bateson - steps to an ecology of mind

8/14/2019 Bateson - Steps to an Ecology of Mind

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STEPS TO AN

ECOLOGY OF MIND

COLLECTED ESSAYS IN ANTHROPOLOGY,PSYCHIATRY, EVOLUTION, AND

EPISTEMOLOGY

Gregory Bateson

Jason Aronson Inc.Northvale, New Jersey

London


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Balinese Painting ( Ida Bagus Djati Sura; Batuan, 1937 )[Analysis, p. 147]


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Copyright 1972, 1987 by Jason Aronson Inc.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

A rights r!s!r"!#. $rint!# in th! %nit!# &tat!s o' A(!rica. )opart o' this boo* (ay b! +s!# or r!pro#+c!# in any (ann!rhatso!"!r itho+t ritt!n p!r(ission 'ro(Jason Aronson Inc.!-c!pt in th! cas! o' bri!' +otations in r!"i!s 'or inc+sion ina (aga/in!, n!spap!r, or broa#cast.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

at!son, r!gory.&t!ps to an !coogy o' (in#.

Chan#!r p+bications 'or h!ath sci!nc!s!print. riginay p+bish!# &an ranciso

Chan#!r $+b. Co., 1972. ith n! pr!'.Co!ction o' artic!s r!print!# 'ro( "ario+s

p!rio#icas.:h! p+bish!# or* o' r!gory at!son p.Inc+#!s in#!-.1. Anthropoogy, C+t+ra;Co!ct!# or*s.2.


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CONTENTS

1971 $=AC= "i

1987 $=AC= "iii=? -iI):?%C:I) 1

Part I: Metalogues .................................................12!tao+! hy ?o :hings !t in a +##!D 13!taog+! hy ?o r!nch(!nD 19!taog+! Abo+t a(!s an# !ing &!rio+s 24!taog+! Eo +ch ?o Fo+


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Part I': (iology and )*olution ........................+,7n =(ptyE!a#!#n!ss A(ong ioogists an#

&tat! oar#s o' =#+cation 348

:h! o! o' &o(atic Chang! in ="o+tion 351$rob!(s in C!tac!an an# th!r

a((aian Co((+nicationH 369A !!-a(ination o' at!sons +! 384Co((!nt on $art IG 404

Part ': )pistemology and )!ology ..................,06Cyb!rn!tic =-panation 407!#+n#ancy an# Co#ing 419

Conscio+s $+rpos! "!rs+s )at+r! 434=''!cts o' Conscio+s $+rpos! on E+(an A#aptation 447or(, &+bstanc!, an# ?i''!r!nc! 455Co((!nt on $art G 472

Part 'I: "risis in the )!ology o# Mind ...........,7,ro( G!rsai!s to Cyb!rn!tics 475$athoogi!s o' =pist!(oogy 484:h! oots o' =coogica Crisis 494

=coogy an# !-ibiity in %rban Ci"ii/ation 499:E= $%@I&E=? <

=F A:=&) 512


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1971 PREFACE

I ha"! b!!n on! o' r!gory at!sons st+#!nts 'or thr!! y!arsan# I as ab! to h!p hi( s!!ct th! !ssays hich ar! h!r! bro+ghttog!th!r 'or th! 'irst ti(! in on! "o+(!. I b!i!"! that this is a "!ryi(portant boo*, not ony 'or thos! ho ar! pro'!ssionay conc!rn!#ith th! b!ha"iora sci!nc!s, bioogy, an# phiosophy, b+t aso an#!sp!ciay 'or thos! o' (y g!n!ration ; th! g!n!ration born sinc!Eiroshi(a;ho ar! s!arching 'or a b!tt!r +n#!rstan#ing o'

th!(s!"!s an# th!ir or#.:h! c!ntra i#!a in this boo* is that ! cr!at! th! or# that !

p!rc!i"!, not b!ca+s! th!r! is no r!aity o+tsi#! o+r h!a#s th!In#ochin!s! ar is rong, ! are #!stroying o+r !cosyst!( an#th!r!'or! o+rs!"!s, h!th!r ! b!i!"! it or not, b+t b!ca+s! !s!!ct an# !#it th! r!aity ! s!! to con'or( to o+r b!i!'s abo+that sort o' or# ! i"! in. :h! (an ho b!i!"!s that th! r!so+rc!s o' th! or# ar! in'init!, 'or !-a(p!, or that i'

so(!thing is goo# 'or yo+ th!n th! (or! o' it th! b!tt!r, i notb! ab! to s!! his !rrors, b!ca+s! h! i not oo* 'or !"i#!nc! o'th!(.

or a (an to chang! his basic, p!rc!ption#!t!r(ining b!i!'s; hat at!son cas his !pist!(oogica pr!(is!s;h! (+st 'irstb!co(! aar! that r!aity is not n!c!ssariy as h! b!i!"!s it tob!. :his is not an !asy or co('ortab! thing to !arn, an# (ost(!n in history ha"! probaby b!!n ab! to a"oi# thin*ing abo+t it.

An# I a( not con"inc!# that th! +n!-a(in!# i'! is n!"!r orth!a#ing. +t so(!ti(!s th! #issonanc! b!t!!n r!aity an# 'as!b!i!'s r!ach!s a point h!n it b!co(!s i(possib! to a"oi# th!aar!n!ss that th! or# no ong!r (a*!s s!ns!. ny th!n is it

possib! 'or th! (in# to consi#!r ra#icay #i''!r!nt i#!as an#p!rc!ptions.

&p!ci'icay, it is c!ar that o+r c+t+ra (in# has co(! to s+cha point. +t th!r! is #ang!r as ! as possibiity in o+r sit+ation.:h!r! is no g+arant!! that th! n! i#!as i b! an i(pro"!(!nto"!r th! o#. )or can ! hop! that th! chang! i b! s(ooth.

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Ar!a#y th!r! ar! psychic cas+ati!s o' th! c+t+r! chang!. :h!psych!#!ics ar! a po!r'+ !#+cationa too. :h!y ar! th! s+r!stay to !arn th! arbitrarin!ss o' o+r or#inary p!rc!ption. any o' +s

ha"! ha# to +s! th!( to 'in# o+t ho itt! ! *n!. :oo (any o'+s ha"! b!co(! ost in th! abyrinth, ha"! #!ci#!# that i' r!aity#o!snt (!an hat ! tho+ght it #i# th!n th!r! is no (!aning in itat a. I *no that pac!. I ha"! b!!n ost th!r! (ys!'. As 'ar as I*no, th!r! ar! ony to ays o+t.

n! is r!igio+s con"!rsion. I tri!# :aois(. th!rs ar!choosing "ario+s "!rsions o' Ein#+is(, +##his(, an# !"!nChristianity. An# s+ch ti(!s aays pro#+c! a host o' s!'

procai(!# (!ssiahs. Aso, a '! o' thos! ho st+#y ra#icai#!oogi!s #o so 'or r!igio+s rath!r than poitica r!asons. :hisso+tion (ay satis'y so(!, atho+gh th!r! is aays th! #ang!r o'satanis(. +t I thin* that thos! ho choos! r!a#y(a#! syst!(so' b!i!' os! th! chanc! to #o so(! tr+y cr!ati"! thin*ing, an#

p!rhaps nothing !ss i sa"! +s.:his s!con# ay o+t;thin*ing things thro+gh an# ta*ing as it

t! as possib! on 'aith; is th! (or! #i''ic+t. Int!!ct+a acti"ity; 'ro( sci!nc! to po!try;has a ba# r!p+tation in (y g!n!ration.

:h! ba(! 'as on o+r soca!# !#+cationa syst!(, hich s!!(s#!sign!# to pr!"!nt its "icti(s 'ro( !arning to thin*, hi!t!ing th!( that thin*ing is hat yo+ #o h!n yo+ st+#y at!-tboo*. Aso, to !arn to thin*, yo+ (+st ha"! a t!ach!r ho canthin*. :h! o !"! o' hat pass!s 'or thin*ing a(ong (ost o' th!A(!rican aca#!(ic co((+nity can p!rhaps ony b! appr!ciat!#

by contrast ith a (an i*! r!gory at!son, b+t its ba# !no+gh toca+s! (any o' o+r b!st (in#s to gi"! +p oo*ing 'or b!tt!r.

+t th! !ss!nc! o' a o+r prob!(s is ba# thin*ing, an# th!ony (!#icin! 'or that is b!tt!r thin*ing. :his boo* is a sa(p! o'th! b!st thin*ing I"! 'o+n#. I co((!n# it to yo+, (y broth!rsan# sist!rs o' th! n! c+t+r!, in th! hop! that it i h!p +s on o+r

o+rn!y.

;ar* =ng! Eono++, Eaaii Apri 16, 1971

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1987 PREFACE

r!gory at!son as 'on# o' +oting E!rac!it+s Into th! sa(!ri"!r no (an can st!p tic!, partic+ary in his at!r or*, in hichh! as trying to #!'in! th! nat+r! o' th! int!r'ac! b!t!!n th! r!a(o' (in# an# physica r!aity, an# to #isc+ss th! ay in hich (!nta

proc!ss !stabish!s an#(ar*s or thr!sho#s, (!anings an##!'initions in th! or# o' '+-. +t a boo* is i*! a ri"!r, not inth! si(p! s!ns! o' at!r 'oing by, b+t b!ca+s! th! int!!ct+acont!-t, i*! th! r!a#!r, chang!s st!a#iy. h!th!r on! is r!a#ing it

'or th! 'irst ti(! or r!t+rning a't!r a aps! o' y!ars, &t!ps to an=coogy o' in# is to#ay not th! sa(! boo* as it as h!n 'irst

p+bish!# so(! 'i't!!n y!ars ago, an# 'or (ost r!a#!rs itsi(pact sho+# b! gr!at!r. ! ha"! chang!# an# th! broa#int!!ct+a ci(at! has chang!#. It o+# not b! 'air to say thatthis is th! (or! i(portant p+bication, b+t it is c!rtainy (or!acc!ssib!. :h! incr!as!# acc!ssibiity o' r!gorys tho+ghtto#ay has co(! abo+t arg!y b!ca+s! o' th! st!a#y in'+!nc! o'

th!s! !ssays an# oth!r rit!rs #raing on th!( in th! int!r"a, an#b!ca+s!, a't!r r!cogni/ing th! +nity o' this co!ction, r!goryhi(s!' as ab! to rit! at a (or! g!n!ra !"!.

