Peter Emmerson

10. Truth technology and control. Engineers (scientists) and pure mathematicians gain influence but have problems developing heuristics for dynamic non-linear figurational processes leaving priests and philosophers in charge.

There is such a clear disparity between our experience of immutable, I-oriented (a version of homo clausus directly referenced to Descartes) a-t heuristics derived from supernatural and/or logical command systems, and more unpredictable, even volatile comparatively uncertain mundane processes, that it is difficult to support any belief that a-t heuristics are meant to be sincere attempts to model/engineer mundanities.  Accordingly, we should see a-t heuristics as interdependent aspects of a cognitive truth technology designed and developed by theometaphysicians to provide us, especially those people operating from established figurations, with a secure platform from which to thact and thrive in our dynamic universe that is often uncontrollable and very threatening.  Adopting a-t heuristics, which are by definition true without doubt, allows us to control cognitive dissonance (fear) by guaranteeing certainty and mandating us to believe that we know exactly what we are doing even when things go catastrophically wrong.  In this sense a-t heuristics are need-statements, often minimally engaged with facts, which provide faulty simulations of those mundane processes they purport to axiomatize.  Nonetheless, pure mathematicians have managed to open up sufficient engagement with mundane processes to develop less I-oriented a-t heuristics of real practical utility, as their spectacularly fruitful 350 year partnership with engineers (usually called scientists) patently evidences.  Interestingly however, as pure mathematicians have grown in influence during this period from Newton to Higgs, philosophers and especially priests have seen their influence decline in places like Britain where engineers have been able to flourish.  From my perspective a key aspect of such decline has been an inability of priests and philosophers to reduce levels of I-orientation in their heuristics.

Nevertheless, priests and philosophers still have considerable influence as fundamentalist religious figurations and Michael Sandel testify.  This state of affairs is in part explained by an inability of pure mathematicians to develop heuristics capable of modelling figurational (social scientific) mundanities, leaving priests and philosophers to carry on as usual.  By developing statistical heuristics pure mathematicians have made some contribution to our understanding by making it clear that linear heuristics cannot model figurational processes accurately.  Even so, recent developments of non-linear ‘chaotic’ models may prove more useful.  What with continued priestly/philosopher influence and limited development of mathematical heuristics, we have seen a dearth of engineered alternatives becoming available, leaving figurational engineers little option but to default to ancient conventions and deploy supernatural and/or verbal logical a-t heuristics, even though I believe they seriously inhibit their capacity to engage with and model figurational mundanities.  Accordingly, supernatural and verbal logical a-t heuristics still prevail largely unchallenged as tools for analysing figurational issues.