not knowing what to do, lack of know how, or lack of resources. In such cases, the system’s solution would be to aquire the necessary means to respond to the situation. The first response though is to act to get those means. There are therefore two responses, the initial behaviour being aquisition, which then enables direct response to the presenting situation. As Schieder’s character said in Jaws “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”. Much of the 36 Strategems (Ji) of Ancient China, which offer meme infection strategems, revolve around this principle.

These are the elements that form larger polynoams, complex systems can be modelled here such as sales, supply chains and so on.

  • command
  • supply

Sequences:

Pure pull can occur, but pure push is not effective in itself. Sequences between push and pull are the most common and useful means of transmission of noam properties. Both the teacher/model and the student/observer must have intent to transfer at some level. There is usually a cycle of pushing and pulling. Furthermore, both student and teacher can push and pull; their roles may even be exchanged. However, the most basic interactions (probably part of an extended learning relationship) either start with push or pull, with the teacher pushing, and the student pulling informtion transfer.

  • Pull-push: is where the inquisitive student asks the master (as in many Zen koens) to impart knowledge, skills, or values. Note that by asking a question, the student is instigating a request to push of the teacher, whereby the student may subsequently learn. At a deeper level the instigation is actually a push by the student and pull by the teacher, but on the surface, specific knowledge transfer is the pull-push pattern.
  • Push-pull: is where the teacher proposes a verbal lesson or demonstration, which is then taken up by the student’s listening and observation.

These push and pull noams are considered as atomic to the system. Combinations and sequences of polynoamials are considered as the equivalent of “molecular”. More detailed elements, such as FABULA and the Toulmin framework, would then be sub-atomic, at least in reference to the Noam framework (Latin, Greek and Phonecian letters denonte the distinction). Again, the frameworks are not intended to be a scientific theory of how interpersonal psychology works. Rather they are there to provide a symbol system (an alphabet) which build strings of polynoamial, and productions rules which provide the syntax and semantics of a formal grammar. However, the aim is that of a pragmatic language that enables a suitable operational model for cliology. As an engineering system, cliology has intentionality: that of eusocial change of cultural practice through intervention and influecne. It should be apparent that while noams model conventional approaches to interpersonal communication between individuals, that the wider application is to model the spread of cultural practice among a population. At that point the memetic aspects come into focus, as well as the wider cliological intentions of providing a “programming” langague of culture change. Molecular conbinations and sequences of polynoamials then are “sentences” (cf judicial orders). They are the practical and operational consequence of a cliological system intended to be influential, and targeted at specified cultural intervention. To this end, the atomic noamic symbols are assembled into polynoamial molecules that have an overall effect of pushing information transfer. Where these molecules induce recursive information transfer among a population, then they become replicators, or memes, and the molecules become more analogous to DNA; the modes of meme transfer are termed motility. More complex polynoamials, such as those of a sales method, can be buit from simpler ones, such as command or supply.

 

Relation of other framework elements

Toulmin and FABULA: A noam would consist of two such fabula components, that is four toulmin arguments. The basic noam form is an inverted triangle relating potential behavioral responses (rho) as a result of situational awareness (sigma) and values (nu).

On a noam, V), there are two sides to the V – the hook “)” simply denotes that it is a noam, and the direction of information flow. The right side is the match between stimulus and value (pi) which results in contentment, or otherwise which can be denoted by a slash “/”. The left side is between value and response (tau) and can be thought of as a motivating force indicated by discontentment and can be denoted by a backslash “\”. Each side can be restated in fabula form (a fabula element being a “dual-Toul”) and have the same structure.

Meme: The noam model is about individual behaviour, and behavioural interactions from a conventional interpersonal communication perpective. A meme builds on the interpersonal, but refocuses on the spread of information among a population, and is expressed through cultural traits. A meme is considered to be a polynoam with at least two noamic parts: a payload and a carrier.

Cliome: For cliological purposes, a cliome is composed of memes, but as memes are a special treatment of polynoamials, then a cliome is also a polynoamial. A cliome is thought of as the underlying abstract code of culture (related to a memeplexe), and are expressed as a clion (some cultural object such as a ritual or artefact). The expressed traits of a clion are related to the memes that the clion is composed of, and as a consequence, its noams. The noam framework then can be applied to assembling the code of culture.

