The latest evolutionary phase in programming is OOPS (Object Oriented Programming Systems). Objects are modules which encompass both data and instructions in self contained units. The user communicates with functions performed by these objects - but not with their structure and internal processes.

Programming objects, in other words, are "black boxes" (an engineering term). The programmer is unable to tell how object does what it does, or how does an external, useful function arise from internal, hidden functions or structures. Objects are epiphenomenal, emergent, phase transient. In short: much closer to reality as described by modern physics.

Though these black boxes communicate - it is not communication, its speed, or efficacy which determine overall efficiency of system. It is hierarchical and at same time fuzzy organization of objects which does trick. Objects are organized in classes which define their (actualized and potential) properties. The object's behaviour (what it does and what it reacts to) is defined by its membership of a class of objects.

Moreover, objects can be organized in new (sub) classes while inheriting all definitions and characteristics of original class in addition to new properties. In a way, these newly emergent classes are products while classes they are derived from are origin. This process so closely resembles natural - and especially biological - phenomena that it lends additional force to software metaphor.

Thus, classes can be used as building blocks. Their permutations define set of all soluble problems. It can be proven that Turing Machines are a private instance of a general, much stronger, class theory (a-la Principia Mathematica). The integration of hardware (computer, brain) and software (computer applications, mind) is done through "framework applications" which match two elements structurally and functionally. The equivalent in brain is sometimes called by philosophers and psychologists "a-priori categories", or "the collective unconscious".

Computers and their programming evolve. Relational databases cannot be integrated with object oriented ones, for instance. To run Java applets, a "virtual machine" needs to be embedded in operating system. These phases closely resemble development of brain-mind couplet.

When is a metaphor a good metaphor? When it teaches us something new about origin. It must possess some structural and functional resemblance. But this quantitative and observational facet is not enough. There is also a qualitative one: metaphor must be instructive, revealing, insightful, aesthetic, and parsimonious - in short, it must constitute a theory and produce falsifiable predictions. A metaphor is also subject to logical and aesthetic rules and to rigors of scientific method.

If software metaphor is correct, brain must contain following features:

Parity checks through back propagation of signals. The brain's electrochemical signals must move back (to origin) and forward, simultaneously, in order to establish a feedback parity loop. The neuron cannot be a binary (two state) machine (a quantum computer is multi-state). It must have many levels of excitation (i.e., many modes of representation of information). The threshold ("all or nothing" firing) hypothesis must be wrong. Redundancy must be built into all aspects and dimensions of brain and its activities. Redundant hardware -different centers to perform similar tasks. Redundant communications channels with same information simultaneously transferred across them. Redundant retrieval of data and redundant usage of obtained data (through working, "upper" memory). The basic concept of workings of brain must be comparison of "representational elements" to "models of world". Thus, a coherent picture is obtained which yields predictions and allows to manipulate environment effectively. Many of functions tackled by brain must be recursive. We can expect to find that we can reduce all activities of brain to computational, mechanically solvable, recursive functions. The brain can be regarded as a Turing Machine and dreams of Artificial Intelligence are likely come true. The brain must be a learning, self organizing, entity. The brain's very hardware must disassemble, reassemble, reorganize, restructure, reroute, reconnect, disconnect, and, in general, alter itself in response to data. In most man-made machines, data is external to processing unit. It enters and exits machine through designated ports but does not affect machine's structure or functioning. Not so brain. It reconfigures itself with every bit of data. One can say that a new brain is created every time a single bit of information is processed.

Only if these six cumulative requirements are met - can we say that software metaphor is useful.

Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com.

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com

The language in criteria above is based on or summarized from:

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Sam Vaknin. (1999, 2001, 2003). Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited, fifth revised printing. Prague and Skopje: Narcissus Publication.

("Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited" http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/faq1.html )

I. PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSISM OVERVIEW

Whether narcissism and its pathology are results of genetic programming (see Anthony Benis and others) or of dysfunctional families and faulty upbringing or of anomic societies and disruptive socialization processes - is still an unresolved debate. The scarcity of scientific research, fuzziness of diagnosic criteria and differential diagnoses make it unlikely that this will be settled soon one way or other.

It is psychoanalytic belief that we are all Narcissists at an early stage of our lives. As infants and toddlers we all feel that we are center of Universe, most import ant, omnipotent and omniscient beings.

At that phase of our development, our parents are perceived by us to be mythical figures, immortal and awesomely powerful, there solely to cater to our needs, to protect and nourish us.

Both Self and others are viewed immaturely, as idealizations. This, in psychodynamic models, is called phase of "primary" narcissism.

Inevitably, inexorable processes and conflicts of life erode these perceptions and reduce ideal into the real.

Adaptation is a process of disillusionment. If this process is abrupt, inconsistent, unpredictable, capricious, arbitrary and intense - injuries sustained by infant's tender, budding, self-esteem, are severe and, often, irreversible. Moreover, empathic support of our caretakers (the Primary Objects, parents) is crucial. In its absence, our sense of self-worth and self-esteem in adulthood tends to fluctuate, to alternate between over-valuation (idealization) and devaluation of both Self and others. Narcissistic adults are widely thought to be result of bitter disappointment, of radical disillusionment in significant others in their infancy. Healthy adults accept their self-limitations (the boundaries and limitations of their selves). They accept disappointments, setbacks, failures, criticism and disillusionment with grace and tolerance. Their self-esteem is constant and positive, not substantially affected by outside events, no matter how severe.

Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com.

Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com