In this article, we will discuss the order in which informational properties become more complex within the framework of the “Imperative Socionics” concept, as well as how information is structured in nature in general. To begin with, we should note that we are referring to the sequence of Sensing-Intuition-Ethics-Logic. It can be observed not only in the work of the TIM (type of informational metabolism), but also in the structure of the reality surrounding us.
Firstly, all information traits are necessary to describe the character of sources of information. According to the above sequence, each property that comes next in the order covers information that is more complex in nature than the previous one. It can be said that information becomes more complex starting from Sensing and ending with Logic.
For example, Sensing describes information about the material objects surrounding us. To understand what this means, it is enough to stick to “sensing” concepts. Next, to understand Intuition, we already need to have an understanding of Sensing. Intuition is information about all sorts of events. What is an event? It is a set of objects possessing certain properties, which are arranged in a certain way in relation to each other. These events occur with us continuously over time, as a result of which we observe changes in the properties of objects. In any case, we see that to understand Intuitive information, one needs to master an understanding of Sensing information. Roughly speaking, Intuitive (event) is a set of Sensing (objects).
By considering the first two properties, we have presented a certain series of objects with properties and events in which they are present. Their existence alone is clearly not enough to set everything in motion: here Ethics comes into play – information about evaluations that objects and events possess. For example, “this apple is tasty” or “I enjoyed this holiday”.
The world is arranged in such a way that any evaluations are the cause of the events happening to us. Let’s consider what is meant by an example: suppose I want to drink and I make tea for myself. So, this drink has certain properties (sensing) that can satisfy me. This can happen if an event (intuitive) occurs in which I drink it. I love tea, that is, in my opinion, it has been given a positive evaluation (ethical) and I wouldn’t drink it if it were negative. As a result, thanks to the available evaluation, I drink this cup of tea (my attitude towards the object became the cause of the event that happened).
It turns out that Ethical information characterizes the evaluations that we give to objects and events – thanks to it, the objects surrounding us interact with each other, creating events and causing changes. It turns out that to understand Ethical information, one needs to already have an idea of Sensing and Intuition.
The next element is something that exists thanks to objects, events and evaluations – this is Logic. With its help, we describe cause-and-effect relationships, thanks to which the interaction between Sensing and Intuition occurs. On the one hand, this refers to certain regularities according to which objects (such as atoms and molecules) are arranged; on the other hand, it refers to, for example, technologies according to which events happen to us. Thus, while Ethics allows us to evaluate and create events, Logic creates the necessary conditions in which these interactions can take place. For example, the laws of physics (logical) are principles according to which objects (sensing) exist (ethical) in space and time (intuitive).
Finally, let’s consider how living organisms interact with information according to this sequence. We all understand that the structure of organisms is the result of their adaptation to the environment, so it is logical that the same regularities that are in the considered sequence will be reflected in our organism.
We know that at first, the first living organisms mastered the perception of Sensory information: for example, thanks to the features of the structure of the cell membrane, unicellular organisms learned to sense (Si) the environment and feel how it affects them (Se) (for example, light provides energy for life). Then, by observing their behavior in the laboratory, scientists learned that even such a simple form of life has, so to speak, imagination. We can see this in how a cell, after spending a long time in an unfavorable environment, tries to get out of it by moving to another place. We see that it can imagine (Ni) that its sensations may be different from those it experiences at the moment. Moreover, this means that the cell understands that certain changes (Ti), such as changes in the toxicity of the environment, are happening to it. Thus, the first organisms learned to perceive Intuitive information.
In connection with this, structures were formed in it that were aimed at direct interaction with the environment by responding to external influences. For example, the cell clearly understands which substances are useful (Fi) for its life and that when they enter the organism, it is necessary to activate the vacuoles (Fe), the goal of which is to launch its nourishing chemical processes. Thus, unicellular organisms learned to interact with Ethical information. In particular, for the implementation of all these functions, DNA appeared in them, in the structure of which technologies corresponding to each type of interaction described by Ethical information are encoded. Thus, on the one hand, the cell knows that useful substances (Fi) are nearby, which must be passed (Fe) through the membrane and digested in enzymes. On the other hand, it has DNA (as well as special organelles), in which an algorithm is encoded according to which this interaction will take place. In this case, information about their structure will be related to Ti, and information about the technology used will be related to Te.
Thus, we can see how, according to a number of information properties, the structure of the simplest living organism becomes more complex: first, it acquires sensory organs, then the ability to sense changes and “imagine,” after which it develops the ability to evaluate received information and form a character of interaction with the environment, which is reflected in the structure of its development and possible interaction algorithms. Later, as life evolved, living organisms developed a complex psyche, along with psychological functions, through which they were able to intentionally interact with various types of information. Ultimately, humans emerged with their specific type of informational metabolism, which we are currently studying.