:h! or* o' r!gory at!son has b!!n i#!y r!a# #+ring thisint!r"!ning p!rio#. ="!r y!ar no I h!ar o' to or thr!! con'!r!nc!s'oc+s!# on so(! asp!ct o' his tho+ght, so(!ti(!s ithin a sing!#iscipin!, so(!ti(!s across a i#!r rang!, an# his na(! crops +p(or! an# (or! o't!n. ="!n (or! signi'icanty, (any o' th! i#!as

that !r! (ost i(portant to hi( ha"! b!co(! 'a(iiar notions that! '!! at ho(! ith. E! as on! o' a gro+p o' thin*!rs or*ingtoar# an +n#!rstan#ing o' co((+nications, o' th! i(portanc! o's!'r!g+ating syst!(s, an# th! ca+sa ro! o' i#!as, (!ssag!s,#i''!r!nc!s. :his has (a#! hi( a c!ntra 'ig+r! in th! groingappr!ciation o' th! i(portanc! o' oo*ing at !"!nts an# (!ssag!s incont!-t an# oo*ing at syst!(s hoisticay, h!th!r ! ar! conc!rn!#ith th! h!ath o' th! h+(an bo#yK(in# or th! biosph!r!. :h!i(portanc! o' !pist!(oogy is (or! an# (or! i#!y +n#!rstoo#. Atth! sa(! ti(!, (+ch o' this 'a(iiarity is i+sory. &trang! or

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+ns!tting i#!as ar! #!at ith as th! oyst!r #!as ith th! bit o' grit,pac*ag!# in soothing ays, s(ooth!# o"!r. :h! ris* 'or a r!a#!r o'r!gory at!son in 1972 as that h! or sh! o+# too r!a#iy say,

:his #o!snt (a*! s!ns!. Its too obsc+r! 'or (!.

:h! ris* to#ay is th!pr!(at+r! cai( o' +n#!rstan#ing, th! pr!(at+r! appication.I ha"! ha# to s+rprising !-p!ri!nc!s going bac* o"!r th!s! arti

c!s :h! 'irst as th! #isco"!ry o' ho (any o' th! i#!as thats!!(!# i(portant in his at!r or* !r! ar!a#y h!r!, atho+gh '!i ha"! grasp!# th!( co(p!t!y on 'irst !nco+nt!r. :h! s!con# isho (+ch (or! sti aaits #isco"!ry in th!s! artic!s 'or on! hohas b!co(! acc+sto(!# to r!gorys tho+ght. or*ing ith r!goryan# riting abo+t hi(, r!sting tog!th!r ith n! i#!as . as th!yca(! aong, I a( probaby as (+ch at ho(! h!r! as any o' hisst+#!nts an# co!ag+!s, an# y!t th! r!r!a#ing r!(ains a #isco"!ry.ost o' th! pi!c!s in this "o+(! ar! tight, int!ns!, abstract arg+(!nts, that r!gory an# oth!rs abor!# to +npac* o"!r th!int!r"!ning y!arsL an# sti th!r! ar! s+rpris!s hi##!n ithin th!( that

b!co(! "isib! as th! r!a#!r co(!s to (o"! 'r!!y in th! t!-t.r!+!nty , #+ring his car!!r, as his Intro#+ction in#icat!s,

r!gory '!t as i' h! !r! sp!a*ing an# riting in a 'or!ign ang+ag!.

$!op! #i# not si(py agr!! or #isagr!! ith hi(L th!y !r!b!i#!r!# or into-icat!#. ar* =ng!s, in his 1971 $r!'ac!, r!cogni/!# th! anaogy b!t!!n th! (in# !-pan#ing !-p!ri!nc!s o' #r+gsan# r!igio+s con"!rsion an# th! *in#s o' int!!ct+a chang! that co+#

b! achi!"!# by a p!r"asi"! r!shaping o' patt!rns o' tho+ght. Inr!trosp!ct it stri*!s (! that into-ication an# con"!rsion !r! co((onr!spons!s !"!n to th!s! abstract an# #i''ic+t pi!c!s;r!spons!s inhich a 'raction o' th! arg+(!nt as carri!# on a ti#! o' int+iti"!

a''ir(ation. :o#ay, ho!"!r, it is b!co(ing incr!asingy possib! toco(! to grips ith r!gorys thin*ing, to s!!ct, a''ir(, cont!st,+!stion. :hro+gho+t his i'!, h! tr!as+r!# th! r!ationships in hichh! 'o+n# opport+niti!s 'or int!!ct+a grapping that !nt b!yon#a#(iration a#+ationL critica r!a#ing is !ss!ntia.

:his n! !#ition, th!n, in"it!s r!a#!rs into an !nco+nt!r ith th!or* o' r!gory at!son that as ony a"aiab! to a '! h!n th!co!ction 'irst app!ar!#. y a#"ic! to r!a#!rs o+# b! to hang on to

th! cha!ng! as ! as th! a''ir(ation. ! ha"! not as a ci"ii/ationachi!"!# thos! !pist!(oogica shi'ts that (ay so(! #ay !nab! n+c!ar

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#isar(a(!nt, !coogica r!sponsibiity, an# n! approach!s to both!#+cation an# h!aing that i "a+! an# !nhanc! th! co(p!-ity o'

p!rsons in th!ir 'a(iia an# socia s!tting. In th!s! an# in r!gorys

at!r boo*s in# an# )at+r! A )!c!ssary %nity, ?+tton 1979, an#,ointy ith (!, Ang!s !ar :oar# an =pist!(oogy o' th!&acr!#, ac(ian, 1987 th! int!!ct+a toos ar! o''!r!#. :o#ay th!yi co(! (or! r!a#iy to han#, b! !asi!r to baanc! an# han#! in a#iscipin!# (ann!r than th!y !r! in th! !ary 1970s, b! (or!acc!ssib! to practic! an# s*i. +t sti th!r! r!(ains th! cha!ng! o'+sing th! toos in s+ch a ay that th!y b!co(! a part o' th! +s!r. An#sti th! tas*s 'or hich th!s! toos ha"! b!!n shap!# arg!y r!(ain to

b! #on!, (or! +rg!nt to#ay than !"!r.

;ary Cath!rin! at!son Ca(bri#g!, ass. A+g+st 1987

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FOREWORD

&o(! (!n s!!( ab! to go on or*ing st!a#iy ith itt!s+cc!ss an# no r!ass+ranc! 'ro( o+tsi#!. I a( not on! o' th!s!. I ha"!n!!#!# to *no that so(!bo#y !s! b!i!"!# that (y or* ha#

pro(is! an# #ir!ction, an# I ha"! o't!n b!!n s+rpris!# that oth!rsha# 'aith in (! h!n I ha# "!ry itt! in (ys!'. I ha"!, at ti(!s, !"!ntri!# to shr+g o'' th! r!sponsibiity hich th!ir contin+!# 'aithi(pos!# on (! by thin*ing, +t th!y #ont r!ay *no hat I a(#oing. Eo can th!y *no h!n I (ys!' #o notD

y 'irst anthropoogica 'i!# or* a(ong th! aining o' )!ritain as a 'ai+r!, an# I ha# a p!rio# o' partia 'ai+60r! in r!s!archith #ophins. )!ith!r o' th!s! 'ai+r!s has !"!r b!!n h!# against(!.

I th!r!'or! ha"! to than* (any p!op! an# instit+tions 'or bac*ing(!, at ti(!s h!n I #i# not consi#!r (ys!' a goo# b!t.

irst, I ha"! to than* th! Co+nci o' !os o' &t. JohnsCo!g!, Ca(bri#g!, ho !!ct!# (! to a !oship i((!#iat!y

a't!r (y 'ai+r! a(ong th! aining.)!-t, in chronoogica or#!r, I o! a #!!p #!bt to argar!t !a#,

ho as (y i'! an# "!ry cos! coor*!r in ai an# )! +in!a,an# ho sinc! th!n has contin+!# as a 'ri!n# an# pro'!ssionaco!ag+!.

In 1942, at a acy o+n#ation con'!r!nc!, I (!t arr!ncC+och an# J+ian ig!o, ho !r! th!n ta*ing !-cit!#yabo+t '!!#bac*. :h! riting o' )a"!n ha# bro+ght (! to th! "!ry

!#g! o' hat at!r b!ca(! cyb!rn!tics, b+t I ac*!# th! conc!pt o'n!gati"! '!!#bac*. h!n I r!t+rn!# 'ro( o"!rs!as a't!r th! ar, I!nt to ran* r!(ont&(ith o' th! acy o+n#ation to as* 'or acon'!r!nc! on this th!n(yst!rio+s (att!r. ran* sai# that h! ha# +starrang!# s+ch a con'!r!nc! ith cC+och as chair(an. It th+shapp!n!# that I as pri"i!g!# to b! a (!(b!r o' th! 'a(o+s acyCon'!r!nc!s on Cyb!rn!tics. y #!bt to arr!n cC+och, )orb!rti!n!r, John "on )!+(ann, ="!yn E+tchinson, an# oth!r (!(b!rso' th!s! con'!r!nc!s is !"i#!nt in !"!rything that I ha"! ritt!n sinc!or# ar II.

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In (y 'irst att!(pts to synth!si/! cyb!rn!tic i#!as ith anthropoogica #ata, I ha# th! b!n!'it o' a +gg!nh!i( !oship.

In th! p!rio# o' (y !ntry into th! psychiatric 'i!#, it as J+rg!n

+!sch, ith ho( I or*!# in th! @ang!y $ort!r Cinic, ho initiat!# (! into (any o' th! c+rio+s '!at+r!s o' th! psychiatric or#.ro( 1949 to 1962, I ha# th! tit! o' =thnoogistin th! G!t!rans

A#(inistration Eospita at $ao Ato, h!r! I as gi"!n sing+ar'r!!#o( to st+#y hat!"!r I tho+ght int!r!sting. I as prot!ct!# 'ro(o+tsi#! #!(an#s an# gi"!n this 'r!!#o( by th! #ir!ctor o' th!hospita, ?r. John J. $r+s(ac*.

In this p!rio#, !rnar# &i!g! s+gg!st!# that th! &tan'or# %ni"!rsity $r!ss r!p+bish (y boo*, )a"!n, hich ha# 'a!n 'at on its'ac! h!n 'irst p+bish!# in 1936L an# I as +c*y !no+gh to g!t 'i('ootag! o' a s!+!nc! o' pay b!t!!n ott!rs in th! !ishhac*!r Moohich s!!(!# to (! o' s+ch th!or!tica int!r!st as to +sti'y a s(ar!s!arch progra(.

