BOOK 1 Part b
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Salutations
PART II MEDIAN AND PLURALITY There are two concepts that are the foundation of all my discoveries. They are the basis from which my understanding of the world rest. They are relatively simple concepts that are perceived as being universally applicable, they are the median principle and the pluralist principle. It is necessary to examine each concept in detail to allow the reader an up front opportunity to dismiss this work or revere it for its obvious excellence. Before addressing complicated principles such as the median and pluralist, some minor axially concepts need to be understood. These principles are the principles of universality and relativity. The principle of universality conveys the notion of all things being basically similar in nature. UNIVERSALITY Universality is the notion that all things are basically the same; in that all things are governed on the same basic principles and differentiation is only manifestations of a phenomenon due to their environment, their ability and their situation. This property allows a phenomenon to manifest or express itself in a manner common to others, because it is of others. The simple example of acknowledging sunlight may be manifested in a variety of different ways. The environment may involve the amount of sunlight available, ultimately affecting visual and textual (touch) perception. Ability may involve the ableness of the eyes, whether it has night vision capabilities, near-sightedness or far-sightedness. Situation may involve the fatigue, intelligence or astuteness of the observer. Universality presents a paradigm for understanding the world around us; it can be thought of as the comparability of thing. All things that happen are simply a microcosm of what the universe offers, of how the universe works. For example, there can be said to be a general rule of most things to have a start and an ending, or a general rule for all three dimensional objects to have length, width and height. It allows for new knowledge to be inferred from past knowledge. Implicit in the principle of universality is flexibility, combination of things and parts. Things are changing; this is recognized through the flow. One has to be able to adapt with changes in order to continue to understand the changes as they occur. Rigidity or obstination inhibits one’s ability to understand information that is presented. Further, such positions make it difficult to see beyond the immediate circumstance. Combination of things is the condition where universality helps in understanding that things are part of a unit and as such can be combine to make greater units or broken apart to make lesser units, creating new meanings in both cases. When things are broken down, it can be viewed in isolation and in context of a detail. When things are combined, it can be viewed in context of a greater unit and understood in terms of the effect it would have on larger phenomena. Universality allows for the extraction of other elements of the universe to be understood by simply observing one aspect of the universe and translating or transferring that information to another thing, so that it remains coherent. It recognizes that things of similar nature have similar rudimentary aspects or characteristics. Complicated things can be understood by understanding the principles of its parts or things of similar nature. Everything is a microcosm of something else; and therefore, all can combine with others to create new and different things. For example, water is liquid, it freezes and can also become gas. Therefore, one can reason by universality that Nitrogen can also be made into solid, liquid and gaseous forms, just as water. In fact, one can reason that all physical forms can have its physical states altered based on this principle. RELATIVITY The next concept of import is relativity. Relativity refers to the nature of things to be perceived differently under different conditions. The opposite of certainty is relativity. There is only one thing that can be said to be certain (elaborated on further in other sections dealing with certainty). When, in general, all things are uncertain then all is based on perception. In other words, all things are unsure, unstable, and non-composite. Within the concept of relativity is the notion of reactive, flux, and parts. Reactive (associative influence) refers to the nature of things to influence each other within a given environment. Flux refers to the nature of things to change or be altered. Parts refers to the nature of things to be made up of lesser things. MEDIAN The median principle is rather simple. Fundamentally, it states that all that exist basically functions at its peak only while it is at its most middle point; there is a balance of the extreme poles that tug at each other; this can only be controlled by following the flow. Start by looking at food and its sustenance value. Some engage in a deleterious effort to ensure a sufficient supply of rations. Rations to calm the aching stomach and to quench a dry throat so that they may live another day, to engage yet further in this struggle. They know without food, it will lead to their demise, their deaths; but at the other extreme with too much food, the excess may be their undoing. They may die of obesity or some heart disease that would require a Ph.D. in medicine just to pronounce. Their ultimate goal should be, and in most cases it is, that they be able to gather enough food so that they may comfortably consume; perhaps with sufficient excess to sleep comfortably through the night without a worry of the next day's meal. This is the median. A cup of tea is preferred to be neither too hot nor too cold, most prefer it warm. This illustrates a vital function of the principle. The median is the point where the intended goal is achieved. Whenever the intended result is more or less than the intended function, the value of the action begins to depreciate. The farther the activity moves from the median, the greater a detriment it proves, and the less valuable it becomes. Flux & Flow The median or middle seems to be in complete flux or at least unstable. It is actually moving, moving in a cyclical fashion to be exact. The motion never