Dear James,
This is by far your best essay. It probably helps that you have argued these points (mostly with Tom) for years. As you know I tend to agree with your perspective and I definitely agree that "knowledge of meanings is innate." You correctly note that "the ability to interpret photon data could not have been acquired by repetition. There has never been repetition."
I would probably not say "we are born with the ability to analyze photon data", but, depending on how "analyze" is meant, I agree with you. Our neural structures certainly are designed to handle such data, and grow ever more so during infancy. The details are complex, but your summary overview is correct.
Your discussion of emotions is insightful and beautifully stated. As for innate meanings, you know that my understanding of consciousness as a field is not something that "evolved" from putting together Lego blocks in proper order. Meaning could never arise in this way (or awareness of anything, much less meaning.)
You note that mathematics readily accepts imagined properties. "It does not have the means to know reality." Yet as Eckhard points out, "fans of Plato" imagine that mathematics can construct reality! He also reminds us that abstraction is not a lossless process. And as you point out, the data may be unclear. "Exactness is an innate idea." As is continuity, and the idea of 'no-change'.
It is innately clear to me that, if continuity was not the nature of physical reality (i.e., the field) then we would never have any understanding of continuity. Also free will. These ideas don't arise from words or equations. We develop words and equations to describe the ideas. (Others may learn from our words or equations, because of their innate awareness.) Although, as you note, the photon data is discrete, yet electromagnetic and gravitomagnetic fields are continuous, and they do communicate orderliness.
Your idea "free will exists because of undiscovered knowledge" is very interesting, and is worth some thought.
And finally, I think you have captured the essence of leadership. Congratulations!
A very pleasurable experience to read your thoughts.
Best,
Edwin Eugene Klingman