I o! (y 'irst r!s!arch grant in th! psychiatric 'i!# to th! at!Ch!st!r arnar# o' th! oc*!'!!r o+n#ation, ho ha# *!pt a copyo' )a"!n 'or so(! y!ars by his b!#si#!. :his as a grant to st+#yth! ro! o' th! $ara#o-!s o' Abstraction in Co((+nication.

%n#!r this grant, Jay Ea!y, John !a*an#, an# i ry oin!#(! to 'or( a s(a r!s!arch t!a( ithin th! G.A. Eospita.

+t again th!r! as 'ai+r!. +r grant as 'or ony to y!ars,Ch!st!r arnar# ha# r!tir!#, an# in th! opinion o' th! o+n#ationsta'' ! #i# not ha"! !no+gh r!s+ts to +sti'y r!n!a. :h! grant rano+t, b+t (y t!a( oyay stay!# ith (! itho+t pay. :h! or*!nt on, an#, a '! #ays a't!r th! !n# o' th! grant, hi! I as riting a #!sp!rat! !tt!r to )orb!rt i!n!r 'or his a#"ic! abo+t h!r!

to g!t th! n!-t grant, th! #o+b! bin# hypoth!sis '! into pac!.inay ran* r!(ont&(ith an# th! acy o+n#ation sa"!# +s.A't!r that th!r! !r! grants 'ro( th! o+n#ations +n# 'or $sy

chiatry an# 'ro( th! )ationa Instit+t! o' !nta E!ath.ra#+ay it app!ar!# that 'or th! n!-t a#"anc!s in th! st+#y o'

ogica typing in co((+nication I sho+# or* ith ani(a (at!ria,an# I start!# to or* ith octop+s. y i'!, @ois, or*!# ith (!,an# 'or o"!r a y!ar ! *!pt a #o/!n octop+s!s in o+r i"ing roo(.

:his pr!i(inary or* as pro(ising b+t n!!#!# to b! r!p!at!# an#!-t!n#!# +n#!r b!tt!r con#itions. or this no grants !r! a"aiab!.

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At this point, John @iy ca(! 'orar# an# in"it!# (! to b! th!#ir!ctor o' his #ophin aboratory in th! Girgin Isan#s. I or*!# th!r!'or abo+t a y!ar an# b!ca(! int!r!st!# in th! prob!(s o' c!tac!an

co((+nication, b+t I thin* I a( not c+t o+t to a#(inist!r aaboratory #+bio+sy '+n#!# in a pac! h!r! th! ogistics ar! into!raby #i''ic+t.

It as hi! I as str+gging ith th!s! prob!(s that I r!c!i"!# aCar!!r ?!"!op(!nt Aar# +n#!r th! )ationa Instit+t! o' !ntaE!ath. :h!s! aar#s !r! a#(inist!r!# by !rt ooth!, an# I o!(+ch to his contin+!# 'aith an# int!r!st.

In 1963, :ayor $ryor o' th! c!anic o+n#ation in Eaaii in"it!#(! to or* in his c!anic Instit+t! on c!tac!an an# oth!r prob!(s o'ani(a an# h+(an co((+nication. It is h!r! that I ha"! ritt!n (or!than ha' o' th! pr!s!nt boo*, inc+#ing th! ho! o' $art G.

hi! in Eaaii, I ha"! aso b!!n or*ing r!c!nty ith th! C+t+r! @!arning Instit+t! o' th! =ast!st C!nt!r in th! %ni"!rsity o'Eaaii, an# o! so(! th!or!tica insights r!gar#ing @!arning III to#isc+ssions h!# in that Instit+t!.

y #!bt to th! !nn!rr!n o+n#ation is !"i#!nt 'ro( th! 'actthat th! boo* contains no !ss than 'o+r position pap!rs ritt!n 'or

!nn!rr!n con'!r!nc!s. I ish aso to than* p!rsonay rs. @itas(+n#s!n, th! ?ir!ctor o' !s!arch o' that o+n#ation.

any aso ha"! abor!# aong th! roa# to h!p (!. ost o' th!s!cannot b! (!ntion!# h!r!, b+t I (+st partic+ary than* ?r. G!rnCarro, ho pr!par!# th! bibiography, an# (y s!cr!tary, J+#ith Gan&oot!n, ho abor!# ith acc+racy thro+gh ong ho+rs in pr!paringthis boo* 'or pr!ss.

inay th!r! is th! #!bt that !"!ry (an o' sci!nc! o!s to th! gi

ants o' th! past. It is no (!an co('ort, at ti(!s h!n th! n!-t i#!acannot b! 'o+n# an# th! ho! !nt!rpris! s!!(s '+ti!, to r!(!(b!r thatgr!at!r (!n ha"! r!st!# ith th! sa(! prob!(s. y p!rsonainspiration has o!# (+ch to th! (!n ho o"!r th! ast 200 y!arsha"! *!pt ai"! th! i#!a o' +nity b!t!!n (in# an# bo#y @a(arc*,th! 'o+n#!r o' !"o+tionary th!ory, (is!rab!, o#, an# bin#, an##a(n!# by C+"i!r, ho b!i!"!# in &p!cia Cr!ationL iia( a*!,th! po!t an# paint!r, ho sa thro+gh his !y!s, not ith th!(, an#

*n! (or! abo+t hat it is to b! h+(an than any oth!r (anL&a(+! +t!r, th! ab!st cont!(porary critic o' ?arinian

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!"o+tion an# th! 'irst anayst o' a schi/ophr!nog!nic 'a(iyL . .Coingoo#, th! 'irst (an to r!cogni/!;an# to anay/! in crystain! pros!;th! nat+r! o' cont!-tL an# iia( at!son, (y 'ath!r,

ho as c!rtainy r!a#y in 1894 to r!c!i"! th! cyb!rn!tic i#!as.

Selection and Arrangement of Items

:h! boo* contains a(ost !"!rything that I ha"! ritt!n, ith th!!-c!ption o' it!(s too ong to b! inc+#!#, s+ch as boo*s an# !-t!nsi"! anays!s o' #ataL an# it!(s too tri"ia or !ph!(!ra, s+ch as

boo* r!"i!s an# contro"!rsia not!s. A co(p!t! p!rsona bibiography is app!n#!#.

roa#y, I ha"! b!!n conc!rn!# ith 'o+r sorts o' s+b!ct (att!ranthropoogy, psychiatry, bioogica !"o+tion an# g!n!tics, an# th!n! !pist!(oogy hich co(!s o+t o' syst!(s th!ory an# !coogy.=ssays on th!s! s+b!cts (a*! +p $arts II, III, IG, an# G o' th! boo*,an# th! or#!r o' th!s! parts corr!spon#s to th! chronoogica or#!ro' 'o+r o"!rapping p!rio#s in (y i'! in hich th!s! s+b!cts ha"!

b!!n c!ntra to (y thin*ing. ithin !ach part, th! !ssays ar! inchronoogica or#!r.

I r!cogni/! that r!a#!rs ar! i*!y to att!n# (ost car!'+y to thos!parts o' th! boo* #!aing ith th!ir partic+ar s+b!cts. I ha"!th!r!'or! not !#it!# o+t so(! r!p!tition. :h! psychiatrist int!r!st!#in acohois( i !nco+nt!r in :h! Cyb!rn!tics o' N&!' i#!ashich app!ar again in (or! phiosophic #r!ss in or(, &+bstanc!,an# ?i''!r!nc!.

c!anic Instit+t!, Eaaii Apra 16, 1971

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INTRODUCTION

The Science of Mind and Order*

:h! tit! o' this boo* o' co!ct!# !ssays an# !ct+r!s is int!n#!#pr!cis!y to #!'in! th! cont!nts. :h! !ssays, spr!a# o"!r thirty'i"!y!ars, co(bin! to propos! a n! ay o' thin*ing abo+t i#!as an#

abo+t thos! aggr!gat!s o' i#!as hich I ca (in#s. :his ay o'thin*ing I ca th! !coogy o' (in#, or th! !coogy o' i#!as. It is asci!nc! hich #o!s not y!t !-ist as an organi/!# bo#y o' th!ory or*no!#g!.

+t th! #!'inition o' an i#!ahich th! !ssays co(bin! to propos! is (+ch i#!r an# (or! 'or(a than is con"!ntiona. :h! !ssays (+st sp!a* 'or th!(s!"!s, b+t h!r! at th! b!ginning !t (!stat! (y b!i!' that s+ch (att!rs as th! biat!ra sy((!try o' an ani(a,

th! patt!rn!# arrang!(!nt o' !a"!s in a pant, th! !scaation o' anar(a(!nts rac!, th! proc!ss!s o' co+rtship, th! nat+r! o' pay, th!gra((ar o' a s!nt!nc!, th! (yst!ry o' bioogica !"o+tion, an# th!cont!(porary cris!s in (ans r! a t ionship to hi( !n"iron(!nt, can ony b! +n#!rstoo# in t!r(s o' s+ch an !coogy o'i#!as as I propos!.

:h! +!stions hich th! boo* rais!s ar! !coogica Eo #oi#!as int!ractD Is th!r! so(! sort o' nat+ra s!!ction hich

#!t!r(in!s th! s+r"i"a o' so(! i#!as an# th! !-tinction or #!ath o'oth!rsD hat sort o' !cono(ics i(its th! (+tipicity o' i#!as in agi"!n r!gion o' (in#D hat ar! th! n!c!ssary con#itions 'orstabiity or s+r"i"a o' s+ch a syst!( or s+bsyst!(D

&o(! o' th!s! +!stions ar! to+ch!# +pon in th! !ssays, b+t th!(ain thr+st o' th! boo* is to c!ar th! ay so that s+ch +!stions can b!(!aning'+y as*!#.

It as ony in at! 1969 that I b!ca(! '+y conscio+s o' hat I ha#b!!n #oing. ith th! riting o' th!


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&+bstanc!, an# ?i''!r!nc!,I 'o+n# that in (y or* ith pri(iti"!p!op!s, schi/ophr!nia, bioogica sy((!try, an# in (y #iscont!nt ithth! con"!ntiona th!ori!s o' !"o+tion an# !arning, I ha# i#!nti'i!# a

i#!y scatt!r!# s!t o' b!nch (ar*s or points o' r!'!r!nc! 'ro( hich an! sci!nti'ic t!rritory co+# b! #!'in!#. :h!s! b!nch (ar*s I ha"!ca!# st!ps in th! tit! o' th! boo*.

