7 October 2012 | Draft
Considerable Conglomeration of "Cons" of Global Concern
Eightfold constraint on constructive conflict control?
-- / --
Introduction
Clustering of words prefixed by "con": 1
Clustering of words prefixed by "con": 2
Clustering of words prefixed by "con": 3
Conclusion?
References
Introduction
In these strange times there would seem to be a strange preponderance of ways in which problematic conditions are articulated through use of words prefixed by "con". There is therefore a case for exploring this phenomena more systematically. This is done here by clustering words of that form which are used with greatest frequency. The approach is to endeavour to isolate clusters which are especially important to processes of governance -- or to concerns regarding the efficacy of that governance.
In anticipation of a more systematic study and conclusion, clusters of significance can be usefully configured as an eightfold pattern of "con" terms which tend either to be ambiguous or to form meaningful pairs. The pattern is as follows:
- "Con":
- "contra" (or con), in the sense of being against any proposed change or remedial initiative (as in the shorter version of the Latin pro et contra), with a preference for conservation of the status quo -- perhaps creatively reframed, as by "neocons". This therefore constitutes a primary constraint on many forms of change. Many public demonstrations and protests may focus primarily on what people are specifically against, leaving implicit exactly what they are for and how that is to be achieved.
- "con" as widely used in French as an extremely derogatory expression to denote stupid people (connard). This is currently applied by the population to those in authority and the policies they propose -- in France or elsewhere. It may also be implied, through other expressions, by those in positions of power in their exploitation of those they esteem to be ignorant -- as with the miss-selling of complex financial derivatives. In the case of confidence trickery, intended victims are known as "marks". The attitude is exemplified by the widely publicized comment by US presidential candidate Mitt Romney, suggesting that 47% of the population of the US was not worthy of consideration.
- Confidence, ambiguously:
- confidence as experienced in relation to authority, institutions, the professions, society, community, and the future. It is this confidence which has been much abused in recent years, as widely noted in relation to the financial system and in the associated efforts at "confidence-building" (Abuse of Faith in Governance, 2009). The disastrous breakdown in confidence has had implications for the self-confidence of many.
- confidence trickery ("con-game") recognized after the fact as being an exercise in deliberate deception, of which the subprime mortgage scandal and various Ponzi schemes are examples.
- Conviction, as a consequence of belief, and confidence in that belief:
- conviction, especially that arising from belief giving rise to the sense of being unquestionably right. A convict (also known as a "con") is a person who has been convicted of a crime -- as a consequence of collective belief in the system of justice. The distinct convictions, resulting from confidence variously engendered by different systems of belief, is the root cause of faith-based conflict.
- condemnation, is a consequence of conviction that the other is in the wrong. This is currently exemplified by radical interpretations by the different faiths and by the blame-game regarding responsibility for the current financial crisis. Ironically few, if any, of those most complicit have been convicted for their involvement.
- Consensus:
- consensus, as desperately sought in a variety of circumstances with respect to enabling remedial strategies. Current examples include, climate change, regional conflicts (Iran, etc), minority rights, research ethics, capital punishment, and the like. Meaningful global consensus may be unreachable (cf. The Consensus Delusion, 2011)
- constitution, as the legal formalization of collective consensus. Constitutional provisions may be used to prohibit valuable change and reform, as with the constitutional amendment ensuring access of the population to firearms in the US.
- Control:
- control, as the primary preoccupation of governance and any form of management, and hence the concern of the security services with "law and order". Current conditions suggest that the global system is effectively "out-of-control" and may be essentially ungovernable (cf. Ungovernability of Sustainable Global Democracy? 2011)
- conspiracy, as highlighted by the many conspiracy theories regarding the secretive operations of government, and even the existence of secret government, or secret government agencies. Partial confirmation is offered by former US Senator Ted Kaufman (chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Panel) identifying "The Blob", namely the government entities that regulate the finance industry, and the army of Wall Street representatives and lobbyists that continuously surrounds and permeates them (The Payoff: why Wall Street always wins, 2012). Further documentation is offered by Tony Cartalucci (Naming Names: Your Real Government, Land Destroyer Report, 21 March 2011). Concerns extend most notably to the role of major corporations -- and the existence of a considerable configuration of their conglomerates (Revealed "" the capitalist network that runs the world, New Scientist, October 2011; David Korten, When Corporations Rule the World, 1995)
- Consumption:
- consumption, as a major current concern in relation to increasing population numbers and the challenge to resources (The Royal Society, People and the Planet, 2012) This may also be understood both in terms of the problematic consequences of overconsumption on health (obesity, malnourishment, etc) and the environmental consequences of the accumulation of waste.
