System of Kinhide Mushakoji

Systems of Categories Distinguishing Cultural Biases (Part #3)

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(Scientific revolution and interparadigmatic dialogue. Tokyo, United Nations University, GPID project, 1978)

Four modalities through which the human mind grasps reality:

3.1 Affirmation: Leading to affirmative action in the form of support, commitment, initiative, proposition, cooperation, consensus formation, empowering, 'opening'.

3.2 Negation: Leading to negative action in the form of sanction, withdrawal (of support), denial, disassociation, delimitation, criticism, opposition, promotion of dissent, disempowering, 'closing'.

3.3 Affirmation and negation: Leading to ambiguous action, non-violent resistance, 'dumb insolence', 'giving with one hand and taking with the other', 'double dealing', 'stick and carrot tactics', the 'yes but no' response of the frustrated cross-examinee.

3.4 Non-affirmation and Non-negation: Leading to action in the form of indifference, indecision, non-action (in the oriental sense), 'neither confirm nor deny', 'opening and closing'.