Examples [new page]

{law, science, sales (direct, mlm), PR, military, environmentalism, the cat sat on the mat}

[build partial examples into each property; compile them into linked sub-sections of this page]

 

Application

Related Issues

Sequi-noams

[relegate to blog]

A quick post on a conjecture. I have proposed a noam as being a “duel-tule”; I’ve also suggested that one kind of meme as consisting of two noams, the latter with a “bauble” attached (it is Christmas nearly).

A noam: \/)

A meme: Wo)    showing its “bauble”

I’ve been reading around terpenes and terpenoids, some chemicals found in plants that give them flavour. A sesquiterpene is a compound that contains one and a half terpenes, that is 3 basic isoprene blocks. The adoption of the Phoenician symbols has promoted a visual association with organic chemistry, and my fascination with the visual structure of phenethylamines. I got to thinking that if a meme is two noams then like a “duel-tule”, it could be called a duel-noam, but that sounded overboard at first. Then the sesqui- prefix resonated and lead to a phase-space exploration (“mad-lib”) of other variations according to classical prefixes, and visual structures. Is it possible to stick those prefixes onto noam, and what, if anything might they mean?

Well, a noam has two fabula elements and a tail, ie. “\”, “/” and “)”. So a sesqui-noam would have three fabula elements (fabulae?) and a tail. Hence, the prefix would denote the count of fabula elements: slashes. But we also have the tail, so perhaps the most basic structure would start with just a tail and no fabula elements. This gives us a sequence:

), /), V). /V), W)

and so on.

  • Tail only “)”: only sigma-stimulus, no nu-value, nor rho-response.
  • Hemi-noam “/)”: sigma-stimulus and nu-value, but no rho-response.
  • Uni-noam “V): the original formulation of a noam.
  • Sesqui-noam “/V)”: a noam and a half, wtf?
  • Di-noam “W)” without a bauble. With a bauble, it would be the formulation for a meme.
  • Higher order noams would have more “\” and “/”

Given what the visual components indicate, it is possible to derive some possible meaning, even if it doesn’t correspond to anything real.

Going further into the exploration of structural phase-space with these visual symbols (a methodology called doodling). The “bauble”, indicating indefinite replication capability, has been attached to the top of the tail. What might it mean if it was attached somewhere else, or more than one bauble was depicted? Other possibilities, inspired by organic chemistry, would be to introduce the “unbent upsilon” of direct stimulus-response; or to omit fabula elements. This opens up a combinatorial explosion of meaning, again not necessarily realistic, nor desirable as horrendous indecipherable structures could be drawn, like this:

_\o/o\/)

Which looks more like some alchemaic sigil; which I suppose it is. Given that Wilson & Unruh mention sigils in The Art of Memetics then I suppose I best call such a scribble a “nomic-sigil”; consequences be darned! These mad-libs and doodlings are for further musing and require a revision of the original formulation of the noam.

General Systems Theory equivalence

 

Image result for general systems model

what lies in between and outside? [instruction, and adaptation of RGB]

nu and upsilon: instruct and values

RFT (rbg)

[then to the 7 Ws ; then assembled as a meme; and container theory]

Turing completeness, Horne clauses Prolog and executability

example pseudo-code of a noam

Versioning and change-log

Origin and history

The best defination of memetics came from a friend, ‘make shit up and tell your mates’. Well, some shit sticks. All stuff had to be made up at some point by somebody, from the Bible to language to Leibniz’ and Newton’s calculus. I’m making stuff up about memetics, but hopefully it is representitive, fits together well, and sticks. For engineering purposes we need a structural framework of a meme: it would help us to visualise, understand, and select the essential components that meet with our intentions. According to the Marmite meme principle, I’ve figured out that a meme consists of two similar sub-assemblies that correspond to its sticky and spreadable properties.

In this post, I will present a brief account of the general sub-assembly structure. Subsequent posts will elaborate on the elements contained, on how conjointly they form a meme, and how to rig up and disseminate the assembled meme.

The two sub-assemblies I have called ‘noams’. Firstly on honour of Noam Chomski, linguist and political academic. Secondly, a gnome isn’t just a mythical creature or garden ornament, it referres to knowledge, gnosis, cognition, and words like ‘note’, and ‘name’, and ‘-nym’. I have elected to use phoenician symbols for noams and memes (rather than boring Greek or Latin). There is unicode for this, but it gets lost, and ‘V’ and ‘W’ with an back bracket ‘)’, called a hook, as  is easier to type anyway. From Phoenician, the symbolism is:

V) = “nun” evolved into N and will be used to denote a noam.

W) = “meem” similarly became M, and has an obvious association to meme.

Notably, there is a convenience in these contrivances as a meme is the conjunction of two noams (using the logical and symbol ‘∧’).