- consummation, understood in terms of the quest driving many lives, whether understood within the immediate context of (physical) relationships or as the ultimate qualitative achievement of a lifetime of struggle
- Conception, ambiguously interpreted as:
- conception of structures of every kind, whether with respect to construction of building, explanations, theoretical models, or images for public relations purposes, namely frames of reference, potentially "written in stone", and including processes promoted by consultants. The consequence of such "emissions" is noteworthy in terms of the plethora of insights and the information overload experienced by many
- conception in the sense of unconstrained human reproduction, with its consequent call on increasingly limited resources and the much-challenged capacity to deliver them appropriately. With this is associated the divisive issue of contraception. Especially significant is the manner in which many strategic concerns for both society and the family derive from unconstrained reproduction -- although this originating factor is ignored in framing preoccupation with the immediate challenges.
- Consideration, in various senses of according attention, or not, to what is esteemed to be of importance:
- consideration, understood more broadly as according attention and recognition to phenomena which may previously have been neglected -- or deliberately ignoring them. Many expect sympathetic consideration of their condition and circumstances by society and by authority, whether or not this calls for action.
- concern, understood as (selective) recognition of a potential danger calling for further investigation and action. Many issues in society are formulated as a focus for action as a consequence of expressed concern, possibly grave concern.
A previous exercise explored the way in which a complex strategic concern could be addressed by ignoring a key consideration (Lipoproblems: Developing a Strategy Omitting a Key Problem -- the systemic challenge of climate change and resource issues, 2009). This was inspired by a form of constrained writing or word game consisting of writing texts in which a common letter or group of letters is omitted -- usually a common vowel. That approach is one adopted by Oulipo, a group of writers, poets and mathematicians. In that spirit, the question here is whether the current crisis can be significantly articulated using terms prefixed by "con". Conversely, this is then a form of "game" in which only "con" words are used to describe all the processes of governance from a cybernetic perspective -- cybernetics as being the science of control. The issue then is what would be missing and why?
To that end, the following table clusters a set of 643 words starting with "con" -- of which the first two are consider* (902) and control* (811). There is an appropriate irony to the emergence of "consider" in this way, given its etymology -- deriving from stellation and sidereal -- even suggestive of "star-gazing". The exercise follows an earlier exploration (Exploration of Prefixes of Global Discourse: implications of a cognitive prefix for sustainable confidelity, 2011). The "eightfold" mapping follows from a different exercise (Mapping Paralysis and Tokenism in the Face of Potential Global Disaster, 2011).
Clustering of words prefixed by "con"
The site MoreWords.com offers a list of 1947 words starting with "con". The site allows the words to be listed alphabetically, or by frequency of occurrence per million words. Below are reproduced the list of 643 most common words with the frequency of occurrence given in parenthesis in each case. The items from that source have however been clustered in this document by word root (eg "consider") and ordered by decreasing number of total occurrences per word root in the cluster (eg 902 for the "consider" cluster). Clusters with less than 3 total occurrences have been excluded from the main table. MoreWords.com provides a further 1304 less common words (presumably with occurrences less than 1 per million, which are then listed alphabetically on their site. It is unclear from what source the frequencies were derived and whether it has any English vs. American bias.
