ZEROING IN ON IDENTITY
- Identity Defined -
Identity defines the fundamental nature of every thing, whether that
thing is an objective physical entity or a subjective mental construct.
To understand the nature of things we must first understand the nature of identity.
Exceeding the standard definition of identity as just self- similarity,
the structure of identity expresses a duality of (1) self-similarity and
(2) other-difference, for we can say that a thing (a part of all) is the
same as itself if, and only if, we can say it is different than something
else. As we shall see, these two aspects of identity create Absolute and Relative identity
attributes. This then is the dual definition of identity:
DUAL DEFINITION OF IDENTITY
(1) ABSOLUTE: zero difference; the unconditional nature of a thing that
is not derived from external relation; the product of internal self-similarity.
Example: She must be Mary since she is the same as Mary.
(2) RELATIVE: nonzero difference; the conditional nature of a thing, n,
derived from the difference between n and not(n); the product of external
other-difference. Example: Smith is best since he scored more than the others.
The identity of a thing is simultaneously (1) and (2). Example: the
difference between 4 and 4 is 0 (4 is the same as 4) because the difference
between 4 and 0 is 4. So a thing, n, is defined at the same time by both its
similarity to itself and by
its difference from not(n); and thus difference (from zero difference
to nonzero differences) defines the whole structure of identity.
SYNTHETIC IDENTITY ANALYSIS
Numbers are synthetic identities that serve as ideal subjects for the
study of identity. It is because they are the ideal model of identity that numbers and their
relations, while synthetic, are unparalleled in their ability to model the natural world.
"Treat the laws and relationships of integers like
those of the
celestial bodies." George Cantor
Identity structure is ideally expressed as a numeric scale of difference
from zero to infinity. Zero is no difference, or similarity, and all other numbers
to infinity are degrees of difference defined by their difference, or displacement, from zero.
Each number-identity along the continuum is defined by its difference from
zero (n - 0 = n), which defines the Primary Relative (PR) identity attribute
of an identity. For example, 3 is 3 because 3 is 3 more then 0. A number n also
has Secondary Relative (SR) identity attributes, which express the difference
between n and other numbers that are nonzero. We can see this in the differentiation
matrix below.
PR = Primary Relative identity attribute
SR = Secondary Relative identity attributes
AI = Absolute Identity attribute
Listed in the vertical column below each number on the top of the matrix
below are its identity attributes as derived from relations to the numbers
listed along the left side. The identity attributes derived from the relation
of two numbers are found at their intersections:
Example of SR attribute: 3 is 2 more than 1. "3 is 2 more" is a statement
about the identity of 3 relative to 1, thus "2 more" is a SR identity attribute
of 3. In the same way, "Smith is 2 feet taller" defines a SR identity attribute
(+2ft) that belongs to Mr Smith relative to Mr Jones. Smith is also 4 feet shorter
(-4ft) than an elephant just as 3 is also 6 less than 9. Therefore, a thing, n,
has as many SR attributes as there are other things n can be related to, yet n
only has one PR attribute, n.
PR = Primary Relative identity attribute
SR = Secondary Relative identity attributes
AI = Absolute Identity attribute
The AI attribute of each number (found at its intersection with itself
in the table)
and the AI of all numbers is zero.
Therefore, 0 = (AI of 1) = (AI of 2) = (AI of 3) = 0. It is the relative identity
attributes derived from holistic relations that define a thing as a unique
subset of the whole. Self-similarity is Absolute identity, it is the "home base"
of that which is "self," and, being a null relation, is equal to zero.
The zero of Absolute identity defines
the Buddhist claim about identity,
that the inherent (i.e., the absolute) self-nature of all things is void (i.e., is zero), and
that what we think of as the thing is merely a product of conditional relations.
CONCLUSION
The analysis of synthetic numeric identities herein allows us to see and thereby prove:
(a) that identity is conserved, expressed via the real numbers as a constant zero-sum,
since, for example, n is always as much more than x as x is less than n; (b) that identity
is therefore symmetrical; (c) that Relative identity is holistic, since all nonzero identity
attributes are derived from other-difference; and (d) that the Absolute (nonrelative) identity
of each and every thing equals zero.
WHY DIFFERENCE DEFINES IDENTITY
Impressed by the complex we overlook the simple, we associate simple with that which
we must pass beyond in our quest for the ultimate understanding and truth. Yet, just as
the complex structures of a fractal design come from an infinite repetition of a
relatively simple primary form, infinite complexity comes from the primary simplicity
of difference, from zero difference (similarity) to infinity...
The numbers along the real-number line express progressive displacement, or additional
difference, relative to zero, the origin. Each number is its separation, displacement, or
difference, from zero, thus n is exactly n more than 0. So the essential nature of an
identity is a state of difference.
If there was no difference, there would be no numbers, and if there were no numbers,
there would be no mathematics. Before you can build a mathematical statement, first you
need numbers, which are states of difference. The same principle holds for physical things,
which are also states of difference, such that no difference implies no things. So the
fundamental nature of identity and thus of all things is that of difference, from zero difference to infinity...
Therefore, difference, expressed as subtraction, is unique among all mathematical
operations in that only difference defines the primary causal structure of identity.
The scale of difference, from zero to infinity defines the causal structure of identity,
of what it is that makes a thing what it is, and thus the differentiation table is the
template that defines the foundation of identity and existence.
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(c) 1998 Ian Williams Goddard