Disconnected scales of scope

Engaging with Globality through Cognitive Circlets (Part #2)

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There is necessarily a major challenge to ensuring any meaningful cognitive relationship between understanding :

• of anything held to be "universal", whether the realm of astronomy and astrophyics, that of human rights, or any all-encompassing, subtle spiritual framework
• of anything fundamental to the identity and integrity of any community, whether a discipline, a faith, a culture, etc, especially when presented and promoted as an obligation of belief and a criterion of membership of that community
• of anything held locally within a collective group, a family, a neighbourhood or a tribe
• of anything held individually as fundamental to any personal, private sense of identity
  • which is why individuals wear identifying necklaces and bracelets
  • individual "circling of the wagons"

Understanding associated with the scope of each tends to distort and over-simplify that associated with any other. Additionally each is to some degree fragmented and lacking in the functional integrity purportedly associated with it -- a consequence of the challenge to cognitive skills, especially memory, and notably as affected by distinct cognitive biases and styles of intelligence. The situation is complicated by the extent to which understanding of each kind is held to be "universal" and presented as such to others resistant to that claim. Consequently there is a recognition of "believers" and of those held to be "non-believers" -- and therefore problematic in some way.

The cognitive challenge, and its possible remedies. is usefully reflected in structures such as:

• stone "henges" of the megalithic period, with their symbolic associations
• circular stockades and, more elaborately, fortresses
• "circling of the wagons" as practiced by migrating pioneer groups

Such architectural closure is now replicated cognitively in gated communities -- in both cases emblematic of forms of cognitive closure and "circles of trust" offering a requisite sense of belonging and identity (Dynamically Gated Conceptual Communities: emergent patterns of isolation within knowledge society, 2004). It has been argued by Matt Frei (Taming the cyber beast, The Guardian, 24 January 2009) that:

The Bush White House circled the wagons and lived in a bubble; it turned loyalty into a test of service and largely disdained the clutter of opinions from the world outside...

A curious complement to "circling the wagons" against outsiders is now to be found in the emergent process in democratic societies of "corralling" or "kettling" protesters by the "forces of law and order" (Baton charges and kettling: police's G20 crowd control tactics under fire, The Guardian, 3 April 2009; Coralled and angry, G20 protesters switch focus of anger from bankers to police, The Guardian, 3 April 2009)

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