5. COGNITION: PANDORA'S BOX

COGNITION

Here in cognition is where it all comes together to form intentions and the final signal to respond in a specific way to the original irritation.

The term cognition (cognitive processing) stems from the Latin word “cognoscere,” which means to know. It is a global term with many nuances, but generally refers to the human faculty for processing information during and after learning. Cognition is not the knowing itself, but the process which brings about that knowing.

The cognitive process is part of the process of volition and can be conscious or unconscious, as can knowing. The process can be analyzed in terms of its neurological mechanisms, its psychological function or, systematically, as a pure information network.

Included within the concept, which has importance for the restoration of the natural operation in balance and harmony with the Life Force, we can list as essential:

recuperation of stored data

conceptualization

reasoning

understanding

comprehension

inference

deduction

speculation

decision-making

planning

organization

the elaboration of sensations, discriminations and perceptions

the formation of preferences and beliefs

together with the use of signs and symbols

abstraction

the apparent knowing of itself

the natural objective of apparent intentionality

In terms of computer theory, one can equate the Life Force with the central processor, cognition with the motherboard and consciousness with the monitor. Responsiveness and learning are the active processes, the connectors of the motherboard. Resident memory is naturally installed in its slot. Various cards are inserted in the motherboard in the appropriate places which include:

creativity

imagination

humor

communication

language

It is a very impressive list of essential functions and all are left-brain functions. Some like language and beliefs have operations that function also in the right brain along with many which are not in any direct way a part of COGNITION.

Note clearly that the Form and Name is the raw material used in COGNITIVE OPERATION, and of course many elements, each with form and name, may have entered the system together.

When the nama-rupa elements are registered there is a further search in memory for traces connected in any way with the nama-rupa pairs. Thereafter, there is a constant flow of associations generated in order to develop any of the above-named pertinent operations. Eventually, with attitudes recovered and cognitive operations well functioning, a final INTENTION is evolved.

Not all of the cognitive processes send information to CONSCIOUSNESS, but when this does happen THINKING takes place and the contents of thinking are registered.