In the first tables (for greater than 50 occurrences), and purely for purposes of comparison, a count of Google search results for the root word is given (in millions). Note that these figures are purely indicative in that they derive from Google's use of stemming, which would tend to give unpredictable counts -- depending on the word stem used in the search, and Google's rules for interpretation of that root in any particular case, notably when ambiguity is possible. As a consequence, it is not clear what conclusions can be drawn from the comparison -- or any change implied for the ranking.
A link is provided for convenience within each cluster to a definition of the term of highest frequency on the site of MoreWords.com.
The clustering by word root is of course tentative and could naturally be contested, especially since synonyms are not clustered together which could significantly have changed the frequency ranking. Some clusters might be usefully split. Clusters which contain words of significant ambiguity have been flagged in the right-hand column as "Am."
The column headed "Implications" provides a preliminary tentative indication of the systemic importance, especially for governance, of the cluster. The argument is that the cluster merits consideration in systemic terms, especially given the relative ranking of the number of occurrences in each cluster. As indicated in the eightfold pattern of clusters in the introduction, higher level clusters of systemic significance could be made. The question is then how many would be signifiance from a cybernetic perspective -- perhaps in the light of the Viable System Model.
| Ranking of words with "con" as prefix | ||||
| Total | Word cluster (with occurrences per million words) -- Part 1: more than 199 occurrences | Implications | Ambig. | |
| 902 | 893 | consider (406), considerable (96), considerably (29), considerate (2), consideration (132), considerations (24), considered (136), considering (41), considers (12) | systemic recognition | Am. |
| 811 | 3,700 | control (677), controllable (1), controlled (46), controller (21), controllers (3), controlling (20), controls (43) | governance, management | |
| 727 | 1,630 | continual (6), continually (13), continuance (2), continuation (17), continue (401), continued (127), continues (40), continuing (53), continuities (1), continuity (27), continuo (1), continuous (26), continuously (9), continuum (4) | predictability | |
| 511 | 2,020 | condition (325), conditional (11), conditionally (1), conditionals (1), conditioned (5), conditioner (5), conditioners (1), conditioning (8), conditions (154) | dependencies | |
| 490 | 418 | concern (255), concerned (163), concerning (34), concerns (38) | potential danger | |
| 400 | 1,040 | contain (226), contained (50), container (24), containers (7), containing (41), containment (6), contains (46) | container metaphor | |
| 389 | 1,260 | contract (294), contracted (8), contractor (23), contractors (9), contracts (45), contractual (9), contractually (1) | commitments | |
| 311 | 583 | contribute (91), contributed (23), contributes (5), contributing (10), contribution (136), contributions (28), contributor (10), contributors (4), contributory (4) | support | |
| 303 | 2,670 | construct (61), constructed (26), constructing (5), construction (129), constructional (1), constructions (3), constructive (10), constructively (1), constructivist (2), constructor (1), constructors (1). constructs (3) | development, "building the future" |
|
| 286 | 341 | constituencies (8), constituency (46), constituent (27), constituents (8), constitute (55), constituted (11), constitutes (10), constituting (2), constitution (82), constitutional (31), constitutionality (1), constitutionally (2), constitutions (2), constitutive (1) | mandate, responsibility | |
| 280 | 9,860 | contact (244), contacted (11), contacting (3), contacts (22) | network (collaborators) | |
| 271 | 415 | conclude (71), concluded (31), concludes (8), concluding (5), conclusion (126), conclusions (24), conclusive (4), conclusively (2) | decision-making | |