In th! nat+r! o' th! cas!, an !-por!r can n!"!r *no hat h! is!-poring +nti it has b!!n !-por!#. E! carri!s no a!#!*!r in his

poc*!t, no g+i#!boo* hich i t! hi( hich ch+rch!s h! sho+#"isit or at hich hot!s h! sho+# stay. E! has ony th! a(big+o+s'o*or! o' oth!rs ho ha"! pass!# that ay. )o #o+bt #!!p!r !"!s o'th! (in# g+i#! th! sci!ntist or th! artist toar# !-p!ri!nc!s an#tho+ghts hich ar! r!!"ant to thos! prob!(s hich ar! so(!ho his,an# this g+i#anc! s!!(s to op!rat! ong b!'or! th! sci!ntist has anyconscio+s *no!#g! o' his goas. +t ho this happ!ns ! #o not*no.

I ha"! o't!n b!!n i(pati!nt ith co!ag+!s ho s!!(!# +nab! to#isc!rn th! #i''!r!nc! b!t!!n th! tri"ia an# th! pro'o+n#. +t h!nst+#!nts ha"! as*!# (! to #!'in! that #i''!r!nc!, I ha"! b!!n str+c*#+(b. I ha"! sai# "ag+!y that any st+#y hich thros ight +pon th!

nat+r! o' or#!ror patt!rnin th! +ni"!rs! is s+r!y nontri"ia.+t this ans!r ony b!gs th! +!stion.I +s!# to t!ach an in'or(a co+rs! 'or psychiatric r!si#!nts in th!

G!t!rans A#(inistration Eospita at $ao Ato, trying to g!t th!( tothin* so(! o' th! tho+ghts that ar! in th!s! !ssays. :h!y o+# att!n##+ti'+y an# !"!n ith int!ns! int!r!st to hat I as saying, b+t !"!ryy!ar th! +!stion o+# aris! a't!r thr!! or 'o+r s!ssions o' th! casshat is this co+rs! a abo+tD

I tri!# "ario+s ans!rs to this +!stion. nc! I #r! +p a sort o'cat!chis( an# o''!r!# it to th! cass as a sa(ping o' th! +!stionshich I hop!# th!y o+# b! ab! to #isc+ss a't!r co(p!ting th!co+rs!. :h! +!stions rang!# 'ro( hat is a sacra(!ntD to hat is!ntropyDan# hat is payD

As a #i#actic (an!+"!r, (y cath!chis( as a 'ai+r! it si!nc!# th!cass. +t on! +!stion in it as +s!'+

A c!rtain (oth!r habit+ay r!ar#s h!r s(a sonith ic! cr!a( a't!r h! !ats his spinach. hat

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a##itiona in'or(ation o+# yo+ n!!# to b! ab! topr!#ict h!th!r th! chi# i a. Co(! to o"! or hat!spinach, b. @o"! or hat! ic! cr!a(, or c. @o"! or hat!

oth!rD

! #!"ot!# on! or to s!ssions o' th! cass to !-poring th! (anyra(i'ications o' this +!stion, an# it b!ca(! c!ar to (! that a th!n!!#!# a##itiona in'or(ation conc!rn!# th! cont!-t o' th! (oth!rsan# sons b!ha"ior. In 'act, th! ph!no(!non o' cont!-t an# th! cos!yr!at!# ph!no(!non o' (!aning#!'in!# a #i"ision b!t!!n th!har# sci!nc!s an# th! sort o' sci!nc! hich I as trying to b+i#.

ra#+ay I #isco"!r!# that hat (a#! it #i''ic+t to t! th! casshat th! co+rs! as abo+t as th! 'act that (y ay o' thin*ing as#i''!r!nt 'ro( th!irs. A c+! to this #i''!r!nc! ca(! 'ro( on! o' th!st+#!nts. It as th! 'irst s!ssion o' th! cass an# I ha# ta*!# abo+t th!c+t+ra #i''!r!nc!s b!t!!n =ngan# an# A(!rica;a (att!r hichsho+# aays b! to+ch!# on h!n an =ngish(an (+st t!achA(!ricans abo+t c+t+ra anthropoogy. At th! !n# o' th! s!ssion, on!r!si#!nt ca(! +p. E! ganc!# o"!r his sho+#!r to b! s+r! that th!oth!rs !r! a !a"ing, an# th!n sai# rath!r h!sitanty, I ant to as* a

+!stion. F!s. Its;#o yo+ ant +s to !arn hat yo+ ar! t!ing+sDI h!sitat!# a (o(!nt, b+t h! r+sh!# on ith, r is it a a sort o'!-a(p!, an i+stration o' so(!thing !s!D F!s, in#!!#O

+t an !-a(p! o' hatDAn# th!n th!r! as, a(ost !"!ry y!ar, a "ag+! co(paint hich

+s+ay ca(! to (! as a r+(or. It as a!g!# that at!son *nosso(!thing hich h! #o!s not t! yo+, or :h!r!s so(!thing b!hin#hat at!son says, b+t h! n!"!r says hat it is.

="i#!nty I as not ans!ring th! +!stion, An !-a(p! o' hatD

In #!sp!ration, I constr+ct!# a #iagra( to #!scrib! hat I conc!i"!to b! th! tas* o' th! sci!ntist. y +s! o' this #iagra(, it b!ca(! c!ar thata #i''!r!nc! b!t!!n (y habits o' tho+ght an# thos! o' (y st+#!ntssprang 'ro( th! 'act that th!y !r! train!# to thin* an# arg+!in#+cti"!y 'ro( #ata to hypoth!s!s b+t n!"!r to t!st hypoth!s!sagainst *no!#g! #!ri"!# by #!#+ction 'ro( th! '+n#a(!ntas o'sci!nc! or phiosophy.

:h! #iagra( ha# thr!! co+(ns. n th! !'t, I ist!# "ario+s sortso' +nint!rpr!t!# #ata, s+ch as a 'i( r!cor# o' h+(an or ani(a

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b!ha"ior, a #!scription o' an !-p!ri(!nt, a #!scription or photograph o' a b!!t!s !g, or a r!cor#!# h+(an +tt!ranc!. I str!ss!#th! 'act that #ata ar! not !"!nts or ob!cts b+t aays r!cor#s or

#!scriptions or (!(ori!s o' !"!nts or ob!cts. Aays th!r! is atrans'or(ation or r!co#ing o' th! ra !"!nt hich int!r"!n!sb!t!!n th! sci!ntist an# his ob!ct. :h! !ight o' an ob!ct is (!as+r!# against th! !ight o' so(! oth!r ob!ct or r!gist!r!# on a (!t!r.:h! h+(an "oic! is trans'or(!# into "ariab! (agn!ti/ations o' tap!.or!o"!r, aays an# in!"itaby, th!r! is a s!!ction o' #ata b!ca+s!th! tota +ni"!rs!, past an# pr!s!nt, is not s+b!ct to obs!r"ation 'ro(any gi"!n obs!r"!rs position.

In a strict s!ns!, th!r!'or!, no #ata ar! tr+y ra, an# !"!ryr!cor# has b!!n so(!ho s+b!ct!# to !#iting an# trans'or(ation!ith!r by (an or by his instr+(!nts.

+t sti th! #ata ar! th! (ost r!iab! so+rc! o' in'or(ation, an#'ro( th!( th! sci!ntist (+st start. :h!y pro"i#! his 'irst inspiration an#to th!( h! (+st at!r r!t+rn.

In th! (i##! co+(n, I ist!# a n+(b!r o' i(p!r'!cty #!'in!#!-panatory notions hich ar! co((ony +s!# in th! b!ha"iorasci!nc!s;!go, an-i!ty, instinct, p+rpos!, (in#, s!',

'i-!# action patt!rn, int!ig!nc!, st+pi#ity, (at+rity, an# th!i*!. or th! sa*! o' poit!n!ss, I ca th!s! h!+ristic conc!ptsL b+t, intr+th, (ost o' th!( ar! so oos!y #!ri"!# an# so (+t+ay irr!!"antthat th!y (i- tog!th!r to (a*! a sort o' conc!pt+a 'og hich #o!s(+ch to #!ay th! progr!ss o' sci!nc!.

In th! righthan# co+(n, I ist!# hat I ca '+n#a(!ntas.:h!s! ar! o' to *in#s propositions an# syst!(s o' propositionshich ar! tr+istica, an# propositions or as hich ar! g!n!ray

tr+!. A(ong th! tr+istica propositions I inc+#!# th! =t!rna G!riti!s

o' (ath!(atics h!r! tr+th is ta+toogicay i(it!# to th! #o(ainsithin hich (an(a#! s!ts o' a-io(s an# #!'initions obtain I'n+(b!rs ar! appropriat!y #!'in!# an# i' th! op!ration o' a##ition isappropriat!y #!'in!#L th!n 5 P 7 Q 12.A(ong propositions hich Io+# #!scrib! as sci!nti'icay or g!n!ray an# !(piricay tr+!, Io+# ist th! cons!r"ation as 'or (ass an# !n!rgy, th! &!con#@a o' :h!r(o#yna(ics, an# so on. +t th! in! b!t!!n ta+toogica

tr+ths an# !(pirica g!n!rai/ations is not sharpy #!'inab!, an#,a(ong (y '+n#a(!ntas,th!r! ar! (any propositions hos! tr+th no

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s!nsib! (an can #o+bt b+t hich cannot !asiy b! cassi'i!# as !ith!r!(pirica or ta+toogica. :h! as o' probabiity cannot b! stat!# soas to b! +n#!rstoo# an# not b! b!i!"!#, b+t it is not !asy to #!ci#!

h!th!r th!y ar! !(pirica or ta+toogicaL an# this is aso tr+! o'&hannons th!or!(s in In'or(ation :h!ory.ith th! ai# o' s+ch a #iagra(, (+ch can b! sai# abo+t th!

ho! sci!nti'ic !n#!a"or an# abo+t th! position an# #ir!ction o'any partic+ar pi!c! o' in+iry ithin it. =-panation is th!(apping o' #ata onto '+n#a(!ntas, b+t th! +ti(at! goa o' sci!nc!is th! incr!as! o' '+n#a(!nta *no!#g!.

any in"!stigators, !sp!ciay in th! b!ha"iora sci!nc!s, s!!( tob!i!"! that sci!nti'ic a#"anc! is pr!#o(inanty in#+cti"! an# sho+#b! in#+cti"!. In t!r(s o' th! #iagra(, th!y b!i!"! that progr!ss is(a#! by st+#y o' th! ra #ata, !a#ing to n! h!+ristic conc!pts.:h! h!+ristic conc!pts ar! th!n to b! r!gar#!# as or*inghypoth!s!san# t!st!# against (or! #ata. ra#+ay, it is hop!#, th!h!+ristic conc!pts i b! corr!ct!# an# i(pro"!# +nti at ast th!y ar!orthy o' a pac! in th! ist o' '+n#a(!ntas. Abo+t 'i'ty y!ars o' or*in hich tho+san#s o' c!"!r (!n ha"! ha# th!ir shar! ha"!, in 'act,

pro#+c!# a rich crop o' s!"!ra h+n#r!# h!+ristic conc!pts, b+t, aas,

scarc!y a sing! princip! orthy o' a pac! in th! ist o''+n#a(!ntas.