V)∧V)=W)

A noam can be considered as roughly equivalent to a narreme, the basic unit of analysis in narratology.  It constitutes a chunk of a story, but in difference to a narreme, a noam highlights the feature of behaviorally executability: it connects stimuli to response through rule govered behavior; it is functional. Now, I have indicated that there are two main essential operations in memetics: the execution of replication and the execution of any other functional behaviour. In practice, it may be difficult to extricate the replication from the function. In an idealised model we could seperate the payload idea from its delivery. For example, in an old British Gas campaign, the payload was about buying shares in that company; the carrier came with the slogan ‘If you see Sid, tell him’; which is a variation of ‘spread the word’, or ‘share this’, or ‘pass it on’. We might see the narrative as two narrimes, or noams, one of the payload (buy shares), and one of the carrier (share this). We could model the core of the campaign as one of the payload, designated as ‘φ’, intended to invoke the ‘physical’ function of buying:

V)φ = buy shares

and one that induces the behaviour of copy itself when triggered, as designated by ‘ψ’ for the ‘psychological’ function of spreading itself among minds.

V)∞ψ = share this

The ‘∞’ symbol indicates that it function is to replicate itself infinatly, but sometimes I use a degree-circle ‘V°)’ and ‘W°)’, sometimes on the meme symbol I miss it out – it depends on how I’m feeling. I have also taken the liberty of stealing from other symbol systems and uCapricorn.svgse Capricorn to denote a purely recursive noam in my whiteboard doodlings. Conjoining the noams into a memetic assembly thereby gives us the symbolisation of:

V)φ ∧ V)∞ψ = Wo)

I will use these symbols throughout my posts, relating them to Toulmin, and other social influence models. I will elaborate more on the underlying components of stimulus, value, and response also.

Noams etymology of “knowledge” note, gnomic poetry, gnostisism

Noam chomsky (vs Skinner)

After eons of mind wandering and head scratching, I’ve finally descended on an acronym, or rather a retronym, for the noam model. I’ve just jumped out of bed to blog it out. Yes, yet another woeful contrivance. Narrative Operation Analytical Model (NOAM) or something like that. The original term came from a hybrid of etymology, and in honour of Noam Chomsky.

  • Narrative (or narreme, or narratology)
  • Operation (or operant, or operational)
  • Analytical (or activation)
  • Model

Using the Phoenician (nun) V) which translates to N; from (meem) W) which I use as meme and cleaved into two to represent the sticky and the spreadable components.

Again, noams are named in honour of Chomsky who pointed to the poverty of Skinner’s model in his critique of Beyond Freedom and Dignity. The noam model goes beyond stimulus-response and reinforcement to include values as an internal state, and considered the interrelationships between sub-components. It also allows the glueing together of noams (poly-noamials?) to generate memes, and co-adaptive meme complexes (memeplexes).

Here I will list the symbolism employed in the noam model. As I have noted the Phonecian “nun” character has been borrowed.

V)

2019-07-14 v0.1.1

Revision of property names

Known issues

The basic framework elements are estsblished. Other lesser elements symbols may be subject to revision. Currently, the inter-relationshipsbetween individual noams is not entirely satisfactory as they remain to be mathematically proven as coherent. This involves standardisation for the formulation of sequence selection and iteration and proof of Turing completeness in the system. Furhrrmore, the translation into executable programming language remains to be done.

Current development

Update on noamenclature

Candidate for extentions to the noam framework (to be defined at a later time) include:

  • eta – the feedback from rho to sigma
  • external sigma, as opposed to internal sigma for the distinction between introceptive and contextual stimuli
  • omega for deeper values and the Darwinian bottom line.
  • epsilon as a relationship between surface and deep level components.
  • various sub and super scrips that denote differences of level.
  • notation for logical conjunction and inversion
  • regression and recursion marks

There are others, but the key is to keep things as simple as possible (but no simpler).

The symbolism presents a visual behavioral calculus aimed at the human apprehension of relationsl responding to contextual cues given rule governed behavior. The schema is not one of equations as maths provides, but of the provision of formulae. It convayes structure, the transmission of form (information) that is central to cliology, memetics, cultural evolution and prosocial intervention in changing maladaptive social practice. In other words, they are a representation of an underlying code for structuring social systems,  organisations, policies, routines and competencies, technologies, and artefacts. In a sense, they resemble “alchemaic” formulae in that they indicate recipies for the transition of state, but in this case that of changing the course of social actvity.