| 270 | 180 | concentrate (103), concentrated (29), concentrates (6), concentrating (12), concentration (99), concentrations (21) | focus | |
| 252 | 970 | confer (17), conference (213), conferences (12), conferencing (1), conferred (6), conferring (1), confers (2) | dialogue | |
| 244 | 786 | concept (155), conception (42), conceptions (5), concepts (27), conceptual (10), conceptualise (1), conceptualization (2), conceptualize (1), conceptually (1) | reflection, insight | Am. |
| 242 | 954 | consumable (1), consume (24), consumed (8), consumer (111), consumerism (2), consumers (23), consumes (1), consuming (6), consumption (66) | ||
| 228 | 209 | conservancy (1), conservation (64), conservationist (4), conservationists (3), conservatism (5), conservative (102), conservatively (1), conservatives (23), conservator (1), conservatories (1), conservators (1), conservatory (9), conserve (9), conserved (3), conserving (1) | Am. | |
| 219 | 3,940 | connect (51), connected (34), connecting (7), connection (91), connections (21), connective (2), connectives (1), connectivity (2), connector (5), connectors (1), connects (2), connexion (2) | dependencies | |
| 217 | 369 | consul (5), consular (1), consulate (2), consuls (1), consult (40), consultancies (1), consultancy (17), consultant (48), consultants (16), consultation (53), consultations (5), consultative (8), consulted (12), consulting (8) | dialogue, expertise | |
| 214 | 736 | confidant (2), confidante (2), confide (8), confided (3), confidence (141), confidences (1), confident (32), confidential (11), confidentiality (7), confidentially (1), confidently (5), confiding (1) | confidence | |
| 200 | 656 | context (184), contexts (12), contextual (4) | ||
Clustering of words prefixed by "con": 2
| Ranking of words with "con" as prefix | ||||
| Total | Word cluster (with occurrences per million words) -- Part 2: 50 to 199 occurrences | Implications | Ambig. | |
| 198 | 697 | confirm (113), confirmation (24), confirmed (49), confirming (5), confirms (7) | "concrete proof" | |
| 195 | 188 | consist (76), consisted (13), consistency (20), consistent (31), consistently (16), consisting (13), consists (26) | composition | |
| 192 | 152 | consequence (113), consequences (44), consequent (8), consequential (2), consequently (25) | outcomes | |
| 192 | 510 | conducive (3), conduct (122), conductance (2), conducted (30), conducting (8), conduction (1), conductive (1), conductivity (2), conductor (15), conductors (2), conducts (2), conduit (4) | conduit metaphor | |
| 178 | 6,910 | content (140), contented (4), contentedly (1), contentment (3), contents (30) | satisfaction | Am. |
| 167 | 548 | contrast (147), contrasted (5), contrasting (7), contrasts (8) | requisite variety | |
| 159 | 347 | conflict (134), conflicted (1), conflicting (9), conflicts (15) | conflict | |
| 149 | 597 | convent (11), convention (82), conventional (39), conventionalism (2), conventionally (3), conventions (12) | ||
| 140 | 821 | conversant (1), conversation (120), conversational (4), conversationally (1), conversations (10), converse (4), conversely (8), conversing (1) | Am. | |
| 128 | 541 | conversion (45), conversions (3), convert (54), converted (23), converts (3) | Am. | |
| 123 | 143 | conscience (29), consciences (1), conscientious (3), conscientiously (1), conscious (31), consciously (6), consciousness (52) | Am. | |
| 121 | 477 | congress (111), congresses (1), congressional (5), congressman (3), congressmen (1) | Am. | |
| 114 | 89 | confuse (18), confused (25), confuses (1), confusing (9), confusingly (1), confusion (59), confusions (1) | ||
| 103 | 289 | consensual (2), consensus (18), consent (76), consented (3), consenting (2), consents (2) | ||
| 092 | 445 | constancy (2), constant (57), constantly (31), constants (2) | predictability | |
| 090 | 139 | convict (17), convicted (15), conviction (49), convictions (8), convicts (1) | Am. | |
| 086 | 118 | convince (35), convinced (33), convinces (1), convincing (14), convincingly (3) | "concrete proof" | |