It is a too c!ar that th! "ast (aority o' th! conc!pts o' cont!(porary psychoogy, psychiatry, anthropoogy, socioogy, an# !cono(ics ar! totay #!tach!# 'ro( th! n!tor* o' sci!nti'ic '+n#a(!ntas.

oi!r!, ong ago, #!pict!# an ora #octora !-a(ination in hichth! !arn!# #octors as* th! can#i#at! to stat! th! ca+s! an# r!ason

hy opi+( p+ts p!op! to s!!p. :h! can#i#at! tri+(phanty ans!rsin #og @atin, !ca+s! th!r! is in it a #or(iti"! princip! "irt+s#or(iti"a.

Charact!risticay, th! sci!ntist con'ronts a co(p!- int!racti"!syst!(;in this cas!, an int!raction b!t!!n (an an# opi+(. E!obs!r"!s a chang! in th! syst!( ; th! (an 'as as!!p. :h! sci!ntistth!n !-pains th! chang! by gi"ing a na(! to a 'ictitio+s ca+s!, ocat!# in on! or oth!r co(pon!nt o' th! int!racting syst!(. =ith!r th!

opi+( contains a r!i'i!# #or(iti"! princip!, or th! (an contains a

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r!i'i!# n!!# 'or s!!p, an a#or(itosis, hich is !-pr!ss!# in hisr!spons! to opi+(.

An#, charact!risticay, a s+ch hypoth!s!s ar! #or(iti"! in th!

s!ns! that th!y p+t to s!!p th! critica 'ac+ty anoth!r r!i'i!#'ictitio+s ca+s! ithin th! sci!ntist hi(s!'.:h! stat! o' (in# or habit o' tho+ght hich go!s 'ro( #ata to

#or(iti"! hypoth!sis an# bac* to #ata is s!'r!in'orcing. :h!r! is,a(ong a sci!ntists, a high "a+! s!t +pon pr!#iction, an#, in#!!#, to

b! ab! to pr!#ict ph!no(!na is a 'in! thing. +t pr!#iction is arath!r poor t!st o' an hypoth!sis, an# this is !sp!ciay tr+! o' #or(iti"! hypoth!s!s. I' ! ass!rt that opi+( contains a #or(iti"!

princip!, ! can th!n #!"ot! a i'!ti(! o' r!s!arch to st+#ying th!charact!ristics o' this princip!. Is it h!atstab!D In hich 'raction o'a #istiat! is it ocat!#D hat is its (o!c+ar 'or(+aD An# so on.any o' th!s! +!stions i b! ans!rab! in th! aboratory an# i!a# on to #!ri"ati"! hypoth!s!s no !ss #or(iti"! than that 'ro(hich ! start!#.

In 'act, th! (+tipication o' #or(iti"! hypoth!s!s is a sy(pto( o'!-c!ssi"! pr!'!r!nc! 'or in#+ction, an# this pr!'!r!nc! (+st aays!a# to so(!thing i*! th! pr!s!nt stat! o' th! b!ha"iora sci!nc!s; a

(ass o' +asith!or!tica sp!c+ation +nconn!ct!# ith any cor! o''+n#a(!nta *no!#g!.

In contrast, I try to t!ach st+#!nts; an# this co!ction o' !ssays is"!ry (+ch conc!rn!# ith trying to co((+nicat! this th!sis;that insci!nti'ic r!s!arch yo+ start 'ro( to b!ginnings, !ach o' hich has itson *in# o' a+thority th! obs!r"ations cannot b! #!ni!#, an# th!'+n#a(!ntas (+st b! 'itt!#. Fo+ (+st achi!"! a sort o' pinc!rs(an!+"!r.

I' yo+ ar! s+r"!ying a pi!c! o' an#, or (apping th! stars, yo+ ha"!to bo#i!s o' *no!#g!, n!ith!r o' hich can b! ignor!#. :h!r! ar!yo+r on !(pirica (!as+r!(!nts on th! on! han# an# th!r! is=+ci#!an g!o(!try on th! oth!r. I' th!s! to cannot b! (a#! to 'ittog!th!r, th!n !ith!r th! #ata ar! rong or yo+ ha"! arg+!# rongy'ro( th!( or yo+ ha"! (a#! a (aor #isco"!ry !a#ing to a r!"ision o'th! ho! o' g!o(!try.

:h! o+#b! b!ha"iora sci!ntist ho *nos nothing o' th! basic

str+ct+r! o' sci!nc! an# nothing o' th! 3000 y!ars o' car!'+ phiosophican# h+(anistic tho+ght abo+t (an ; ho cannot #!'in! !ith!r !ntropy

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or a sacra(!nt ;ha# b!tt!r ho# his p!ac! rath!r than a## to th! !-isting+ng! o' ha'ba*!# hypoth!s!s.

+t th! g+' b!t!!n th! h!+ristic an# th! '+n#a(!nta is not so!y

#+! to !(piricis( an# th! in#+cti"! habit, nor !"!n to th! s!#+ctions o'+ic* appication an# th! 'a+ty !#+cationa syst!( hich (a*!spro'!ssiona sci!ntists o+t o' (!n ho car! itt! 'or th! '+n#a(!ntastr+ct+r! o' sci!nc!. It is #+! aso to th! circ+(stanc! that a "!ry arg!

part o' th! '+n#a(!nta str+ct+r! o' nin!t!!nthc!nt+ry sci!nc! asinappropriat! or irr!!"ant to th! prob!(s an# ph!no(!na hichcon'ront!# th! bioogist an# b!ha"iora sci!ntist.

or at !ast 200 y!ars, say 'ro( th! ti(! o' )!ton to th! at!nin!t!!nth c!nt+ry, th! #o(inant pr!occ+pation o' sci!nc! as iththos! chains o' ca+s! an# !''!ct hich co+# b! r!'!rr!# to 'orc!s an#i(pacts. :h! (ath!(atics a"aiab! to )!ton as pr!pon#!ranty+antitati"!, an# this 'act, co(bin!# ith th! c!ntra 'oc+s +pon 'orc!san# i(pacts, !# (!n to (!as+r! ith r!(ar*ab! acc+racy +antiti!s o'#istanc!, ti(!, (att!r, an# !n!rgy.

As th! (!as+r!(!nts o' th! s+r"!yor (+st ib! ith =+ci#!ang!o(!try, so sci!nti'ic tho+ght ha# to ib! ith th! gr!at cons!r"ati"!as. :h! #!scription o' any !"!nt !-a(in!# by a physicist or ch!(ist

as to b! 'o+n#!# +pon b+#g!ts o' (ass an# !n!rgy, an# this r+! ga"!a partic+ar *in# o' rigor to th! ho! o' tho+ght in th! har# sci!nc!s.

:h! !ary pion!!rs o' b!ha"iora sci!nc! not +nnat+ray b!gan th!irs+r"!y o' b!ha"ior by #!siring a si(iar rigoro+s bas! to g+i#! th!irsp!c+ations. @!ngth an# (ass !r! conc!pts hich th!y co+# har#y+s! in #!scribing b!ha"ior hat!"!r that (ight b!, b+t !n!rgy s!!(!#(or! han#y. It as t!(pting to r!at! !n!rgy to ar!a#y !-isting(!taphors s+ch as str!ngth o' !(otions or charact!r or "igor. r to

thin* o' !n!rgy as so(!ho th! opposit! o' 'atig+! or apathy.!tabois( ob!ys an !n!rgy b+#g!t ithin th! strict (!aning o'!n!rgy, an# !n!rgy !-p!n#!# in b!ha"ior (+st s+r!y b! inc+#!# inthis b+#g!tL th!r!'or! it s!!(!# s!nsib! to thin* o' !n!rgy as a#!t!r(inant o' b!ha"ior.

It o+# ha"! b!!n (or! 'r+it'+ to thin* o' ac* o' !n!rgy as pr!"!nti"! o' b!ha"ior, sinc! in th! !n# a star"ing (an i c!as! to b!ha"!. +t !"!n this i not #o an a(o!ba, #!pri"!# o' 'oo#, b!co(!s

'or a ti(! (or! acti"!. Its !n!rgy !-p!n#it+r! is an in"!rs! '+nction o'!n!rgy inp+t.

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:h! nin!t!!thc!nt+ry sci!ntists notaby r!+# ho tri!# to !stabish a bri#g! b!t!!n b!ha"iora #ata an# th! '+n#a(!ntas o'

physica an# ch!(ica sci!nc! !r!, s+r!y, corr!ct in insisting +pon th!

n!!# 'or s+ch a bri#g! b+t, I b!i!"!, rong in choosing !n!rgy as th!'o+n#ation 'or that bri#g!.I' (ass an# !ngth ar! inappropriat! 'or th! #!scribing o' b!ha"ior,

th!n !n!rgy is +ni*!y to b! (or! appropriat!. A't!r a, !n!rgy is ass- G!ocity2, an# no b!ha"iora sci!ntist r!ay insists that psychic!n!rgy is o' th!s! #i(!nsions.

It is n!c!ssary, th!r!'or!, to oo* again a(ong th! '+n#a(!ntas 'oran appropriat! s!t o' i#!as against hich ! can t!st o+r h!+ristichypoth!s!s.

+t so(! i arg+! that th! ti(! is not y!t rip!L that s+r!y th!'+n#a(!ntas o' sci!nc! !r! a arri"!# at by in#+cti"! r!asoning 'ro(!-p!ri!nc!, so ! sho+# contin+! ith in#+ction +nti ! g!t a'+n#a(!nta ans!r.

