June 25, 1994: "The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society." Presented at the Fourth Annual International Conference, sponsored by The Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences.
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The evolution of symbol systems and society
1. Cover Page
The Evolution of
Symbol Systems and
Society
Author: Jeffrey G. Long (jefflong@aol.com)
Date: June 26, 1994
Forum: Talk presented at the Fourth Annual International Conference of The
Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences.
Contents
Page 1: Proposal and Bio
Pages 2‐31: Slides intermixed with text for presentation
License
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Uploaded June 19, 2011
2. Submitted for the
Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences
1994 Annual Conference
June 1994
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Jeffrey G. Long
133‐1/2 11th Street, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547‐0268
jefflong@aol.com
The Whorfian hypothesis has not been generally accepted as applying to language, but it does seem
to apply to notations. Further, there seems to be a general pattern in the structure of notational
revolutions such as the move to the alphabet, to hindu‐arabic numerals, and to staff musical
notation. This talk will discuss the significance of these questions as they relate to the co‐evolution
of society and notation, and the social formation of mind. The 20‐minute presentation will be
followed by a 10‐minute audience question‐and‐answer period.
3.
The Evolution of
Symbol Systems and Society
A Brief Overview
Jeffrey G. Long
voice: (202) 547‐0268
e‐mail: JeffLong@AOL.COM
letter: 133‐1/2 11th Street, S.E., Washington, DC 20003
Presented to the
Society for Chaos Theory
June 25, 1994
5. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
The use of a system of signs or symbols to represent
words, phrases, numbers, quantities, etc. 1
"For the purpose of determining logical structure it is, for instance, a
matter of complete indifference whether we represent certain features of
states of affairs by spatial arrangement rather than by sounds or shapes.
Hence the unimportance in theory of attempts to 'improve' symbolism:
tokens of any properties whatsoever can be used as the material for a
complete language." 2
1 -- Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, 1984
2 -- Max Black, Language and Philosophy, 1949, page 160
Page 4 of 31
10. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Slide 4: Criteria for a Notational System
So what criteria am I using to define a notational system?
In all of these cases, the notational SYSTEM does not merely ABBREVIATE anything; instead:
FIRST, it INVENTS or DISCOVERS a new abstraction that I call an ONTOLOGICAL INVENTION
An ontological invention is something we invent (or discover) and subsequently treat as "real", e.g.
numbers, truth , money, or time.
I suggest that what we call LITERACY is learning about the existence and properties of these
unobservable entities. And that when we learn about them, we literally see the world differently (a
la Vygotsky and Luria)
When I say invent or discover, I mean that these entities have ontological REALITY, but whether they
were ALWAYS there (a la Plato, and therefore DISCOVERIES) or whether they are products of mind
(therefore emergent, and therefore INVENTIONS) is unclear to me
SECOND, it REIFIES that abstraction with a SYMBOL inscribed on some MEDIUM (not always 2‐
dimensional, as we presume, but 1‐D, 3D, and n‐D also), and
FINALLY, it provides a CALCULUS or GRAMMAR of legal operations on those new symbols.
The difference between this and formal languages or formal systems is thus that it is fundamentally
exploratory and EMPIRICAL rather than AXIOMATIC; semantics are the BASIS of it, not an
afterthought or application as in model theory.
Page 9 of 31
11. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Logic Arithmetic
implication numbers
Geometry
Cartography,
Speech
& Charts Causality Quantity
form truth
Relation Naming
Experience
Change ???
time ???
???
Calendars Value Sound
money
notes & rests
Accounting Music,
Choreography
Abstractions Lead to Ontological Inventions
Page 10 of 31
13. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Whorf's theses of linguistic relativity were summarized by the semanticist Stuart Chase as follows:
"First, that all higher levels of thinking are dependent upon language.
Second, that the structure of the language one habitually uses
influences the manner in which one understands his environment.
The picture of the universe shifts from tongue to tongue."3
Restating this in notational terms, we might say:
First, that various kinds of abstract thinking are dependent upon the
existence or invention of notational systems. Second, that the
notational systems one habitually uses influences the manner in
which one understands his environment. The ability to picture the
universe accurately shifts from notation to notation.
The Notational Hypothesis
3-- John B. Carroll (Editor), Language, Thought, & Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Cambridge
MA: The M.I.T. Press, 1956. Page vi
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15. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
1. Notation "A" is invented, and is revolutionary
2. Notation "A" is developed and applied to its farthest limits
3. Notation "A" hits a "complexity barrier" and progress stops
4. Notation "B" is invented, and is revolutionary
5. Notation "B" is developed and applied to its farthest limits
6. Notation "B" hits a new "complexity barrier"; progress stops.
Notational Fulfillment & Societal Evolution
Page 14 of 31
16. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Slide 7: Notational Fulfillment & Societal Evolution
The revolutionary new ways of seeing, created and required by revolutionary new notations, have a
big impact on the cognitive capabilities and subsequent accomplishments of both individuals and
societies.