| 073 | 56 | constrain (12), constrained (8), constraining (1), constraint (33), constraints (19) | obstacles | |
| 073 | 68 | confront (31), confrontation (22), confrontational (1), confrontations (2), confronted (12), confronting (4), confronts (1) | truth-telling | |
| 068 | 22 | confine (33), confined (24), confinement (6), confines (3), confining (2) | restriction | |
| 067 | 1,200 | concert (45), concerted (3), concerto (10), concertos (1), concerts (8) | Am. | |
| 065 | 639 | contemporaneous (1), contemporaries (9), contemporary (55) | ||
| 064 | 179 | controversial (21), controversially (1), controversies (2), controversy (40) | conflict | |
| 059 | 289 | continent (35), continental (20), continents (4) | Am. | |
| 059 | 963 | contest (42), contestable (1), contestant (4), contestants (2), contested (6), contesting (1), contests (3) | competitivity | |
| 058 | 45 | condemn (28), condemnation (10), condemned (16), condemning (3), condemns (1) | blame-gaming | |
| 056 | 83 | convey (31), conveyance (6), conveyancer (3), conveyancers (1), conveyancing (3), conveyed (2), conveying (3), conveyor (2), conveys (3) | ||
| 054 | 59 | confess (23), confessed (7), confesses (2), confessing (1), confession (15), confessional (2), confessions (2), confessor (2) | truth-telling | |
| 051 | 25 | contradict (10), contradicted (2), contradicting (1), contradiction (23), contradictions (7), contradictory (7), contradicts (1) | challenge | |
Clustering of words prefixed by "con": 3
| Ranking of words with "con" as prefix | |||
| Total | Word cluster (with occurrences per million words) -- Part 3: less than 50 occurrences | Implications | Ambig. |
| 049 | constable (42), constables (4), constabulary (3) | ||
| 046 | convenience (19), conveniences (1), convenient (20), conveniently (6) | ||
| 044 | concession (25), concessionary (2), concessions (11) | ||
| 044 | conceivable (4), conceivably (3), conceive (23), conceived (12), conceives (1), conceiving (1) | Am. | |
| 042 | contemplate (23), contemplated (5), contemplates (1), contemplating (5), contemplation (6), contemplative (2) | ||
| 040 | conform (21), conformance (2), conformation (4), conformational (1), conformations (1), conformed (1), conforming (1), conformist (2), conformity (5), conforms (2) | ||
| 039 | conceal (24), concealed (10), concealing (2), concealment (2), conceals (1) | deception | |
| 037 | concrete (36), concretion (1) | ||
| 037 | concede (23), conceded (10), concedes (2), conceding (2) | ||
| 035 | conspiracy (23), conspirator (2), conspiratorial (1), conspirators (1), conspire (5), conspired (1), conspiring (2) | deception | |
| 035 | conquer (9), conquered (4), conquering (1), conqueror (5), conquerors (1), conquest (14), conquests (1) | conflict | |
| 032 | congregate (3), congregated (1), congregation (22), congregational (2), congregationalist (1), congregationalists (1), congregations (2) | ||
| 032 | configuration (23), configurations (3), configure (3), configured (2) | ||
| 031 | contend (13), contended (3), contender (9), contenders (3), contending (1), contends (2) | Am. | |
| 031 | contempt (26), contemptible (1), contemptuous (2), contemptuously (2) | disregard | |
| 031 | consolidate (13), consolidated (7), consolidating (1), consolidation (10) | ||
| 028 | contaminant (1), contaminants (1), contaminate (6), contaminated (7), contaminating (1), contamination (12) | environmental degradation | |
| 027 | contingencies (2), contingency (12), contingent (12), contingents (1) | ||
| 025 | contractile (1), contracting (8), contraction (13), contractions (3) | Am. | |
| 024 | consort (5), consortia (1), consortium (18) | Am. | |
| 024 | congratulate (13), congratulated (3), congratulating (1), congratulation (1), congratulations (6) | ||
| 022 | consolation (11), console (9), consoled (1), consoling (1) | ||
| 020 | converge (7), converged (1) convergence (10), convergent (1), converging (1) | ||
| 020 | contention (14), contentions (1), contentious (5) | Am. | |