I b!i!"! that it is si(py not tr+! that th! '+n#a(!ntas o' sci!nc! b!gan in in#+ction 'ro( !-p!ri!nc!, an# I s+gg!st that in th!s!arch 'or a bri#g!h!a# a(ong th! '+n#a(!ntas ! sho+# go bac* toth! "!ry b!ginnings o' sci!nti'ic an# phiosophic tho+ghtL c!rtainy to

a p!rio# b!'or! sci!nc!, phiosophy, an# r!igion ha# b!co(! s!parat!acti"iti!s s!parat!y p+rs+!# by pro'!ssionas in s!parat! #iscipin!s.

Consi#!r, 'or !-a(p!, th! c!ntra origin (yth o' J+#a!oChristianp!op!s. hat ar! th! '+n#a(!nta phiosophic an# sci!nti'ic prob!(sith hich this (yth is conc!rn!#D

In th! b!ginning o# cr!at!# th! h!a"!n an# th! !arth.An# th! !arth as itho+t 'or(, an# "oi#L an# #ar*n!ss as

+pon th! 'ac! o' th! #!!p. An# th! &pirit o' o# (o"!# +ponth! 'ac! o' th! at!rs.

An# o# sai#, @!t th!r! b! ight an# th!r! as ight. An# o#sa th! ight, that it as goo# an# o# #i"i#!# th! ight 'ro(th! #ar*n!ss. An# o# ca!# th! ight ?ay, an# th! #ar*n!ss h!ca!# )ight. An# th! !"!ning an# th! (orning !r! th! 'irst#ay.

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An# o# sai#, @!t th!r! b! a 'ir(a(!nt in th! (i#st o' th!at!rs, an# !t it #i"i#! th! at!rs 'ro( th! at!rs. An# o#(a#! th! 'ir(a(!nt, an# #i"i#!# th! at!rs hich !r! +n#!r

th! 'ir(a(!nt 'ro( th! at!rs hich !r! abo"! th!'ir(a(!nt an# it as so. An# o# ca!# th! 'ir(a(!ntE!a"!n. An# th! !"!ning an# th! (orning !r! th! s!con##ay.

An# o# sai#, @!t th! at!rs +n#!r th! h!a"!n b!gath!r!# tog!th!r +nto on! pac!, an# !t th! #ry an#app!ar an# it as so. An# o# ca!# th! #ry an# =arthLan# th! gath!ring tog!th!r o' th! at!rs ca!# h! &!as an#o# sa that it as goo#.

A+thori/!# "!rsion

+t o' th!s! 'irst t!n "!rs!s o' th+n#!ro+s pros!, ! can #raso(! o' th! pr!(is!s or '+n#a(!ntas o' anci!nt Cha#!an tho+ghtan# it is strang!, a(ost !!ri!, to not! ho (any o' th! '+n#a(!ntas

an# prob!(s o' (o#!rn sci!nc! ar! 'or!sha#o!# in th! anci!nt#oc+(!nt.

1 :h! prob!( o' th! origin an# nat+r! o' (att!r is s+((ariy#is(iss!#.

2 :h! passag! #!as at !ngth ith th! prob!( o' th! origin o'or#!r.

3 A s!paration is th+s g!n!rat!# b!t!!n th! to sorts o' prob!(. It is possib! that this s!paration o' prob!(s as an !rror, b+t

;!rror or not;th! s!paration is (aintain!# in th! '+n#a(!ntas o'(o#!rn sci!nc!. :h! cons!r"ati"! as 'or (att!r an# !n!rgy ar!sti s!parat! 'ro( th! as o' or#!r, n!gati"! !ntropy, an#in'or(ation.

4 r#! is s!!n as a (att!r o' sorting an# #i"i#ing. +t th! !ss!ntianotion in a sorting is that so(! #i''!r!nc! sha ca+s! so(! oth!r#i''!r!nc! at a at!r ti(!. I' ! ar! sorting bac* bas 'ro( hit! bas,or arg! bas 'ro( s(a bas, a #i''!r!nc! a(ong th! bas is to b!'oo!# by a #i''!r!nc! in th!ir ocation;bas o' on! cass to on! sac*an# bas o' anoth!r cass to anoth!r. or s+ch an op!ration, ! n!!#

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so(!thing i*! a si!"!, a thr!sho#, or, par !-c!!nc!, a s!ns! organ.It is +n#!rstan#ab!, th!r!'or!, that a p!rc!i"ing =ntity sho+# ha"!

b!!n in"o*!# to p!r'or( this '+nction o' cr!ating an oth!ris!

i(probab! or#!r.5 Cos!y in*!# ith th! sorting an# #i"i#ing is th! (yst!ry o'cassi'ication, to b! 'oo!# at!r by th! !-traor#inary h+(anachi!"!(!nt o' na(ing.

It is not at a c!ar that th! "ario+s co(pon!nts o' this (yth ar! apro#+cts o' in#+cti"! r!asoning 'ro( !-p!ri!nc!. An# th! (att!rb!co(!s sti (or! p+//ing h!n this origin (yth is co(par!# ithoth!rs hich !(bo#y #i''!r!nt '+n#a(!nta pr!(is!s.

A(ong th! Iat(+ o' )! +in!a, th! c!ntra origin (yth, i*!th! !n!sis story, #!as ith th! +!stion o' ho #ry an# as s!parat!#'ro( at!r. :h!y say that in th! b!ginning th! croco#i!

!t+rning no to th! +!stion o' h!th!r th! '+n#a(!ntas o'sci!nc! an#Kor phiosophy !r!, at th! pri(iti"! !"!, arri"!# at by

in#+cti"! r!asoning 'ro( !(pirica #ata, ! 'in# that th! ans!r isnot si(p!. It is #i''ic+t to s!! ho th! #ichoto(y b!t!!n

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s+bstanc! an# 'or( co+# b! arri"!# at by in#+cti"! arg+(!nt. )o(an, a't!r a, has !"!r s!!n or !-p!ri!nc!# 'or(!ss an# +nsort!#(att!rL +st as no (an has !"!r s!!n or !-p!ri!nc!# a ran#o( !"!nt.

I', th!r!'or!, th! notion o' a +ni"!rs! itho+t 'or( an# "oi# asarri"!# at by in#+ction, it as by a (onstro+s;an# p!rhaps!rron!o+s ; +(p o' !-trapoation.

An# !"!n so, it is not c!ar that th! starting point 'ro( hich th!pri(iti"! phiosoph!rs too* o'' as obs!r"ation. It is at !ast !+ayi*!y that #ichoto(y b!t!!n 'or( an# s+bstanc! as an +nconscio+s #!#+ction 'ro( th! s+b!ctpr!#icat! r!ation in th! str+ct+r! o'

pri(iti"! ang+ag!. :his, ho!"!r, is a (att!r b!yon# th! r!ach o'+s!'+ sp!c+ation.

! that as it (ay, th! c!ntra;b+t +s+ay not !-picit ; s+b!ct(att!r o' th! !ct+r!s hich I +s!# to gi"! to psychiatric r!si#!ntsan# o' th!s! !ssays is th! bri#g! b!t!!n b!ha"iora #ata an# th!'+n#a(!ntaso' sci!nc! an# phiosophyL an# (y critica co((!ntsabo"! abo+t th! (!taphoric +s! o' !n!rgy in th! b!ha"iora sci!nc!sa## +p to a rath!r si(p! acc+sation o' (any o' (y co!ag+!s, thatth!y ha"! tri!# to b+i# th! bri#g! to th! rong ha' o' th! anci!nt#ichoto(y b!t!!n 'or( an# s+bstanc!. :h! cons!r"ati"! as 'or

!n!rgy an# (att!r conc!rn s+bstanc! rath!r than 'or(. +t (!ntaproc!ss, i#!as, co((+nication, organi/ation, #i''!r!ntiation, patt!rn,an# so on, ar! (att!rs o' 'or( rath!r than s+bstanc!.

ithin th! bo#y o' '+n#a(!ntas, that ha' hich #!as ith 'or(has b!!n #ra(aticay !nrich!# in th! ast thirty y!ars by th!#isco"!ri!s o' cyb!rn!tics an# syst!(s th!ory. :his boo* is conc!rn!# ith b+i#ing a bri#g! b!t!!n th! 'acts o' i'! an# b!ha"ior an#hat ! *no to#ay o' th! nat+r! o' patt!rn an# or#!r.

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Part I: Metalogues

?=I)I:I) A (!taog+! is a con"!rsation abo+t so(!prob!(atic s+b!ct. :his con"!rsation sho+# b! s+ch that notony #o th! participants #isc+ss th! prob!( b+t th! str+ct+r! o' th!con"!rsation as a ho! is aso r!!"ant to th! sa(! s+b!ct. nyso(! o' th! con"!rsations h!r! pr!s!nt!# achi!"! this #o+b!'or(at.

)otaby, th! history o' !"o+tionary th!ory is in!"itaby a

(!taog+! b!t!!n (an an# nat+r!, in hich th! cr!ation an#int!raction o' i#!as (+st n!c!ssariy !-!(pi'y !"o+tionaryproc!ss.


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Metaloque: Why Do Thin! "et in aMu##le$%

?a+ght!r ?a##y, hy #o things g!t in a (+##!Dath!r hat #o yo+ (!anD :hingsD +##!D? !, p!op! sp!n# a ot o' ti(! ti#ying things, b+t th!y n!"!r

s!!( to sp!n# ti(! (+##ing th!(. :hings +st s!!( to g!t in a(+##! by th!(s!"!s. An# th!n p!op! ha"! to ti#y th!( +pagain.

+t #o yo+r things g!t in a (+##! i' yo+ #ont to+ch th!(D? )o;not i' nobo#y to+ch!s th!(. +t i' yo+ to+ch th!(;or i'

anybo#y to+ch!s th!(;th!y g!t in a (+##! an# its a ors!(+##! i' it isnt (!.

F!s;thats hy I try to *!!p yo+ 'ro( to+ching th! things on (y#!s*. !ca+s! (y things g!t in a ors! (+##! i' th!y ar!to+ch!# by so(!bo#y ho isnt (!.

