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Avoiding Absolutizing Alpha and Beta in the Dialectic
This needs to be added as a rule to the dialectic, but I’m still working on language. An error in thinking occurs any time the Alpha and Beta are absolutized. In all systems, the Alpha and Beta are relative and any position represents only a snap-shot in time, even if we think of one snap-shot as the usual or typical situation. In reality, the Alpha and Beta are a constellation of tensor dynamics around a system that could be thought of as more of a continuum — also they are dynamic and move and rotate as the system evolves and works.
For example:
- In relationships, “I/we” are the “Alpha” and “You/other/they” are the Beta, unless you’re viewing from the other party’s perspective, then the exact opposite would be true. Who represents the “push/order/positive” (Alpha) dynamic, and who represents the “pull/entropy/negative” (Beta) dynamic is purely a matter of perspective. Only “both-and” relational skills that build knowledge of all parties (towards intimacy) and creates synthesizing solutions and dynamics is faithful to the relationships.
- In gender relations, the absolutizing of roles is one of the key problems. For example, in some Asian lore, Yin and Yang represent a male and female dualism as well as a good-evil dualism. So Yin is female/passive/negative and Yang is positive/active/male.(See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang) This can understandably contribute to sexism and gender stereotypes. A similar stereotype is present in Platonic thinking, European Christian doctrines, and even some Biblical thought (see Ecclesiastes 7:28).
Underlying this system-thinking problem is something akin to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. The principle is a quantum physics principle that says the more certain you are to a particles position, the less certain you can be about its momentum — and vice versa. In the same way, the more certain you are of a system element’s position (or the more absolute), the less certain you can be about its motion and dynamics in the system — and vice versa. It’s necessary to act as though elements are absolute when simplifying the positions of all elements of the system. On the other hand, when thinking about dynamics, absolute positions are harmful and inaccurate. In almost all cases, something that is Beta is in this moment will move and act as Alpha in the next.
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This discussion was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by
profmag. Reason: Now I see EFN Note doesn't work in forum posts. Not sure it would be possible to add to posting hook [later...]
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This discussion was modified 11 months ago by profmag.
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