Changes

The integration of symbolic and dynamic approaches to systems thinking requires a significant level of reconstructive effort, one that is capable of extending its energies in both the analytic and synthetic directions.  It may be nothing more than a metaphor to describe it this way, but there is something like a dynamic economy of energy exchanges that goes on in facilitating the required “metaboly of symbols” (Peirce).

The integration of symbolic and dynamic approaches to systems thinking requires a significant level of reconstructive effort, one that is capable of extending its energies in both the analytic and synthetic directions.  It may be nothing more than a metaphor to describe it this way, but there is something like a dynamic economy of energy exchanges that goes on in facilitating the required “metaboly of symbols” (Peirce).

In this vein, there seem to be laws analogous to conservation principles that govern the transactions between subordinate processes, determining the interactions that are most likely to occur between the breaking down of old conceptual bonds and the creation of new configurations of ideas at higher and lower levels of conceptual equilibrium.  Brought to bear on the present task, the specific manifestations of “mental energy” that are called on to accomplish the current work of integration have a potential for raising questions about the relation of “logic” to “time”, and thus revive an issue that goes back to the very birth of thought.

In this vein, there seem to be laws analogous to conservation principles that govern the transactions between subordinate processes, determining the interactions that are most likely to occur between the breaking down of old conceptual bonds and the creation of new configurations of ideas at higher and lower levels of conceptual equilibrium.  Brought to bear on the present task, the specific manifestations of "mental energy" that are called on to accomplish the current work of integration have a potential for raising questions about the relation of "logic" to "time", and thus revive an issue that goes back to the very birth of thought.

The relation of logical and temporal realms, of rational ideas to real experiences, is an ancient and fundamental question, one whose initial answers were laid down in their present form at the very beginnings of reflective inquiry and whose sedimented contents now lie metamorphosed into the deepest bedrocks of our native and systematic philosophies.  The distribution of current opinion on the matter regards the question as being (1) "previously settled" or (2) "incapable of solution", with little thought given to a "tertium quid", or a more fluid medium that could moderate between the extremes of these fixed alternatives.

The relation of logical and temporal realms, of rational ideas to real experiences, is an ancient and fundamental question, one whose initial answers were laid down in their present form at the very beginnings of reflective inquiry and whose sedimented contents now lie metamorphosed into the deepest bedrocks of our native and systematic philosophies.  The distribution of current opinion on the matter regards the question as being (1) “previously settled” or (2) “incapable of solution”, with little thought given to a ''tertium quid'', or a more fluid medium that could moderate between the extremes of these fixed alternatives.

Unfortunately, the customary and habitual classification of a problem as "insoluble", even when justified, can work against the recognition of methods that are available to ameliorate its more objectionable impacts.  When it comes to the relationship of logic to time, I believe that the resources are currently available that could advance our understanding of this issue in new directions.  All it would take is the will to reconfigure those resources in the appropriate ways.

Unfortunately, the customary and habitual classification of a problem as “insoluble”, even when justified, can work against the recognition of methods that are available to ameliorate its more objectionable impacts.  When it comes to the relationship of logic to time, I believe that the resources are currently available that could advance our understanding of this issue in new directions.  All it would take is the will to reconfigure those resources in the appropriate ways.

To expand the formula:  The realm of "logic" is typified by rational concepts regarding invariant patterns, virtually, by ideas about forms, while the rule of "time" is filled out by realistic experiences with changing qualities, ultimately, by feelings of content and discontent.  The application of the integrative effort to intelligent systems in general and to "inquiry driven systems" (IDSs) in particular only sharpens the question of logic and time to the point of self application.

To expand the formula:  The realm of logic is typified by rational concepts regarding invariant patterns, virtually, by ideas about forms, while the rule of time is filled out by realistic experiences with changing qualities, ultimately, by feelings of content and discontent.  The application of the integrative effort to intelligent systems in general and to ''inquiry driven systems'' (IDSs) in particular only sharpens the question of logic and time to the point of self-application.

Considerations like these, as old and as constant as the hills, and as much over our heads as the eternally renewed and inconstant weather, are deserving of occasional notice, yet their relevance to the work of the moment is doomed by their very quality of necessity to fade into the backgound of present concerns, and their saliency as problematic phenomena quickly recedes from the scope of any perspective so bent on immediate application as that falling within my present focus.

Considerations like these, as old and as constant as the hills, and as much over our heads as the eternally renewed and inconstant weather, are deserving of occasional notice, yet their relevance to the work of the moment is doomed by their very quality of necessity to fade into the background of present concerns, and their saliency as problematic phenomena quickly recedes from the scope of any perspective so bent on immediate application as that falling within my present focus.

===6.5. Three Styles of Linguistic Usage===

===6.5. Three Styles of Linguistic Usage===