? +t #o p!op! aays (+##! oth!r p!op!s thingsD hy #oth!y, ?a##yD

)o, ait a (in+t!. Its not so si(p!. irst o' a, hat #o yo+(!an by a (+##!D

? I (!an;so I cant 'in# things, an# so it oo*s a (+##!# +p.:h! ay it is h!n nothing is straight

!, b+t ar! yo+ s+r! yo+ (!an th! sa(! thing by (+##! thatanybo#y !s! o+# (!anD

? +t, ?a##y, I( s+r! I #o;b!ca+s! I( not a "!ry ti#y p!rsonan# i' I say things ar! in a (+##!, th!n I( s+r! !"!rybo#y !s!

o+# agr!! ith (!. A right;b+t #o yo+ thin* yo+ (!an th! sa(! thing by ti#y

that. oth!r p!op! o+#D I' yo+r (+((y (a*!s yo+r thingsti#y, #o yo+ *no h!r! to 'in# th!(D

? E(( . . . so(!ti(!s;b!ca+s!, yo+ s!!, I *no h!r! sh! p+tsthings h!n sh! ti#i!s +p

F!s, I try to *!!p h!r aay 'ro( ti#ying (y #!s*, too. I( s+r!that sh! an# I #ont (!an th! sa(! thing by ti#y.

Hritt!n in 1948L not pr!"io+sy p+bish!#.

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? ?a##y, #o yo+ an# I (!an th! sa(! thing by ti#yD I #o+bt it,(y #!ar;I #o+bt it.

? +t, ?a##y, isnt that a '+nny thing;that !"!rybo#y (!ans th!

sa(! h!n th!y say (+##!# b+t !"!rybo#y (!ans so(!thing#i''!r!nt by ti#y. +t ti#y is th! opposit! o' (+##!#, isntitD

)o ! b!gin to g!t into (or! #i''ic+t +!stions. @!ts startagain 'ro( th! b!ginning. Fo+ sai# hy #o things aays g!t ina (+##!D )o ! ha"! (a#! a st!p or to;an# !ts chang!th! +!stion to hy #o things g!t in a stat! hich Cathy casnot ti#yD ?o yo+ s!! hy I ant to (a*! that chang!D

? ... F!s, I thin* so;b!ca+s! i' I ha"! a sp!cia (!aning 'or ti#yth!n so(! o' oth!r p!op!s ti#i!s i oo* i*! (+##!s to (!

;!"!n i' ! #o agr!! abo+t (ost o' hat ! ca (+##!s :hats right. )o;!ts oo* at hat yo+ ca ti#y. h!n yo+r

paint bo- is p+t in a ti#y pac!, h!r! is itD ? E!r! on th! !n# o'this sh!'.

*ay;no i' it !r! anyh!r! !s!D? )o, that o+# not b! ti#y. hat abo+t th! oth!r !n# o' th! sh!', h!r!D @i*! thisD

? )o, thats not h!r! it b!ongs, an# anyho it o+# ha"! to b!straight, not a croo*!# th! ay yo+ p+t it.

h;in th! right pac! an# straight.? F!s. !, that (!ans that th!r! ar! ony "!ry '! pac!s hich ar!

ti#y 'or yo+r paint bo-? ny on! pac!; )o;"!ry '! pac!s, b!ca+s! i' I (o"! it a itt! bit, i*! this, it

is sti ti#y.? A right;b+t "!ry, "!ry '! pac!s. A right, "!ry, "!ry '! pac!s. )o hat abo+t th! t!##y b!ar

an# yo+r #o, an# th! i/ar# o' / an# yo+r s!at!r, an# yo+rsho!sD Its th! sa(! 'or a th! things, isnt it, that !ach thing hasony a "!ry, "!ry '! pac!s hich ar! ti#y 'or that thingD

? F!s, ?a##y;b+t th! i/ar# o' / co+# b! anyh!r! on thatsh!'. An# ?a##y;#o yo+ *no hatD I hat!, hat! it h!n (y

boo*s g!t a (i-!# +p ith yo+r boo*s an# +((ys boo*s. F!s, I *no. $a+s!

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? ?a##y, yo+ #i#nt 'inish. hy #o (y things g!t th! ay I sayisnt ti#yD

+t I ha"! 'inish!#;its +st b!ca+s! th!r! ar! (or! ays hich

yo+ ca +nti#y than th!r! ar! ays hich yo+ ca ti#y.? +t that isnt a r!ason hy +t, y!s, it is. An# it is th! r!a an# ony an# "!ry i(portant

r!ason.? h, ?a##yO &top it. )o, I( not 'ooing. :hat is th! r!ason, an# a o' sci!nc! is

hoo*!# +p ith that r!ason. @!ts ta*! anoth!r !-a(p!. I' I p+tso(! san# in th! botto( o' this c+p an# p+t so(! s+gar on th!top o' it, an# no stir it ith a t!aspoon, th! san# an# th! s+gari g!t (i-!# +p, ont th!yD

? F!s, b+t, ?a##y, is it 'air to shi't o"!r to ta*ing abo+t (i-!#+p h!n ! start!# ith (+##!# +pD

E(( . . . I on#!r . .. b+t I thin* so;F!s;b!ca+s! !ts say !can 'in# so(!bo#y ho thin*s it is (or! ti#y to ha"! a th! san#+n#!rn!ath a th! s+gar. An# i' yo+ i*! I say I ant it that ay

? E ( (. . . A right;ta*! anoth!r !-a(p!. &o(!ti(!s in th! (o"i!s yo+

i s!! a ot o' !tt!rs o' th! aphab!t a scatt!r!# o"!r th!scr!!n, a higg!#ypigg!#y an# so(! !"!n +psi#! #on. An#th!n so(!thing sha*!s th! tab! so that th! !tt!rs start to (o"!,an# th!n as th! sha*ing go!s on, th! !tt!rs a co(! tog!th!r tosp! th! tit! o' th! 'i(.

? F!s, I"! s!!n that;th!y sp!!# ?)A@?. It #o!snt (att!r hat th!y sp!!#. :h! point is that yo+ sa

so(!thing b!ing sha*!n an# stirr!# +p an# inst!a# o' g!tting

(or! (i-!# +p than b!'or!, th! !tt!rs ca(! tog!th!r into anor#!r, a right ay +p, an# sp!!# a or#;th!y (a#! +pso(!thing hich a ot o' p!op! o+# agr!! is s!ns!.

? F!s, ?a##y, b+t yo+ *no .. . )o, I #ont *noL hat I a( trying to say is that in th! r!a or#

things n!"!r happ!n that ay. Its ony in th! (o"i!s.? +t, ?a##y .. . I t! yo+ its ony in th! (o"i!s that yo+ can sha*! things an#

th!y s!!( to ta*! on (or! or#!r an# s!ns! than th!y ha# b!'or! ...

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? +t, ?a##y .. . ait ti I"! 'inish!# this ti(! . . . An# th!y (a*! it oo* i*! that

in th! (o"i!s by #oing th! ho! thing bac*ar#s. :h!y p+t th!

!tt!rs a in or#!r to sp! ?)A@? an# th!n th!y start th!ca(!ra an# th!n th!y start sha*ing th! tab!.? h, ?a##y;I *n! that an# I #i# so ant to t! yo+ that;an#

th!n h!n th!y r+n th! 'i(, th!y r+n it bac*ar#s so that itoo*s as tho+gh things ha# happ!n!# 'orar#s. +t r!ay th!sha*ing happ!n!# bac*ar#s. An# th!y ha"! to photograph it+psi#! #on ... hy #o th!y, ?a##yD

h o#.? hy #o th!y ha"! to 'i- th! ca(!ra +psi#! #on, ?a##yD )o, I ont ans!r that +!stion no b!ca+s! ! r! in th! (i##!

o' th! +!stion abo+t (+##!s.? h;a right, b+t #ont 'org!t, ?a##y, yo+"! got to ans!r that

+!stion abo+t th! ca(!ra anoth!r #ay. ?ont 'org!tO Fo+ ont'org!t, i yo+, ?a##yD !ca+s! I (ay not r!(!(b!r. $!as!,?a##y.

*ay;b+t anoth!r #ay. )o, h!r! !r! !D F!s, abo+t thingsn!"!r happ!ning bac*ar#s. An# I as trying to t! yo+ hy it

is a r!ason 'or things to happ!n in a c!rtain ay i' ! can shothat that ay has (or! ays o' happ!ning than so(! oth!r ay.

? ?a##y;#ont b!gin ta*ing nons!ns!. I( not ta*ing nons!ns!. @!ts start again. :h!r!s ony on! ay

o' sp!ing ?)A@?. Agr!!#D? F!s. A right. An# th!r! ar! (iions an# (iions an# (iions o'

ays o' scatt!ring si- !tt!rs on th! tab!. Agr!!#D

? F!s. I s+ppos! so. Can so(! o' th!s! b! +psi#! #onD F!s;+st in th! sort o' higg!#ypigg!#y (+##! th!y !r! in in

th! 'i(. +t th!r! co+# b! (iions an# (iions an# (iions o'(+##!s i*! that, co+#nt th!r!D An# ony on! ?)A@?D

? A right;y!s. +t, ?a##y, th! sa(! !tt!rs (ight sp! @??A).

)!"!r (in#. :h! (o"i! p!op! #ont ant th!( to sp! @??A). :h!y ony ant ?)A@?.

? hy #o th!yD ?a(n th! (o"i! p!op!.

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? +t yo+ (!ntion!# th!( 'irst, ?a##y. F!s;b+t that as to try to t! yo+ hy things happ!n that ay in

hich th!r! ar! (ost ays o' th!ir happ!ning. An# no its yo+r

b!#ti(!.? +t, ?a##y, yo+ n!"!r #i# 'inish t!ing (! hy things happ!nthat ay;th! ay that has (ost ays.

A right. +t #ont start any (or! har!s r+nning;on! is +it!!no+gh. Anyho, I a( tir!# o' ?)A@?, !ts ta*! anoth!r!-a(p!. @!ts ta*! tossing p!nni!s.

? ?a##yD Ar! yo+ sti ta*ing abo+t th! sa(! +!stion ! start!#ithD hy #o things g!t in a (+##!D

F!s.? :h!n, ?a##y, is hat yo+ ar! trying to say tr+! abo+t p!nni!s,

an# abo+t ?)A@?, an# abo+t s+gar an# san#, an# abo+t (ypaint bo-, an# abo+t p!nni!sD

F!s;thats right.? h;I as +st on#!ring, thats a. )o, !ts s!! i' I can g!t it sai# this ti(!. @!ts go bac* to th!

san# an# th! s+gar, an# !ts s+ppos! that so(!bo#y says thatha"ing th! san# at th! botto( is ti#y or or#!ry.

