Chapter
9 is about principles. He defines a "fundamental" as a
causal factor on which a multi-level, branching series of effects
depends, analogous to a tree. Examples given are the division of labor in
economics and natural selection in biology. The only things that are
fundamental simplicitur are the axioms of existence, identity, and
consciousness. Knowing fundamentals is a source of immense cognitive
power and unit-economy. Examples given are the heliocentric model and
the decimal number system.
A
"principle" is a fundamental generalization that serves as
a standard of judgment in a given domain. Principles are needed for
an economical long-range view of consequences. Similar to concepts,
principles are integrations. They are formed by abstraction by
observing similarities and differences. They are contextual and
should be treated as absolutes within a context. An example he
elaborates is individual rights. They are frames of reference as a to
guide a diagnosis of concretes, and should not be imposed
mechanically on unexamined concretes.
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