| 019 | con (16), cons (3) | challenge | Am. |
| 017 | converter (3), converters (1), convertibility (1), convertible (6), converting (6) | Am. | |
| 016 | convoy (14), convoys (2) | ||
| 015 | consign (3), consigned (2), consignee (2), consignment (7), consignments (1) | ||
| 014 | contraception (8), contraceptive (4), contraceptives (2) | ||
| 014 | construe (8), construed (5), construing (1) | ||
| 014 | cone (11), cones (3) | ||
| 013 | convene (6), convened (3), convener (2), convenor (2) | ||
| 013 | condensation (6), condense (3), condensed (2) | ||
| 012 | conjure (8), conjured (2), conjures (1), conjuring (1) | ||
| 012 | conglomerate (8), conglomerates (2), conglomeration (2) | ||
| 012 | congested (2), congestion (10) | ||
| 012 | confederate (1), confederation (11) | ||
| 011 | contrivance (2), contrive (5), contrived (4) | ||
| 011 | condom (8), condoms (3) | ||
| 011 | concur (3), concurred (1), concurrence (1), concurrent (4), concurrently (2) | Am. | |
| 010 | conspicuous (8), conspicuously (2) | ||
| 010 | contravene (3), contravened (1), contravening (1), contravention (5) | ||
| 010 | contour (7), contours (3) | ||
| 009 | connotation (5), connotations (3), connote (1) | ||
| 009 | conjugal (1), conjugate (2), conjunction (5), conjunctions (1) | Am. | |
| 008 | consecutive (7), consecutively (1) | ||
| 008 | confiscate (3), confiscated (2), confiscation (3) | ||
| 007 | consonant (5), consonants (2) | Am. | |
| 007 | conscript (2), conscription (4), conscripts (1) | ||
| 007 | conifer (4), coniferous (1), conifers (2) | ||
| 006 | constipation (6) | ||
| 006 | constellation (5), constellations (1) | ||
| 006 | consecrate (2), consecrated (2), consecration (2) | ||
| 006 | conjecture (5), conjectures (1) | ||
| 006 | confound (4), confounded (1), confounding (1) | ||
| 006 | conciliation (4), conciliatory (2) | ||
| 005 | convulse (1), convulsion (1), convulsions (1), convulsive (1), convulsively (1) | ||
| 004 | convocation (4) | ||
| 004 | conurbation (3), conurbations (1) | ||
| 004 | constrict (1), constricted (1), constriction (2) | ||
| 004 | connoisseur (3), connoisseurs (1) | ||
| 004 | conned (1), conner (2), connive (1) | Am. | |
| 004 | confection (1), confectioner (1), confectionery (2) | ||
| 004 | condone (3), condoned (1) | ||
| 004 | concoct (1), concocted (1), concoction (2) | ||
| 004 | concise (3), concisely (1) | ||
| 003 | convalesce (1), convalescence (1), convalescent (1) | ||
| 003 | contort (1), contorted (2) | ||
| 003 | contiguous (3) | ||
| 003 | consummate (2), consummation (1) | ||
| 003 | congruence (2), congruent (1) | ||
| 003 | congenital (3) | ||
| 003 | concourse (3) | ||
| 003 | concord (1), concordance (2) | Am. | |
| 003 | concomitant (3) | ||
| 003 | conceit (2), conceited (1) | ||
***
| Ranking of words with "con" as prefix |
| Word cluster (with occurrences per million words) -- Part 4: 1 to 3 occurrences |
| convex (2), convection (2), conundrum (2), contraption (2), contagious (2), consternation (2), congo (2), conflagration (2), confluence (2), condolence (1),, condolences (1), condescending (1),, condescension (1), concussion (2), concentric (2), convoluted (1), convivial (1), contrite (1), contralto (1), continence (1), conker (1), conical (2), congenial (2), confetti (1), conflate (1), coney (1), condor (1), concubine (1), concave (1) |
Conclusion?
The table as ordered is indicative of the possibility of further exploration -- rather than aspiring to be conclusive in any way. It encourages reflection on the speculative question raised in the introduction above. To what extent does the set of "con" words constitute a form of vocabulary (or "pattern language") through which the conception of a viable system of governance can be contemplated? Why is such considerable use made of "con" words? To what extent do they convey an unrecognized concern with configuration and other forms of construction? How is it that conflict and contradiction are then part of the array -- as with other words offering a "contra-indication"?