stops or at least not to my knowledge. This motion can be construed as the flow or the force of the universe, whatever it is, it is cyclical. The universe and existence itself is conceptually cyclical, much as the Earth, the seasons, the food chain, the rain cycle, the sun, the solar system, or whatever one wants to conceive; they all returns to their beginning. In other words, beginning and ending lies at the same point. Whether a phenomenon manifests itself in an elliptical, spherical or circular shape, things must be true to the loops that transcend realities. What is right today is wrong tomorrow, then it is right again the next day. Jumping onto the knowledge at the appropriate time is the trick, the harder trick however, is staying with the flow. Staying with the information involves the tracking of its flow so that the information continues to make sense. The moon for example, someone long ago recognized that the moon came to the sky approximately every 12 hour. They glimpsed the moon, tracked its flow until day break and returned to track it again the next evening. If you do not track the flow of the moon, it seems the moon is doing its own thing in the sky. It would remain eternally elusive, in constant motion but incomprehensible. To better elaborate on the conditions of flowing knowledge, consider simple perceivable mundane knowledge. For instance, knowledge of a business or a building that might be here today and not here tomorrow can best illustrate this effect. If someone persists to believe the business or building is still there, their knowledge would be valueless. This point must be made blatantly clear. Say a grocery store was located on the southern corner of Main street, that was where someone did their shopping, then one day the grocery store was leveled or destroyed. The store was re-opened at the northern corner of Main street. It would not make sense to continue attempting to shop at the southern corner of Main street; one would have to move with the flow. The flow or the knowledge that the grocery store has now moved to the north corner makes it possible to continue to shop. If one ignores the fact that the grocery store location has changed, they can no longer buy groceries and will not even be able to give proper direction to the store. People need to move with the flow of information, when the business or building moves, people have to accept the relocation and accept whatever has replaced it. This way the prior knowledge they had gained will continue to have value. Balance Within the median principle a balance exists, and this balance is worth noting. Every action necessitates a reaction. Everything that is done, causes the doing of something else. To make something cold, one must take away the heat that was once there. To make a mud-brick house in the tropics, one must deprive the Earth of some of its mud. To make the car engine work, it may deprive the Earth of its natural oils, only to eventually return to the Earth as air pollution in the form of Carbon Dioxide. Nature, however, is adept in the issuance of compensation; retribution shall be delivered sooner or later. Nature best demonstrates the balance I refer to here. The universe itself respects the power of the median. All things in nature are in harmony; it is in its function, its flow, and its balance. We can analyze the entire food chain from bacteria to humans, we can analyze the rain (water) cycle, or the seasonal/temporal changes. Only because the rain cycle is the simplest to explain, I will focus on that alone. Simply, the rain falls to the ground, it evaporates, becomes saturated in the air and condenses to fall once again to the earth. It works like a machine in perfect balance. What it takes, it gives; what it receives, it takes; it shares, all things receive sufficient energy to effectively function. When one part of nature violates the median principle something eventually gives. For example, the insidious farming practice adapted by many primitive cultures eventually resulted in dreadful famine that ravages their population. Cultures such as the Mayans, who practiced slash and burn farming techniques, suffered from such a fate. Their excessive farming practices led to the exhaustion of their natural resources. Their land became infertile and the people soon starved. Median Summary The median principle is best expressed as a "selective synthesis" of two or more extremes. True knowledge and understanding of the universe can be gained by meeting at the most middle of two or more opposing points of view. The old saying, "the truth seems to always lie somewhere in the middle" is quite accurate. Vested interest is the greatest deceiver of knowledge seekers, because it prejudices the mind to an extreme leaning. An open mind allows for the chase of the goal on the course the goal may lead. The cyclical nature of the universe necessitates that when the median is caught, it must be followed, attention must be paid to the flow or the median will be lost. To make knowledge gained useful, it must be constantly tracked, or it will not be practical or even useful. Tracking of information or knowledge mostly involve the recognition and constant testing of the conditions that mitigate the observed circumstances. In terms of science, the condition of water and sub-zero degrees on the Celsius scale will results in the formation/circumstance of ice. Next, the knowledge must be in balance, that is to say what is taken must be returned. The creation of the ice takes heat out of the water and reduces the temperature of the environment of the ice. New knowledge will always result in the discrediting or undoing of old information. Old information will have to be properly applied to the new information, with careful consideration paid to the new context created. Finally, the energy required to perform the function should be limited only to what is necessary to be utilized, nothing more or less. The ice serves the purpose of cooling, perhaps the glass of liquid; not for freezing the glass itself nor the heating of the glass or the liquid. The struggle with knowledge should be to get as much to the middle, where the real knowledge is. When information is tainted by personal opinions or interest, its validity is eroded because