Friday, September 11, 2009

Conduct and Evolvement

'Behavior' and 'conduct' are, in themselves, approximately synonymous. But, the former, primarily via its appropriation by 'Behaviorism', has taken on the connotation of 'conditioned response', whereas the latter, reinforced by the meaning of the verb 'to conduct', tends to connotate voluntary movements. So, I will be using 'Conduct' to mean 'Individual Behavior'. Conduct is Intentional motion, where an 'Intention' is an imagistic variation on a what one has previously been doing, that precedes and guides further motions that one is to attempt. For example, my Intention to go for a walk is an imagined variation on my previous activity of reading, that will guide how I proceed. An 'Action' is an Intentional movement. In other words, Action is Individual Evolvement. Now, insofar as there are varying degrees of Individual Becoming-Diverse, there are varying degrees of Individual Evolvement. Repetition is minimal Diversification, so Intentional continuing what one has been doing, or Intentional sticking to a routine, are processes of minimal Evolvement. Greater Evolvement can be variation on a routine, multiplying one's tasks, seeking new adventure, etc. Perhaps an extreme example of putting oneself outside oneself is Acting for the sake of another, so Action for someone else's benefit is generally a type of greatly Evolved Conduct.

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