The three ontological dimensions

The chapter "Existing Worlds" in Augusto Viola’s The Evolution of Knowledge details a pluralistic ontology where humans simultaneously inhabit three distinct dimensions: the Physical, the Abstract, and the Abstract Virtual Social.

Dimensions vs. Worlds

The author distinguishes between these two concepts by defining a Dimension as a "canister" for Worlds. A Dimension represents what is possible (an intent), while Worlds are actual "crates of Entities" that occupy those dimensions as instances of those possibilities.

The Three Primary Dimensions

1. The Physical World: This dimension encompasses every form of matter and energy, from subatomic particles to galaxies. It exists independently of any living subject or observer. To the human mind, the Physical World is a "Continuum"—an immeasurable, fluent, and erratic flow of reality that the mind must "break" into discrete objects to understand.

   
   

2. The Abstract World (The Mind): This is the private dimension of individual thought. Every person’s mind is at least one separate Abstract World where the individual lives a "lonely life" of unchosen, internal thoughts. This world is integrated by mental entities, tools, and processes like memory and focus.

   
   

3. The Abstract Virtual Social World: This world consists of shared abstractions, such as laws, mathematics, language, and the value of money. It is described as "Virtual" because it does not exist independently; it is fragmented across individual minds and only continues to exist as long as society thinks it into being. It serves as a way for societies to anchor meanings and solve problems collectively.

   
   

Key Philosophical Principles

• Independence and Tandem Interaction: The Physical and Abstract dimensions are separated and independent; they cannot directly touch or interact (e.g., a thought cannot physically sit on a table). However, they act in tandem, affecting each other indirectly. The physical brain supports the mind via electrochemical pulses, and the mind indirectly commands the body to act upon physical reality.

  
  

• Principle of Nativeness of Perception: Every perception is degraded or distorted when looking from one dimension into another. Because the mind is "native" to the Abstract dimension, it can never perceive the physical world purely, but only through mental replicas or "Referrals".

  
  

• Objectivity and Existence: The author argues that only the Physical are objective because they actually exist. In contrast, the Abstract Worlds and Virtual Social Dimension do not truly exist; they are the vapor over the machine, an allucination to which we call "consciousness".