its foundation is swayed away from its natural course. The opinion pulls the knowledge from its center. The median obviously can not be completely achieved because of certain human shortcomings, but if we could ever actualize it, we would see the median for its excellence and its damn near perfection. I however, concede our inability to actualize the median, but remain content with our ability to conceive of it. PLURALITY Plurality usually means more than one. The concept of plurality should be recognized at least as universal, if not more universal than the median principle. Plurality is the variety of options and possibilities available in any context. It is a general understanding that nothing is singular in comprehension or attributes. When anything is viewed from a singular perspective, it is viewed in a limited manner. This can only be partially understood. The whole concept of plurality evades even me, I only dare claim to have a limited understanding of the concept. It is suspect to be much more encompassing than has so far been realized. Four aspects of plurality have been isolated for the purpose of this study: the sheer number of things, the number of functions, the number of parts, and the number of changes. Plurality has numerous facets to it that makes it elusive to the browsing mind. First of all, it is numerous but we as human beings have a tendency to focus on singularities. The stars are numerous, the sands are numerous, the atoms are numerous, thoughts and words are numerous. They can not be grouped wholly in a singular context. The stars are numerous, one star does not make up the night sky. There might be times in the New York City streets when only a few or even a single star may be perceived. However, the conclusion that there are only a few stars or only one would be false. There is no one grain of sand, no one atom, etc. The existence of one, reasonably facilitate the notion of the existence of another. The other need not be completely identical, only of common nature. Things tend to occur in numbers and have comparable entities besides themselves that function in a similar manner. It is the natural children, bred from a common mother that spearheads the species. The survival of the species or phenomenon necessitates that reproduction be sufficiently plentiful in order to continue the species. What mother gives birth once, then dies? Such a species or phenomenon can not sustain itself, it will not sustain. It can only be an aberration, an exception to plurality. The existence of such a species will be short-lived. Function Plurality in function is the numerous functions each phenomenon carries out. There appears to be no exception to this notion or at least none perceivable to humans. Function here is defined as an activity that alters the environment. Each thing's function is expressed in its altering of the environment, that is exactly what makes it perceivable. There is not a thing that carries out only one function, all things of common awareness perform at least several functions. The sun heats the solar system, and provides light and energy for the whole system. The sand can be use in glass production, and even in trivial tasks such as the creation of sand castles. Thoughts, words, and even sounds serve pluralistic functions. Can anyone defy the challenge that has been made and find a single purpose phenomenon, much less a purposeless phenomenon? It is enticing, bring it the publics' attention and let it be celebrated or refuted, so that dormant minds will be excited to new unforeseen heights. Flux & Flow Plurality in changes involves non-stop action, inertia, the continuous motion of the universe, that is called the flux or flow. It is pluralistic because they are numerous, things and conditions that are constantly changing. The changing never stops. The changes are cyclical, so that what was, becomes what is; and what is, becomes what was. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. The astrological signs are seasonally aligned; they only appear once a year or once every twelve month cycle. The changes in seasons are so gradual, so predictable, but ultimately so plentiful. Parts Plurality in parts is deceptive in comprehension. All things are made up of lesser parts, at least to all known provable science. Whether it is the parts of the body, the parts of the eyes or the parts of the cornea, parts continue to be. The sun is made up of gaseous elements, which are made up of hydrogen and helium atoms, which are made up of micro-particles. Parts still, can always be dissected from the whole, regardless of how infinitesimal the object is, it can be reduced to a smaller unit, a part of the whole is always plural. Every known thing is a part, and every part known to us is made up of parts. Competition Plurality is inherently competitive. The numbers create conflict, a battle for domination ensues. The battle is pluralistic. Numerous agents are involved, with numerous functions, parts, and changes. In order to explain the competition in a simple comprehensive manner, I will limit my focus to functions; still, one must remember the conflict may involve numbers, parts or changes, even possibly more. Each phenomenon carries out their own function within their sphere. The sphere is the environment where the condition exists and carries out its activities. It may expand depending on its proximity to its relatives and its ability to function at a greater level than its relatives. Relatives is used to identify other phenomena that demonstrate a commonality that mitigates for plurality with the other phenomenon. It is the thing that allows for the basis of relation or comparison. Look at the sun, one of the major functions of the sun is the transference of light. The sphere of influence for the sun is limited, but pretend the sun's sphere is infinite and it is the only star. Because of its influence, it can be seen from Mercury, from Earth, from Pluto, several solar systems away, even galaxies away. Now, say another star that is not as bright as the sun is created in a far away galaxy. The new star may overshadow our star in another far away solar system or even another galaxy. In two galaxies away however, at the midpoint of both stars, our star appears greater in the