The Connection of Ideas

Chapter 1 explained that waves become nodes when they are concentrated together. We then call these nodes as ideas.

Since these nodes are really waves, they easily show wave-properties. One of these properties is the connection of ideas, as Property 1 explained in Chapter 1d.

Compound Ideas are Made up of Simple Ideas

Since ideas are static, it is the mind, powered by desire, that connects them together, in a chain. This leads to the creation of compound ideas from many simple ones.

These principles of connection or association are resemblance, contiguity and causation. These are the only bonds that unite our thoughts together, and beget that regular train of reflection or discourse.”

D

David Hume Enquiry on Human Understanding, Section 5

Every body is either simple or composite. The infinite body, therefore, will be either simple or composite.

A

Aristotle Heavens, Book 1, Part 5

Spinoza earlier had a similar idea, though linking the connection of ideas to God.

The order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of things.

S

Spinoza The Ethics Simplified, Part 2, Proposition 7

While the 5 Elements show the vertical hierarchy of reality, the connection of ideas, and integration of simple into complex, show its lateral organization, creating a pyramid of ideas.

When applied to living minds, this leads to the oversoul with many individual souls, each with many selves.

• Each soul has many selves in each alternate reality which is created from spacetime slices. This is essential in Bio-Superphysics.
• Individual souls taken together make up the soul of society, which we call the metaphysical society-organism. This is essential in Social Superphysics

The soul is like a republic with members united by the reciprocal ties of government and subordination. This gives rise to other persons who propagate the same republic through constant change. The same republic may change its members, laws, and constitutions. Similarly, a person may vary his character, disposition, impressions and ideas, without losing his identity. Whatever changes he endures, his parts are still connected by causation.

D

David Hume A Treatise of Human Nature, Book 1, Part 4, Section 6

To save itself energy, the mind usually connects those ideas that are resembling, contiguous, or those that are easily linked by cause and effect. This leads to shallow analysis and conclusions.

For example, a wife might notice that her husband comes home late from work often. Her mind connects facts and, without effort, jumps to the conclusion that he is cheating on her.

This can be avoided by critical thinking and critical feeling which “catches” the thoughts and feelings, to be explained in Chapter 8.