How to explain the recent recognition in a sceptical global culture of the vital importance of an intangible -- confidence? (cf. Primary Global Reserve Currency: the Con? Cognitive implications of a prefix for sustainable confidelity, 2011). Of more particularly interest is the way in which this concern is accompanied by recognition of the degree to which confidence is abused -- through confidence trickery deployed against those effectively framed as "con" (in the derogatory French sense), by those with claims to expertise and authority. Ironically these include the so-called "neocons". Consequently, these in turn -- and their proposals -- are themselves defined as "con" by increasing proportions of the wider population.
The fundamental ambiguity thereby associated with uses of "con" is consistent with the uncertainity and risk-taking increasingly recognized as associated with collective decision-making -- and with the "spin" so widely employed in competing efforts to reframe any coherent understanding. The dynamics involve a sense of "game-playing" -- one in which peoples livelihoods and lives are at stake. These dynamics can be variously explored (cf. Viable Global Governance through Bullfighting: challenge of transcendence, 2009; Monkeying with Global Governance: emergent dynamics of three wise monkeys in a knowledge-based society, 2011).
Given the clustering by frequency, to what extent do the more frequent terms provide an adequate basis for a comprehensive language? To what extent do some words of lower frequency carry insights into functions deemed essential to system viability? The absence of "condominium" is of interest -- given the options it could offer for resolution of complex territorial disputes.
What essential functions are carried by other words -- perhaps associated with other prefixes? The possibility has been separately explored (New Paradigms via a Renewed Set of Prefixes? Dependence of international policy-making on an array of operational terms, 2003). This raises the question as to how limited is the perspective offered by the array of "con" words, however clustered? Is it then the array of prefixes which is then more indicative of systemic functions required for system viability?
It might be considered strange that, whilst change of every kind thrives on "proposals", no constraining process is held to be appropriate -- perhaps in the form of "conposals". The ironic remedy is "conception" -- with all its ambiguous connotations and consequences.
The consequence of deliberately omitting, or unconsciously missing, a dimension essential to systemic viability was mentioned above with respect to a previous exericise (Lipoproblems: Developing a Strategy Omitting a Key Problem -- the systemic challenge of climate change and resource issues, 2009). Of particular value in this respect is the recent study of Terrence Deacon (Incomplete Nature: how mind emerged from matter, 2012). He explores the paradoxical incompleteness of semiotic and teleological phenomena in terms of information to demonstrate how specific absences (or constraints) play the critical causal role in the organization of physical processes that generates these properties.
The fundamental value of focusing on what is "absent" from conventional explanation is introduced by Deacon by comparing it to the vital role of zero in the number system -- itself a great discovery. For Deacon:
Deacon places great emphasis on the vital constraining role of absence in systemic organization. It has been notoriously emphasized by Donald Rumsfeld in his role as US Secretary of Defense, as sepearately discussed (Unknown Undoing: challenge of incomprehensibility of systemic neglect, 2005). It is in this sense that the "hole" recognized in the new metaphor proposed by Oxfam offers vital insights into the possibility of more viable strategic organization (Kate Raworth (A Safe and Just Space for Humanity: can we live within the doughnut?, Oxfam, February 2012). This possibility is separately considered (Exploring the Hidden Mysteries of Oxfam's Doughnut: recognizing the systemic negligence of an Earth Summit, 2012).Basically, it means that our best science -- that collection of theories that presumably comes closest to explaining everything -- does not include this one most defining characteristic of being you and me. In effect, our current "Theory of Everything" implies that we don't exist, except as collections of atoms. So what's missing? Ironically and enigmatically, something missing is missing. (p. 1) [emphasis added]
References
Terrence W. Deacon:
- Incomplete Nature: how mind emerged from matter. W. W. Norton, 2012
- The Symbolic Species: the co-evolution of language and the brain. W. W. Norton, 1997
Kate Raworth. A Safe and Just Space for Humanity: can we live within the doughnut?, Oxfam, February 2012 [text]
|
For further updates on this site, subscribe here |