Based on my study thus far of 12 notations, there seems to be a broad general PATTERN in notational
and societal co‐evolution.
First, a NEW notation is created, based on a revolutionary new ABSTRACTION that never existed
before, and this FIRST GENERATION notation is packaged as an ANALOGY of what it represents.
Next, this notation EVOLVES through improvement of PRAXIS, e.g.
symbols are STREAMLINED for greater ease of use
NEW symbols are introduced, e.g. lower case, punctuation
there's a CONSENSUS on standards for USING the system
new and better MEDIA is used [e.g. clay ‐> papyrus ‐> paper]
new REFERENTIAL TIERS are created for the new media.
This process is generally what people think of when they think of notational evolution, e.g. the shape
of letters, the introduction of a new punctuation mark, etc..
But this is NOT where notation gets its enormous power.
Next, in spite of all refinements, the notation hits what I call a COMPLEXITY BARRIER.
No amount of effort seems to overcome the barrier, and progress comes, if at all, by random insight,
not systematic analysis.
The complexity barrier by its nature is very widespread, affecting entire fields of activity at a time.
Characteristics of a complexity barrier are that:
there is a large class of problems that thwarts resolution
increased money and effort produce FEW, if ANY, results.
Next, somehow, a NEW notation is created, based on a revolutionary new ontological invention.
This often leads to, or co‐exists with, a tremendous boom in cultural evolution.
For example, the introduction of speech and writing, logic, money, time‐keeping (e.g. calendars and
clocks), all had a big effect on what society could do because suddenly a whole CLASS of problems
was resolved.
This is what I call a Second Generation Notation.
Page 15 of 31
17. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
While the first generation was hindered by its preference for ANALOGY with common experience,
the second and subsequent generations are not so based and can be vastly stranger and more
abstract. Second generation notations are therefore based on far more powerful insights into the
nature of what can exist and be represented. Its characteristics are that it:
Solves a broad class of problems with far less effort
Is accessible to more people
Is accepted only grudgingly by the elite because it changes the power distribution in society
Finally, this notation, too, goes through the same KIND of evolutionary refinement that its
predecessor did, but eventually it hits its OWN complexity barrier.
Page 16 of 31
28. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Slide 11: New Ontological Invention: Dollars
Finally, I'd like to talk now about an UNRECOGNIZED NOTATION, namely MONEY.
This slide shows the PRE‐NOTATIONAL situation at the top.
If you want to trade your duck for my cat, we may agree on a BARTER arrangement.
A duck and a cat are roughly commensurable, partly because they're both animals and they both
have some real and obvious values to somebody; so it is fairly easy to make that trade.
But as you offer things that are less and less commensurable, it gets harder to make a trade.
The first generation of notation was COMMODITY MONEY that represented a certain REAL,
PRACTICAL VALUE.
Examples include cattle, salt, and tobacco.
This was widely used up until about 4,000 years ago; tobacco was the principal medium of exchange
for several CENTURIES in MARYLAND and VIRGINIA; and as recently as 1935, salt was still used in
Ethiopia! Even now, during its trying times, some people of the former Soviet Union are using vodka,
Levis, and other commodities as a preferred method of exchange.
Like all notations, commodity money evolved. Any item having real value could be used, preferably
meeting the following criteria:
known to many people
recognizable in value
scarce
portable (at least not too bulky)
physically stable over time (preferably imperishable)
easily sub‐divided.
But eventually this basis for exchange hit a COMPLEXITY BARRIER: these items were logistically
inconvenient.
Commerce was thus still very DIFFICULT, and the more COMPLEX an economy got the more problems
were caused by commodity money.
We can hardly imagine what the New York Stock Exchange or our economy in general might be like if
every transaction was paid for by weighing salt or some other physical commodity; continuing on
that path would have been fruitless.
A Notational Revolution occurred about 5,000 years ago (3000 B.C.) when people noticed that VALUE
could exist INDEPENDENTLY of an object, i.e. the ontological invention of ABSTRACT VALUE.
Page 27 of 31
31. Jeffrey G. Long [6/19/2011 2:49:00 PM]
The Evolution of Symbol Systems and Society
Conclusions
1. There are limitations to what any notation can express, based on what domain that
notation was designed to represent and consequently what abstractions it
embodies. This is true even for the "language of science": mathematics.
2. A key factor in the evolution of society is the introduction and fulfillment of
revolutionary new notational systems such as the calendar, writing, mathematics,
and money.
3 Our society currently faces a "complexity barrier" in dealing with so-called
"complex systems" such as medicine, ecology, economics, psychology, and public
policy. But complexity is in the eye of the beholder and can be eliminated by an
appropriate notation based upon a new ontological invention. Larger computers,
more data, and more money will not overcome this complexity barrier.
4. We need to perform research to develop at least one wholly new notation, using
abstractions beyond fractals or other fundamentally quantitative constructs. I
believe a key area of research should be the study of complicated conditional
rules, and higher-level abstractions of classes of rules. Towards this end I am
seeking funding for a Notational Engineering Laboratory at a local University.
Page 30 of 31