Patterns of Relational Paradigm |
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Patterns of Relational Paradigm INTRODUCTION
The basic patterns of the relational paradigm can be grouped into sets or patterns which I have labeled: twofold operators, threefold operators, fourfold operators, and fifth business. These basic patterns can be viewed as a form of reality or as a process of change. A picture of the patterns as form is shown in the exhibit above. The twofold operator corresponds with the hierarchy and the network and will normally be written with a slash between the two words, e.g. hierarchy/network. The threefold operator can be viewed from two perceptions—as hierarchy, network and user view, or as relational, network and hierarchy. The fourfold is the manifestation of reality and is represented by the relational, hierarchy, network and user view. The fifth business is the change agent and is represented by the point at the center. Like the point in geometry, it has no dimension and can be represented by an empty space as well as by a dot. As a process of evolution the patterns are close to that expressed by Lao Tau’s Tao Teh Ching: The Tao begot one. One begot two. Two begot three. And three begot the ten thousand things. I would revise this as follows: The void and the one are two. The two and the three are four. The four through the fifth is ten to the sixth. It is significant that the patterns begin with the twofold. There is no pattern of the void or of the one. Any manifestation in this reality is of the twofold. The one and the many is a twofold operator. The Jews said it was impossible to speak the Holy’s name; the Hindus give it 330 million names. You can speak of the one, but what you describe is always twofold. Even the use of negation and self-referencing still doesn’t allow us to develop patterns of the one. For example: “The Tao that can be described is not the Tao,” describes the Tao. “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent,” isn’t silent. “The ONE about whom naught may be said,” says something about the one. “You can’t wrap a concept around it,” is a concept which is wrapped around it. “There are no answers,” is an answer. It’s always twofold. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” is twofold. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” is again twofold. The twofold concept applied to itself implies that there is something other or complimentary to the twofold. PATTERNS ARE HOLOGRAPHIC It is my hypothesis that all the reality in which we exist can be explained with these basic patterns. The patterns of the relational paradigm are holographic, that is, the same patterns are repeated over and over in all things. No matter how small or large a view we take, the patterns are the same. Whether we investigate the physical or the mental, the scientific or the religious, nature or human, we find the same patterns. I have found no exceptions. The implications are rather significant. For not only can we understand the reality in which we live, but this understanding is available to everyone. One doesn’t need to be a mathematician or physicist to understand the language used to describe this reality. Today, the basic axioms or articles of faith of Western science are not available to the common person. The same story has been repeated time and again. Leave the axioms to the high priests; the common man or woman has no business trying to understand these things. Let the priests interpret the scripture; the common person should not have access to the holy word. This time around we are a bit more subtle in our means of protecting the sacred. The hiding is by intimidation and obfuscation. The results are the same. For example, to say “I don’t understand calculus,” is the same as saying that I don’t understand one of the basic axioms of the Western world. In attempting to describe the patterns of the relational paradigm, I have used examples from areas in which I am most comfortable: science, computers, business and economics. Many people have different areas of expertise. Don’t let the data from my areas of knowledge intimidate you. The understanding of the patterns can be obtained from any area; whether through body, mind, spirit or soul; whether from sight, hearing, feeling or knowing. The understanding of the patterns is of primary importance. The knowledge of the data used to describe these patterns is secondary. In the old paradigm our method of education proceeded from a knowledge of the data to an understanding of the patterns. “If you want to know this, do this.” The new paradigm adds an emergent method, a new direction. Rather than proceeding from data (knowledge) to patterns (understanding), the direction is reversed. We can go from patterns to data. The new injunction is, “If you want to understand this, use these.” The advantage of the new method of understanding is the ease and effectiveness of education. The data have increased exponentially, whereas the patterns have remained the same or increased linearly. In many areas it takes a lifetime to follow the old path; “If you want to know this, do this.” After spending one’s life “doing this,” you are not likely to find something other than that which you have been prepared to find. The emergent path, “If you want to understand this, use these,” demands creativity. You cannot understand unless you make your own models.
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