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This is a work in progress - all rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006-2008 Tony Giovia

 

CHAPTER 10 - Types of Contexts v2.0

 

10.1 - A context is equally an Idea, or a collection of Ideas.

10.2 - Ideas are composed of dimensions.

10.3 - Contexts are composed of dimensions. (Construction)

10.4 - A contextual filter is a logical or mathematical law that associates or disassociates dimensions from each other. By so doing, contextual filters associate particular dimensions to contexts, and disassociate particular dimensions from contexts. (Definition)

10.5 - A Base Geometric Outline (BGO) is a self-consistent logical island of ideas. (Definition)

10.6 - A Point of View (POV) Context is one or more Base Geometric Outlines logically connected and used as the primary contextual filter for other ideas. (Definition)

10.7 - Any Base Geometric Outlines composing a POV Context may itself be a POV Context when associated with a different pool of perceivable contexts. (Construction)

10.8 - Point of View Contexts are either objective (scientific) or personal. (Definition)

a) Objective Base Geometric Outlines (OBGO) are composed of standardized sets of dimensions and rules arranged in a particular design. (Definition)

b) Personal Base Geometric Outlines (PBGO) are composed of non-standardized dimensions and rules arranged in a particular design. (Definition)

10.9 - Objective Base Geometric Outlines (OBGO) and Personal Base Geometric Outlines (PBGO) are logical or mathematical groupings of GOs. (Definition)

10.10 - Objective Points of View (OPOV) create Objective Base Geometric Outlines (OBGO).

10.11 - Personal Points of View (PPOV) create Personal Base Geometric Outlines (PBGO).

 

In previous chapters we examined relationships and shared dimensions. Here we are using the term “filter” to inclusively describe any mechanism that uses dimensions to associate contexts to contexts, contexts to the Ideas of which they are composed, and Ideas to Ideas. Similarly, filters inclusively describe any mechanism that uses dimensions to disassociate contexts from contexts, contexts from Ideas, and Ideas from Ideas.

Because Ideas and their associated contexts are defined in terms of other Ideas there is an endless nexus of associations for any particular idea. To make this nexus manageable we will use the term Base Geometric Outline (BGO) to describe a unique grouping of contexts that are logically self-contained. A Base Geometric Outline is a portion of the nexus that, while associated with and supported by the rest of the nexus, can be clearly defined as a unique and logically self-consistent context.

Base Geometric Outlines are hardly exotic creations. For example, the context “Automobile” is a Base Geometric Outline – it clearly defines a generalized type of four wheeled transportation. Similarly, each brand of car is also a Base Geometric Outline – General Motors, Ford, Toyota – and so on for each model car – Malibu, Mustang, Corolla.

None of these BGOs specifically state that you can use the vehicle to drive to work or go grocery shopping – these activities are part of the supporting nexus of Ideas but not part of the Base Geometric Outline which (usually) strictly relates to a type of four wheeled transportation.

While BGOs can be and often are nested – Automobile – General Motors – Malibu – there is no requirement for nesting. You can know that a Malibu is an automobile but not that it is made by General Motors –it is still a valid BGO.

This example illustrates a key point – there are two types of Base Geometric Outlines – commonly defined Objective Base Geometric Outlines (OBGO) and subjectively defined Personal Base Geometric Outlines (PBGO). Science requires common standardized definitions based on reproducible evidence or verifiable reasoning – people, with different experiences and reasoning abilities, often prefer personal definitions.

The mechanism that creates an OBGO or PBGO is a Point Of View (POV) filter. It is not logically consistent and therefore not common to adopt equally opposing opinions about any particular Idea – in fact, we call this type of situation a dilemma. Generally, we favor one opinion over another. The operative filtering mechanism is a particular grouping of Base Geometric Outlines we will call a Point Of View filter.

Point Of View filters can be objective (OPOV) or personal (PPOV), and everyone I have ever met (including myself) uses both types. When working, a mathematician in California uses the same POV as a mathematician colleague in China, Italy, and Brazil. However, that same mathematician may have a different POV than his colleagues while watching the same movie. The elements composing the movie watching POV comprise past experience, interest in the theme, timing factors and so on, which almost certainly will not be identical for all four colleagues.

Of interest is that Ideas and contexts are “re-usable” – the contexts comprising a POV can be simultaneously used in other POVs, even contradictory ones. This is easy to visualize if you treat Ideas and contexts as Geometric Outlines.

 

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