sky. Although they are equally apart, our star is greater, it will be more easily perceived. It will dominate the other star in the rest of the universe. When other stars form, they will also dominate their immediate environment, reducing the prior effect our sun had on their newly acclaimed regions. If one of the stars develops in a large area away from any other stars, it may become the singular dominant star of the region, simply because there is no competition in the environment, it is an isolated star. Although it may not be as great as our sun, its position gives it dominance over our sun, causing its influence to be greater. The influence of our sun will be limited by the other competing stars around it. Now, if any of the new stars are greater than our sun, the new stars will become the more dominant phenomenon. It will have the greatest influence over the greatest region in terms of its function to produce light. This is an example of the nature of pluralistic competition among functions; this phenomenon can be observed in a variety of things. In terms of numbers, parts and changes, their influence also grows according to the natural laws of power which involves the inherent attributes and also the serendipity of their situation. To avoid further complex elaboration, consider it a phenomenon's natural talents and a phenomenon's fortune; this is to talk of birthrights and right places; nature and nurture. By the utilization of God given ability or the utilization of environment, a phenomenon may develop the means of dominating others. It is similar to the sun being bigger, a natural state of itself; or the sun being in the right place, simple fortune. Plurality Summary Now we get to the nexus, the impact this view of plurality can have as an intellectual mode of thought. First to begin with a brief review; plurality involves the multiplicity of numbers, functions, parts and changes that are in constant competition for dominance. Although in most things there is pluralism, the dominant characteristic or feature, the one of any significance for practical consideration is often the one that is perceived. This understanding set the stage for the intellectual thought that is presented here. There are a few presumptions that result from the fore mentioned conclusion. First, all can not be perceived; second for any question, there is more than one answer; and third, the information received by humans are the information that dominates the others around it. It is necessary to recognize that the factors involved in any problem is near infinite and can not be completely gathered by present human conventions. It is also necessary to recognize that if we can not receive all the information, then we can not know all the information, so we will never know all the answers. Finally, observers must recognize the reason that people do not see the other data is because the data they do receive is so overwhelming that they pay little attention, if any, to anything else. These presumptions derive from what pluralism reveals to us. In terms of intellectual thought one must recognize that the information that is received is incomplete. Human beings do not receive all the data. They receive the data that gets to them or the data that they are willing to accept. When they attempt to make a decision, they should attempt to gather as much information as possible. Humans will never be able to gather all the information available or even necessary, but the more information that is gained, the more “considerable” the decisions that are made will be. Next, recognize that whatever conclusion is reached, it is unlikely that it is the only one. Even if someone may perceive it as the best of many, based on the principle of pluralism there is another just as good, if not better. Although something may appear to be the best, a better answer still remains some where to be found. The most important thing to be recognized from pluralism, is saliency or the nature of the observable phenomenon to dominate the minor phenomenon. This makes it difficult, if not impossible to recognize other similar phenomenon. The nature of the observable phenomenon is one of dominance, the easiest information that we receive are those that are most dominant. The more dominant a phenomenon is, the more accessible the knowledge becomes. Not to belabor the sun example but because the sun dominates our sky, we were able to gather more information about it long before we were able to even recognize that the other stars are also suns. When studying any issue, phenomenon or condition, the knowledge bred from pluralism must always be utilized. It allows for the heightened accuracy of the knowledge that is gained. The principle of pluralism is sound and has withstood ample tests. The median principle has also survived these tests, they both possess a strong foundation that near as I can tell are universal. They are the foundations of my philosophical views. Until I may be entertained with proof to contradict my findings, I will let them hang as my philosophical anchor so that I may make my way to the land of knowledge while the wayward minds remain adrift on a sea of perpetual confusion and ignorance. CONCLUSION This book discusses the skills necessary for understanding things as they are, beyond the context in which they exist. This is a skill that will be required to truly understand these volumes. Understanding can no longer be thought of as a passive experience, it is relative and affected by the those involve in the communication process. The idea that communication is relative and therefore, understanding is also relative, can be drawn from principles discussed in this book. These principles hi-light the notion that all things are manifestations of larger and smaller units; all things are perceived in context of external factors. The best for all situations is the condition in the middle and there are many things in this world. This knowledge will contribute to understanding the message these books attempt to convey. It is also the central tenet of these volumes and every subject examined within these pages are intend to examine our world, our existence in context of these ideas. The more I learn, the more I learn how much more I have to learn. -Unknown