The Emergic Approach (or EA) is a unifying methodology (and discipline) for progressing science based on the mathematical foundation of open-form thinking. Besides formal proof, the ability to unify disparate phenomena within a computational model is demonstrated by the Emergic Cognitive Model that was completely based on the Emergic Approach, while simultaneously enriching it.

A complex version of open-form thinking has successful hardened physics. However, the soft sciences (and philosophy) are replete with closed-form thoughts that in totality present an almost insurmountable barrier to change. Next to this fortress of cards, open-form thinking appears as a farfetched and irrelevant “philosophy” rather than as the standard approach. While it may be philosophizing, it is less for philosophers, and more for theoretical scientists in the soft sciences (especially cognitive science) interested in synthesis.

History:

From 2007 – present, David Pierre Leibovitz developed a unified epistemology, ontology & metaphysics for the analysis, decomposition, synthesis and modeling of complex systems. The empirical philosophizing behind this Emergic Approach (or EA) to unified cognitive modeling is validated by developing a unified cognitive model  – the Emergic Cognitive Model (ECM). This research was initially developed at Carleton University.

See also:

• Wikimergic – the formal description of the Emergic Approach and the Emergic Cognitive Model
• Emergic – the informal blogging site about the Emergic Approach

Related Publications (Selected):

Leibovitz, D. P. & West, R. L. (2013) (Full 6 page paper). Emergence of Border & Surface Completion (both Spatial and Temporal) in a Flowcentric Model of Narrow Slit Viewing. In R. West & T. Stewart (eds.), Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling (ICCM 2013), Ottawa: Carleton University.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2013) Wikimergic: unifying the science of brain and mind according to the Emergic Approach. Retrieved July 15, 2013 from http://wikimergic.upwize.com/.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2013) Abnormal Science for Abnormal Perception: A Case for Theoretical Cognitive Science via a Case Study of Narrow Slit Viewing. Retrieved from http://dpleibovitz.upwize.com/?p=393.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2013). A Unified Cognitive Model of Visual Filling-In Based on an Emergic Network Architecture (Doctoral dissertation). Carleton University. Retrieved from http://dpleibovitz.upwize.com/?p=189.

West, R. L., & Leibovitz, D. P. (2012). Understanding each other: Defining a conceptual space for cognitive modeling. 34th annual meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (CogSci 2012) (pp. 2535-2539). Sapporo, Japan.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2012) Modelling visual processing via emergence. Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science (CSBBCS 2012) (pp. 72-73). Abstracts.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2012) Emergence of epistemic phenomena. Poster presented at the Cognitive Science Spring Conference of Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Leibovitz, D. P., & West, R. L. (2012). Cognitive Re-Use via Emergic Networks. 11th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling (ICCM 2012) (pp. 72-73). Berlin, Germany.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2011) Emergic Networks. Published as open sourced code, http://dpleibovitz.upwize.com/?p=182.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2011) Local Measure Reliability vs. Global Concept Validity. Has Cognitive Science Moved Beyond Behaviourism? (Insignificant Progress in Validating Cognitive Constructs p<.05). Poster presented at the Cognitive Science Spring Conference of Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2011) Philosophy Behind the Cognitive Modelling of Virtual Eyeballs. Talk presented at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2010) Emergic Approach: Philosophy Applied to Cognition. Talk presented to Complex Adaptive Systems Group at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Leibovitz, D. P. (2009) Emergic Memories: A Model of Emergent Properties. Poster presented at the Cognitive Science Spring Conference of Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Leibovitz, D. P. (2009) Cognition Requires Philosophy: Towards Unity. Talk presented at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.