Adaptation of the binary coding template to the configuration of conventional values and strategies

Dynamic Exploration of Value Configurations: Interrelating traditional cultural symbols through animation (Part #8)

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Ignoring the symbolic and cultural dimensions, the binary coding and associated hexagrams may be used experimentally to order values as they are implicit in conventional strategies and the problems they endeavour to address. Such an approach follows from earlier work on comprehensive classification of the complete range of human preoccupations (Functional Classification in an Integrative Matrix of Human Preoccupations, 1982). This was notably developed as a means of access to the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential and the integration of its online databases with those of the Yearbook of International Organizations. The matrix fundamental to this approach, especially its explicit periodic organization, can be fruitfully compared with the periodic clustering of the hexagrams based on their binary code. It is this clustering that is basic to their traditional organization by "houses" and to their periodic circular distribution in the animations (as indicated in the above screen shot). Close inspection of that circular sequence (notably by zooming in the animations) makes it clear that the lower (inner) trigrams, identical in "house" groups of 8 around the circle, are necessarily each distinguished by 8 distinct upper (outer) trigrams.

The simplest experimental approach is of course just to replace the text labels in the animations for trial purposes. A potentially much more significant approach is to apply the hexagram binary coding to the cells of the matrix with which categories of preoccuption have been associated there. This approach is suggested by the conventional tabular presentation of 8 "upper" and 8 "lower" trigrams as rows and columns -- with the 64 hexagrams as cells of the table (used as a lookup guide to the Yi Jing). As its commentary indicates, the periodic organization of preoccupations in that matrix is in fact modelled on that of the periodic table of chemical elements with its conventional 8 fundamental groups -- determined by the manner in which electrons fill the innermost (s and p) shells to constitute those "main groups". Use of upper and lower trigrams to encode conventional "groups" and "periods" in the periodic table might also be made, as an exercise in interrelating chemical elements. With respect to any set of fundamental values or strategic "pillars", of interest is whether it is the columns or rows, as groups and periods, that are understood to represent such clusters of (typically) 8 such categories (or 7 plus/minus 2).

In the use of any binary coding system to represent "filling up", of particular interest is any initial assumption as to whether broken and complete lines in the (hexagram) appropriately represent 0 and 1 or, conversely, 1 and 0. The fundamental nature of this seemingly trivial assumption has been explored by Xavier Sallantin (L'épistémologie de l'arithmétique: Communication aux Seminaires internationaux d'epistemologie de l'Abbaye de Senanque, 1976). In the case of shell-filling, is a "1" (complete line) usefully understood as an "electron" and the absence of one as a "valency" -- or either, under different circumstances? Sallantin exaplains this assumption in terms of how agreement is established (by a referee tossing a coin for captains before a football match) when, depending on culture, "yes" may be denoted by a "nod" or a "shake" of the head. The ambiguity is also recognized in the distinction between perceiving a glass as being "half-full" rather than "half-empty".

Of interest here is the sense in which this implies a form of paradoxical alternation between the implications of both assumptions, as with whether the hexagrams should be read from top to bottom (outside to inside) when displayed in a circle. The challenge of this alternation is discussed in an earlier commentary on the use of this circular representation (Alternating between Complementary Conditions: for sustainable dialogue, vision, conference, policy, network, community and lifestyle, 1983).

Using this framework as a guide and avoiding (for now) the complex long-standing debate about how many groups there are and how they are best to be represented, one quick experiment is to treat the preoccupation matrix as a set of 8x8 cells and to substitute its categories in an animation.

Table 2: Association of thematic categories with hexagram coding (indicative for animation experiment only) Note that the original web version of this table permitted users to access problems, strategies or organizations corresponding to each cell. To facilitate use of the circular sequence in the animation, relevant numbers have been added to each cell. Access to SVG animation using these categories.
	Pattern establisment and consolidation		Pattern maintenance and appreciation		Pattern adaptation and propagation		Pattern innovation and exploitation
	Domain definition	Organized relations	Different- iated	Contextual renewal	Controlled movement	Communic. reinforcement	Redistrib. of resources	Environmental manipulation
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Groups	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	Logic [1}	Emotional fulfilment [34]	Philosophy [5]	Aesthetics [26]	Security [11]	Morals Ethics [9]	Community [14]	Coevolut- ion [43]
	Policymaking Future studies [25]	? [51]	Language [3]	Design [27]	Interdiscipl- inarity [24]	Individuation Psychoanalysis [42]	Coop- erative [21]	Invention [17]
	Science [6]	Experiental activities [40]	History [29]	Culture [4]	Strategy Logistics [7]	Theology [59]	Meta- politics [64]	Agro- sciences [47]
	Sociology [33]	Management [62]	Informatics Classification [39]	Ekistics Architecture [52]	Systems Cybernetics [15] .	Psychology Behaviour [53]	Economics [56]	Technology [31]
	Research Standards [12]	Health care [16]	Education [8]	Leisure Arts Sports [23]	Defence Police [2]	Religious practice [20]	Government Politics [35]	Agricult. Fisheries [45]
	Society [44]	Social activity Employment [32]	Information [48]	Amenities Necessities [18]	Transport Telecomm [46] .	Communication Media [57]	Commerce Finance [50]	Industry Production [28]
	Biosciences [13]	Plant life [55]	Zoology [63]	Inverteb- rates [22]	Fish Reptiles [36]	Birds Mammals [37]	Humankind [30]	Medicine [49]
	Astronomy [10]	Earth [54]	Meteorology [60]	Climatology [41]	Oceanography [19]	Hydrology [61]	Geophysics [38]	Geology [58]

It should be stressed that the above attributions are purely indicative for the purpose of illustrating their presentation dynamically in the animation. They do however raise interesting issues explored elsewhere with regard to how such an array might be "tuned" (Tuning a Periodic Table of Religions, Epistemologies and Spirituality -- including the sciences and other belief systems, 2007) -- especially given the resemblance of the above table to a fret through which musical intervals are distinguished. The justification for switching to a sound-based metaphor is presented elsewhere (In Quest of Mnemonic Catalysts -- for comprehension of complex psychosocial dynamics, 2007; Polarities as Pluckable Tensed Strings: hypercomprehension through harmonics of value-based choice-making, 2006; A Singable Earth Charter, EU Constitution or Global Ethic? 2006). The need for mnemonic aids has long been highlighted by the association of the complexities of metabolic pathways with songs (Harold Baum, The Biochemists' Song Book, 1982/2003).

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