A Model—not a Theory

Modelling Endeavour

THEE is a unified, dynamic, structured taxonomy or «ontology» for personal functioning as it manifests within endeavour. That is to say, THEE potentially specifies the full range of human (as distinct from technical or biological) elements that can enter awareness (i.e. consciousness) during an endeavour, along with relationships among them.

Endeavour = deliberate activity toward a goal.

Endeavour comprises dynamic processes, both mental and social,
for example:

working, relating, choosing, thriving, communicating, creating, thinking, learning, symbolizing, surviving, deciding, intending, hoping, exercising, persuading, knowing, playing, appreciating, persevering, becoming, objectifying, believing, engaging, concentrating, solving, submitting, picturing, intuiting, suffering, determining, researching, formulating, adapting, obeying, reassuring, willing, joining, confusing, challenging, practising, mentoring, hypothesizing, mediating, strategizing, obliging, coercing, wondering, aligning, naming, authorizing, inquiring, meditating, leading, codifying, reforming, clarifying, needing, changing, managing, trusting &c.

and also stable enduring structures and states, both mental and social,
for example:

organizations, potentials, governments, roles, debaters, experiments, enterprises, expectations, laws, willingness, incentives, names, spirituality, policies, addiction, equanimity, violence, prosperity, identifications, flexibility, thoughts, principles, visionaries, politicians, nihilism, opinions, teams, strategies, vulnerabilities, families, rationalism, words, authorities, codes, projects, ideology, growth, selflessness, fascism, managers, activism, mediators, operations, creation, distraction, salvation, gratification, dictatorship, thoughtfulness, logic, identities, philosophy, wisdom, knowledge, virtue, confidence, authenticity &c.

There are probably 5,000–10,000 different entities in human endeavour.

Each entity within endeavour (as categorized within THEE) can be expressed in countless ways, perhaps infinitely many. This is much like grammar with its infinite sentences, or graphics software which can be used to produce endless new images. Within their constraints, THEE, grammar and software put you in the driving seat.

The taxonomic model that has emerged is a system that unifies systems and comprises a Root Domain (Will) with Primary Domains within it (e.g. purpose, action). The Domains contain «frameworks», which are maps of psychosocial things and processes relevant to a particular area of personal and social life.

As already emphasized, the Domains and frameworks contain no (or very few) new observations, but make explicit what is often left implicit, and heighten subtle differences and discontinuities.

A Taxonomy is not a Theory

A theory is an explanation that (if reasonably correct) leads to useful predictions. A theoretical model is a complicated explanation built on theories. A model is a map representing factors in a situation that lets you see what you are dealing with. A dynamic model shows how the factors affect each other. Both theories and models can be used to make predictions and aid practical design.

THEE is an organisation of checkable observations, not a theory about anything. By a rigorous process of distinguishing, naming and formulating, taxonomic frameworks end up illuminating the obvious and penetrating to the not-so-obvious.

Theories and doctrines are common in social life and some are perennials that deserve taxonomic identification. However, THEE itself is theory-neutral. People with wildly differing paradigms or theories about psychological and social life can find common ground within THEE without needing to abandon or compromise their theory or ideology. That should come as a relief, because there is no escaping from paradigms and theories.

Theorizing (i.e. asking "why?") about the taxonomic architecture is only possible once there is confidence in validity and clarity about the taxonomic issue of interest. Puzzles invite conjectures if you are curious.

THEE is open to a variety of theories about its evolutionary origins, its strange architecture, and its dynamics. In this way, it is directly comparable to the Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements. I began theorizing about the taxonomic structures in 2013 after decades of observation. That work led to the creation of the Architecture Room which contains summaries, arguments and conjectures.

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• Using the Taxonomy leads to creation of a reality.

Originally posted: May 2010; Last amended: 14-Oct-2016