Black box theory
Encyclopedia
Black box theories are things defined only in terms of their function. The term black box theory is applied to any field, philosophy
and science
or otherwise where some inquiry or definition is made into the relations between the appearance of something (exterior/outside), i.e. here specifically the things black box
state, related to its characteristics and behaviour within(interior/inner). Specifically that the inquiry is focused upon a thing that has no immediately apparent characteristics and therefore has only factors for consideration held within itself hidden from immediate observation. The observer is assumed ignorant in the first instance as the majority of available datum
is held in a inner situation away from facile investigations. The black box element of the definition is shown as being characterised by a system where observable elements enter a perhaps imaginary box with a set of different outputs emerging which are also observable.
(FDR) and cockpit voice recorder
(CVR). These function to record the radio transmissions occurring within an airplane, and are particularly important to persons who engage into an inquiry into the cause of a plane crashing, where the plane is caused to become wreckage. These boxes are in fact coloured orange in order that they be more easily located.
Considering a black box
that could not be opened to "look inside" and see how it worked, all that would be possible would be to guess how it worked based on what happened when something was done to it (input), and what occurred as a result of that (output). If after putting an orange
in on one side, an orange fell out the other, it would be possible to make educated guesses or hypotheses on what was happening inside the black box. It could be filled with oranges; it could have a conveyor belt
to move the orange from one side to the other; it could even go through an alternate universe
. Without being able to investigate the workings of the box, ultimately all we can do is guess.
However, occasionally strange occurrences will take place that change our understanding of the black box. Consider putting in an orange in and having a guava
pop out. How our "filled with oranges" and "conveyor belt" theories no longer work, and we may have to change our educated guess as to how the black box works.
The black box theory of consciousness
, which states that the mind
is fully understood once the inputs
and outputs are well defined, and generally couples this with a radical skepticism
regarding the possibility of ever successfully describing the underlying structure, mechanism, and dynamics of the mind.
.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
or otherwise where some inquiry or definition is made into the relations between the appearance of something (exterior/outside), i.e. here specifically the things black box
Black box
A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
state, related to its characteristics and behaviour within(interior/inner). Specifically that the inquiry is focused upon a thing that has no immediately apparent characteristics and therefore has only factors for consideration held within itself hidden from immediate observation. The observer is assumed ignorant in the first instance as the majority of available datum
Datum
A geodetic datum is a reference from which measurements are made. In surveying and geodesy, a datum is a set of reference points on the Earth's surface against which position measurements are made, and an associated model of the shape of the earth to define a geographic coordinate system...
is held in a inner situation away from facile investigations. The black box element of the definition is shown as being characterised by a system where observable elements enter a perhaps imaginary box with a set of different outputs emerging which are also observable.
Origin of term
The term black box was first recorded used by the RAF of approximately 1947 to describe the sealed containment used for apparatus of navigation,this usage becoming more widely applied after 1964. The identifier is therefore applied to objects known as the flight data recorderFlight data recorder
A flight data recorder is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters...
(FDR) and cockpit voice recorder
Cockpit voice recorder
A cockpit voice recorder , often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents...
(CVR). These function to record the radio transmissions occurring within an airplane, and are particularly important to persons who engage into an inquiry into the cause of a plane crashing, where the plane is caused to become wreckage. These boxes are in fact coloured orange in order that they be more easily located.
Examples
Black box
A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
that could not be opened to "look inside" and see how it worked, all that would be possible would be to guess how it worked based on what happened when something was done to it (input), and what occurred as a result of that (output). If after putting an orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
in on one side, an orange fell out the other, it would be possible to make educated guesses or hypotheses on what was happening inside the black box. It could be filled with oranges; it could have a conveyor belt
Conveyor belt
A conveyor belt consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley...
to move the orange from one side to the other; it could even go through an alternate universe
Multiverse
The multiverse is the hypothetical set of multiple possible universes that together comprise all of reality.Multiverse may also refer to:-In fiction:* Multiverse , the fictional multiverse used by DC Comics...
. Without being able to investigate the workings of the box, ultimately all we can do is guess.
However, occasionally strange occurrences will take place that change our understanding of the black box. Consider putting in an orange in and having a guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
pop out. How our "filled with oranges" and "conveyor belt" theories no longer work, and we may have to change our educated guess as to how the black box works.
The black box theory of consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
, which states that the mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
is fully understood once the inputs
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
and outputs are well defined, and generally couples this with a radical skepticism
Radical skepticism
Radical skepticism or radical scepticism is the philosophical position that knowledge is most likely impossible. Radical skeptics hold that doubt exists as to the veracity of every belief and that certainty is therefore never justified...
regarding the possibility of ever successfully describing the underlying structure, mechanism, and dynamics of the mind.
Uses
One of the black box theories uses is as a method to describe/understand psychological factors in fields such as marketing where applied to an analyses of consumer behaviourConsumer behaviour
Consumer behaviour is the study of when, why, how, and where people do or do not buy a product. It blends elements from psychology, sociology, social anthropology and economics. It attempts to understand the buyer decision making process, both individually and in groups...
.
See also
- BehaviorismBehaviorismBehaviorism , also called the learning perspective , is a philosophy of psychology based on the proposition that all things that organisms do—including acting, thinking, and feeling—can and should be regarded as behaviors, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior...
- Black boxBlack boxA black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
- Philosophy of MindPhilosophy of mindPhilosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain. The mind-body problem, i.e...