Actualization of Potential
Transcendence. If this notion puzzles you, then first check it here.
THEE Note: Evidence for Hierarchy
Structural corroboration gives good reasons to think that the Hierarchy of Endeavour-RH is actually hierarchical. It also help us conclude that it does have Levels with functions broadly as described in the Superstructure for Doing Topic.
However, there are some simpler tests suggestive of hierarchy that can be identified here and now. They serve to deepen our understanding of this map of personal endeavour, and also provide some useful plausibility. These tests relate to:
- The way the central Level (RL4) mediates the upper three and lower three Levels: see this webpage.
- Meaningful transitions, Level by Level, going up and going down the hierarchy: see From Willingness to Action.
- Identification of an oscillating duality. This provides discontinuity between Levels and is possibly a signature of a THEE hierarchy: see Private v Public.
The Hierarchy of Personal Endeavour-RH lends itself to division into an upper part dealing with the «creation of my endeavour», a transcendent state in which potential is developed; and a lower part «pursuit of my endeavour» which is about actualization of that potential. More: The creation is «higher» than the pursuit in the sense that it governs pursuit. However «creation» of an endeavour demands «pursuit», otherwise it is pointless. So transcendence and actualization are both part of the same thing: personal endeavour.
Creating an Endeavour
The upper three Levels are about the creation of my endeavour:
RL7: Willingness has no bounds and so determines transcendence.
Willingness entails a readiness to engage in endeavour including perceiving realities and acting on them as the endeavour evolves and its ramifications fill our consciousness.
RL6: Purpose provides structure and direction to guide transcendence.
Purpose entails a readiness to be responsible for what is important in our endeavour and exactly how and why it is being pursued.
RL5: Communication sustains transcendence as a social reality.
Communication entails a readiness to perceive, affirm and explain both the intended endeavour, the relevant realities and what will be done. Yet nothing tangible has been created. If something is created and we stop talking about it, then it rapidly ceases to exist in psychosocial reality.
Why Persist?
The central Level is RL4: My Experience. This provides the tools (i.e. taxonomic elements) to assess and govern essential judgements, both in regard to endeavour creation at higher levels and endeavour pursuit at lower levels. Looking upwards, we use intuitions and feelings to assess the potentials of transcendence. Looking downwards, we use them to appraise the results of actualization.
Pursuing the Endeavour
The lower three Levels are about the pursuit of my endeavour:
RL3: Change indicates the required stable end-state (or meaningful sequence of identifiable states), and so determines actualization.
Change entails an engagement with forces and conditions —personal, interpersonal, social and physical—that exist in the environment where the endeavour is established, develops and endures.
RL2: Inquiry provides the checks, information, calculations and analyses that guide actualization.
Inquiry entails testing conjectures about the realities and gaining knowledge directly relevant to the endeavour and its pursuit.
RL1: Action engages empirical realities with the view to maintain the purpose of the endeavour and sustain actualization.
Action entails interacting physically with the environment so as to modify it in accord with reasons that can all be traced back to the guiding purpose. If action stopped, the endeavour would crumble in its socio-physical reality.
Remember:
In everyday life, we mostly apply our biases, shift our perspectives and jump between frames of reference easily and unthinkingly without coming to grief. This does not work when you are pursuing systematic inquiry. To avoid getting lost and confused, a modicum of mental discipline is necessary. Try to respect many perspectives while maintaining a single frame of reference: it will make everything much easier and clearer.
THEE Note: Qualities of Hierarchies
In hierarchies, like «endeavour», each Level has a part to play, so none is unimportant or even less important. If a particular extrinsic value perspective is being applied, then one or more Levels may seem more (or less) important.
A THEE hierarchy is a whole that depends on each Level, so:
- higher levels should force us to assume the existence of lower levels, &
- lower levels should force us to assume the existence of higher levels.
In THEE's holistic hierarchies, Levelsdynamically interact, so:
- higher levels should in some way contain, encompass and constrain levels below, &
- lower levels should in some way realize, elaborate and constrain levels above.
Also: Higher levels are generally expected to reflect greater complexity or a larger scope, while lower levels are expected to be increasingly concrete and tangible. From experience, this difference is not always obvious until the hierarchy is applied in a specific situation.
Originally posted: 06-Jul-2011; Last updated: 18-Jun-2012