Unfolding of Fortitude in The World

Principles

Unfolding dualities are found in principal typologies and structural hierarchies. Some are rather easy to determine and contain perennial dichotomies: mental stabilization (PH'4uD), for example, with its body-mind poles; and political life (PH'6CsHuD) with principles v pragmatism at the base. Others are more difficult to identify.

All unfolding dualities are dialectical and characterized by a sustaining ground state or substrate that is essential and unavoidable, and a developmental force or catalyst that provides a potential for evolution or emergence.
Structural Hierarchy Examples Closed:

In looking out for yourself (PH'6Q4sH), self-assertion is the ground state and psychosocial realism is the developmental force.

In enabling creativity (RsH), optimism is the substrate and confrontation is the catalyst.

In employee expectations (PH'1CsH), comfort is the ground state and ambition is the developmental force.

In political life PH'6CsH), continuity is the ground state and change is the developmental force.

These polar positions are respectively the thesis and antithesis, which can fuse to generate a synthesis at the next higher level. That synthesis is then a new thesis evoking its antithesis and so on—with the system being cyclic so that the synthesis at G7 appears as the thesis at G1.

Application to Attempting the Impossible

In attempting the impossible, the ground state (thesis) is proposed as fortitude, representing personal strength both mental and emotional in the most difficult of circumstances. Without fortitude, it would be unwise if not impractical to get seriously involved in an impossible venture that others label 'a hopeless case'.

However, the challenge is impossible precisely because fortitude is counteracted by conditions that are indifferent, disruptive, depleting, detrimental, prejudicial, harmful and generally unfavourable. These can be generically labeled as the-world-as-it-is. For hopeless causes, the world embodies adversity and is inevitably discouraging. The world has the power to erode fortitude, so it is the antithesis that must be recognized and somehow overcome.

The forms that fortitude and the worldtake in each Grouping are investigated below with an explanation of their synthesis to create a higher level version of fortitude.

G1: Faith requiring Hope

The monads are entirely positive and are enabled confidently.

In the face of a truly daunting challenge, hope and faith emerge as positive declarations and confident demonstrations of a willingness to initiate efforts against seemingly overwhelming odds. So fortitude takes the form here of assurance.

This assurance inevitably gets confronted by failures which are unavoidable in any effort under these conditions. Failures act as a counter-force from The World that potentially dents and damages assurance.

Note that failure is an external phenomenon that invites investigation.

If the effort is to continue, then assurance and failure must be synthesized into a more powerful form of fortitude at the next higher level: which is resilience.

G2: Continuity requiring Determination

The dyads all recognize explicitly that there will be setbacks and difficulties but determination will see you through.

The form of fortitude evident from surviving multiple encounters with failure is resilience. Resilience is what assurance becomes after it has been tested by failure. It ensures recovery from failures so that G1-hope is never given up.

Resilience notwithstanding, over time, a person's strength can become depleted. At a certain point exhaustion sets in and threatens continuing resilience.

Note that exhaustion is an internal state that invites personal reflection.

If the effort is to continue, then resilience and exhaustion must be synthesized to generate a new form of fortitude at the next higher level: which is renewal.

G3: Prevailing requiring Endurance

The triads are about enduring over the long term and seeking to win out during interactions.

When resilience has been tested by exhaustion, the capacity for renewal is the form of fortitude that must be activated. Fresh energy and capacity based on new approaches become possible in the course of venturing (new options), infiltrating (new experiences), confronting (new beginnings), following (new alignments) or coping (new ways to manage).

However, The World being what it is, renewal regularly meets blockages. Repeated blockagecauses irritation and frustration, that potentially breeds bitterness which would be counterproductive

Note that blockage is an external phenomenon that invites investigation.

If the effort is to continue, the renewal and blocakge must be synthesized into a new form of fortitude at the next higher level: whch is correction.

G4: Balance requiring Relationships

The tetrads are about mobilizing relationships so as to maintain a balance that is essential for constructive activity.

Blockage of renewal efforts means something is not quite right. Fortitude needs to emerge in the form of introducing corrections based on what is clearly not working and what could work. Corrections often depend on feedback from relationships and need to ensure balance is maintained.

However, the situation is complicated with many individuals, social forces and group factors, each calling for attention and handling, often in contradictory ways. So confusion is likely to develop, weakening and diffusing corrective moves, which may even seem arbitrary.

Note that confusion is an internal state that invites personal reflection.

If the effort is to continue, then confusion and correction must be synthesized into a new form of fortitude at the next higher level: which is resolution.

G5: Drive requiring Capabilities

The pentads are about acknowledging and declaring personal resources and capabilities that can be harness by drive to push efforts forward constructively.

When corrections have been tested by confusion, fortitude in the form of resolution needs to emerge to generate something definite that draws on capabilities. This may take the form of a drive to support , to explore, or to lead others. Resolution implies responsibility and it calls for a relevant capability.

However, whenever others are involved differences of opinion and self-interest mean that there will be resistance , active push-back or passive opposition. Resolution can be impaired and ultimately blocked by such resistance.

Note that resistance is an external phenomenon that invites investigation.

If the effort is to continue, then resolutionand resistance must be synthesized into a new form of fortitude at the next higher level: which is affirmation.

G6: Excellence requiring Ideals

The hexads are about enabling the impossible challenge to be addressed by internalizing and applying the right thinking and by developing and applying the right skills.

Fortitude is manifested here as affirmation, which recognizes and deals with both resolution and resistance. Without affirmation, neither practise-G61 nor conversion-G62 will be carried through to the desired excellence.

However, in the event, The World strikes back in the form of disappointment with the sought-for mastery. The ideals may not be appreciated by others, the new way of thinking does not get validated, practice does not produce the level of skill desired.

Note that disappointment is an internal state that invites personal reflection.

If the effort is to continue, then affirmation and disappointmentmust be synthesized into a new form of fortitude at the next higher level: which is openness.

G7: Responsiveness requiring Energies

The heptad is about entering a state of unselfish responsiveness in which your energies are released for the challenge you have to meet. By releasing those energies, you become able to serve others or yourself.

To reconcile and synthesize affirmation and disappointment, that is to say not to give up, it is necessary to be open to possibilities in the world and potentials within yourself. Fortitude is manifested here as activating and maintaining this state of openness.

Openness is unbounded and enabling, but The Worldshows up as limitations that exist within and without. Limits are constraining and defining.

Note that limitation is an external phenomenon that invites investigation.

If the effort is to continue, then openness and limitation must be synthesized into a new form of fortitude. As there is no higher level, the synthesis is to be found in G1 .

Fortitude at G1 was specified above as assurance. From this unfolding perspective, it appears that being open within limits, allows something real to be imagined, and that is what generates assurance.

Originally posted:  12-Jun-2026