THEE Hierarchies
Dominant Form
Hierarchy is the dominant form within the Taxonomy.
The fundamental and frequent structure is hierarchical with 7 Levels. The Taxonomy also contains hierarchical forms with 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Levels. However, they are all secondary and derived.
Q: Why do 7 levels turn up everywhere?
is that they have 7 There are at least seven, possibly eight, known types of THEE 7-level hierarchy: Root, Primary, Principal Typology, Spiral-derived, Q-expansion, Structural, Tertiary, and there may also be a Quaternary. These are described in the next Topic.
General Features
- Each hierarchy is a distinct entity and requires its own formal name.
- The Levels are discontinuous manifestations of the same psychosocial function (specified by the entity). The discontinuity is enforced by an oscillating duality.
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All 7-level hierarchies are holistic, i.e. Levels do not manifest independently of the hierarchy. However, the Principal Typologies only reveal their holistic aspect via the contextual values within each Type.
- Actualization may involve only some Levels, but all Levels must potentially exist, perhaps in the form of implicit assumptions or potentials for future development or complementary outside agencies.
- Higher Levels encompass and require the lower Levels, while the lower Levels assume and require the higher. Higher Levels tend to be more complex, intangible, abstract or broader in scope, and lower Levels tend to be simpler, more certain, more concrete and more focused.
- Neither a higher nor a lower Level is intrinsically better. However, a particular situation may call for a special focus on a particular Level in practice. Drives for status and control may involve exaltation or denigration of Levels e.g.
Reminders
It is not a trivial exercise to discover a named hierarchy with a definite number of named Levels, whose function and properties are known. The steps below are not a method: they are offered to help clarify and explain the nature of a THEE hierarchy.
Step 1:
Identify the entity.
CHECK
Is it Real?
The entity must be an expression of human action and social life. Be sure that the entity is not a concept. As an example: «inflation» or «GDP» are concepts, while «prices» or a «debt» are real deliberately created social things. An essential criterion: the entity-category should be recognizable by anyone willing to look and should not provoke endless debates.
Common errors:
- Considering physical or biological elements affecting functioning.
- Focusing on words ("What is X?") rather than things, i.e. addressing the issue from a conceptual-definitional perspective.
- Capturing something so complex or obscure it needs a neologism or extended, tangled, philosophical ratiocination to explain.
Step 2:
Clarify the rationale for hierarchy.
CHECK
Assuming the entity is susceptible to a hierarchical analysis, consider its alternative manifestations, both abstract and concrete.
If the entity seems to be a Level (entity) within an encompassing hierarchy, determine related manifestations (i.e. entities sharing an underlying essence) that either encompass or are encompassed by that entity.
Transitions between Levels, i.e. why functioning at one Level requires and influences functioning in the Level above or the one below, should be apparent in the holistic hierarchies. Explanations should be simple and formulations brief and lucid.
Structural corroboration is relevant.
Step 3:
Determine distinguishing properties via a matrix analysis.
CHECK
Remember that hierarchies can come with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 Levels (and possibly more). Any hierarchy in THEE which is less than 7 Levels will probably be located within a 7-level structure.
Be confident that, both empirically and logically, there can be no higher or lower Levels than the extremes identified.
By appreciating in detail just one or two Levels (or types), general properties of the entity are usually suggested. Because it is a system, precise knowledge of just a few cells may help greatly in completing the matrix.
Continually check that names accord well with observations and properties. Be ready to change a provisional name to fit properties—never change a property to fit a name! Two-word names may be required but probably never more.
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Now consider the varieties of hierarchy in more detail.
Originally posted: August 2009; Last updated 2-Feb-2014.
All posted material is part of a scientific project and should be regarded as provisional. Visitors are encouraged to think through the topics and propositions for themselves. Copyright © Warren Kinston 2009-2016.
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