? ?a##y, #o!s so(!bo#y ha"! to say so(!thing i*! that b!'or!yo+ can go on to ta* abo+t ho things ar! going to g!t (i-!# +ph!n yo+ stir th!(D

F!s;thats +st th! point. :h!y say hat th!y hop! i happ!nan# th!n I t! th!( it ont happ!n b!ca+s! th!r! ar! so (anyoth!r things that (ight happ!n. An# I *no that it is (or! i*!ythat on! o' th! (any things i happ!n an# not on! o' th! '!.

? ?a##y, yo+r! +st an o# boo*(a*!r, bac*ing a th! oth!r

hors!s against th! on! hors! that I ant to b!t on. :hats right, (y #!ar. I g!t th!( to b!t on hat th!y ca th!

ti#y ay;I *no that th!r! ar! in'init!y (any (+##!#ays;so things i aays go toar# (+##! an# (i-!#n!ss.

? +t hy #i#nt yo+ say that at th! b!ginning, ?a##yD I co+#ha"! +n#!rstoo# that a right.

F!s, I s+ppos! so. Anyho, its no b!#ti(!.? ?a##y, hy #o gron+ps ha"! ars, inst!a# o' +st 'ighting th!

ay chi#r!n #oD

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)o;b!#ti(!. ! o'' ith yo+. ! ta* abo+t ars anoth!rti(!.

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Metaloue: Why Do F&en'h(en$%

?a+ght!r ?a##y, hy #o r!nch(!n a"! th!ir ar(s abo+tDath!r hat #o yo+ (!anD? I (!an h!n th!y ta*. hy #o th!y a"! th!ir ar(s an# a thatD !;hy #o yo+ s(i!D r hy #o yo+ sta(p yo+r 'oot

so(!ti(!sD? +t thats not th! sa(! thing, ?a##y. I #ont a"! (y ar(s abo+t

i*! a r!nch(an #o!s. I #ont b!i!"! th!y can stop #oing it,?a##y. Can th!yD

I #ont *no;th!y (ight 'in# it har# to stop. . . . Can yo+ stops(iingD

? +t ?a##y, I #ont s(i! a th! ti(!. Its har# to stop h!n I '!!i*! s(iing. +t I #ont '!! i*! it a th! ti(!. An# th!n I stop.

:hats tr+!;b+t th!n a r!nch(an #o!snt a"! his ar(s in th!sa(! ay a th! ti(!. &o(!ti(!s h! a"!s th!( in on! ay an#so(!ti(!s in anoth!r;an# so(!ti(!s, I thin*, h! stops a"ingth!(.

* * * hat #o yo+ thin*D I (!an, hat #o!s it (a*! yo+ thin* h!n a

r!nch(an a"!s his ar(sD? I thin* it oo*s siy, ?a##y. +t I #ont s+ppos! it oo*s i*! that

to anoth!r r!nch(an. :h!y cannot a oo* siy to !ach oth!r.!ca+s! i' th!y #i#, th!y o+# stop it. o+#nt th!yD

$!rhaps;b+t that is not a "!ry si(p! +!stion. hat !s! #o

th!y (a*! yo+ thin*D? !;th!y oo* a !-cit!# .. . A right;siy an# !-cit!#.? +t ar! th!y r!ay as !-cit!# as th!y oo*D I' I !r! as !-cit!# as

that, I o+# ant to #anc! or sing or hit so(!bo#y on th! nos!

H:his (!taog+! is r!print!# 'ro( Impulse 1951, an ann+a o' cont!(porary#anc!, by p!r(ission o' I(p+s! $+bications, Inc. It has aso app!ar!# in !".# A

$e%&ie' of (eneral Semantics, Go. ), 1953.

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R b+t th!y +st go on a"ing th!ir ar(s. :h!y cant b! r!ay!-cit!#.

!;ar! th!y r!ay as siy as th!y oo* to yo+D An# anyho,

hy #o yo+ so(!ti(!s ant to #anc! an# sing an# p+nchso(!bo#y on th! nos!D? h. &o(!ti(!s I +st '!! i*! that. $!rhaps a r!nch(an +st '!!s i*! that h!n h! a"!s his

ar(s abo+t.? +t h! co+#nt '!! i*! that a th! ti(!, ?a##y, h! +st co+#nt. Fo+ (!an;th! r!nch(an s+r!y #o!s not '!! h!n h! a"!s

his ar(s !-acty as yo+ o+# '!! i' yo+ a"!# yo+rs. An#s+r!y yo+ ar! right.

? +t, th!n, ho #o!s h! '!!D !;!t +s s+ppos! yo+ ar! ta*ing to a r!nch(an an# h! is

a"ing his ar(s abo+t, an# th!n in th! (i##! o' th!con"!rsation, a't!r so(!thing that yo+ ha"! sai#, h! s+##!nystops a"ing his ar(s, an# +st ta*s. hat o+# yo+ thin*th!nD :hat h! ha# +st stopp!# b!ing siy an# !-cit!#D

? )o . . . I# b! 'right!n!#. I# thin* I ha# sai# so(!thing that h+rthis '!!ings an# p!rhaps h! (ight b! r!ay angry.

F!s;an# yo+ (ight b! right.

* * *? A right;so th!y stop a"ing th!ir ar(s h!n th!y start b!ing

angry. ait a (in+t!. :h! +!stion, a't!r a, is hat #o!s on!

r!nch(an t! anoth!r r!nch(an by a"ing his ar(sD An# !ha"! part o' an ans!r;h! t!s hi( so(!thing abo+t ho h!

'!!s abo+t th! oth!r g+y. E! t!s hi( h! is not s!rio+sy angry;that h! is iing an# ab! to b! hat yo+ ca siy.

? +t;no;thats not s!nsib!. E! cannot #o a that or* so thatat!r h! i b! ab! to t! th! oth!r g+y that h! is angry by +st*!!ping his on ar(s sti. Eo #o!s h! *no that h! is going to

b! angry at!r onD E! #o!snt *no. +t, +st in cas! .. .? )o, ?a##y, it #o!snt (a*! s!ns!. I #ont s(i! so as to b! ab! to

t! yo+ I a( angry by not s(iing at!r on.

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F!s;I thin* that that is part o' th! r!ason 'or s(iing. An# th!r!ar! ots o' p!op! ho s(i! in or#!r to t! yo+ that th!y ar! notangry;h!n th!y r!ay ar!.

? +t thats #i''!r!nt, ?a##y. :hats a sort o' t!ing i!s ith on!s'ac!. @i*! paying po*!r. F!s. )o h!r! ar! !D Fo+ #ont thin* it s!nsib! 'or r!nch(!n to

or* so har# to t! !ach oth!r that th!y ar! not angry or h+rt.+t a't!r a hat is (ost con"!rsation abo+tD I (!an, a(ongA(!ricansD

? +t, ?a##y, its abo+t a sorts o' things;bas!ba an# ic! cr!a(an# gar#!ns an# ga(!s. An# p!op! ta* abo+t oth!r p!op! an#abo+t th!(s!"!s an# abo+t hat th!y got 'or Christ(as.

F!s, y!s;b+t ho ist!nsD I (!an;a right, so th!y ta* abo+tbas!ba an# gar#!ns. +t ar! th!y !-changing in'or(ationD An#,i' so, hat in'or(ationD

? &+r!;h!n yo+ co(! in 'ro( 'ishing, an# I as* yo+ #i# yo+catch anythingD an# yo+ say nothing, I #i#nt *no that yo+o+#nt catch anything ti yo+ to# (!.

E((.

* * * A rightso yo+ (!ntion (y 'ishing;a (att!r abo+t hich I a(

s!nsiti"!;an# th!n th!r! is a gap, a si!nc! in th! con"!rsation;an# that si!nc! t!s yo+ that I #ont i*! crac*s abo+t ho(any 'ish I #i#nt catch. Its +st i*! th! r!nch(an ho stopsa"ing his ar(s abo+t h!n h! is h+rt.

? I( sorry, ?a##y, b+t yo+ #i# say .. .

)o;ait a (in+t!;!ts not g!t con'+s!# by b!ing sorry;Isha go o+t 'ishing again to(orro an# I sha sti *no that Ia( +ni*!y to catch a 'ish .. .

? +t, ?a##y, yo+ sai# a con"!rsation is ony t!ingoth!r p!op! that yo+ ar! not angry ith th!( .. .

?i# ID )o;not a con"!rsation, b+t (+ch o' it. &o(!ti(!s i'both p!op! ar! iing to ist!n car!'+y, it is possib! to #o(or! than !-chang! gr!!tings an# goo# ish!s. ="!n to #o (or!

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than !-chang! in'or(ation. :h! to p!op! (ay !"!n 'in# o+tso(!thing hich n!ith!r o' th!( *n! b!'or!.

* * * Anyho, (ost con"!rsations ar! ony abo+t h!th!r p!op! ar!angry or so(!thing. :h!y ar! b+sy t!ing !ach oth!r that th!yar! 'ri!n#y;hich is so(!ti(!s a i!. A't!r a, hat happ!nsh!n th!y cannot thin* o' anything to sayD :h!y a '!!+nco('ortab!.

? +t o+#nt that b! in'or(ation, ?a##yD I (!an;in'or(ationthat th!y ar! not crossD

&+r!y, y!s. +t its a #i''!r!nt sort o' in'or(ation 'ro(

th! cat ison th! (at.

* * *? ?a##y, hy cannot p!op! +st say I a( not cross at yo+ an#

!t it go at thatD Ah, no ! ar! g!tting to th! r!a prob!(. :h! point is that th!

(!ssag!s hich ! !-chang! in g!st+r!s ar! r!ay not th! sa(!

as any transation o' thos! g!st+r!s into or#s.? I #ont +n#!rstan#. I (!an;that no a(o+nt o' t!ing so(!bo#y in (!r! or#s that

on! is or is not angry is th! sa(! as hat on! (ight t! th!( byg!st+r! or ton! o' "oic!.

? +t, ?a##y, yo+ cannot ha"! or#s itho+t so(! ton! o' "oic!,can yo+D ="!n i' so(!bo#y +s!s as itt! ton! as h! can, th! oth!r

p!op! i h!ar that h! is ho#ing hi(s!' bac*;an# that i b!a sort o' ton!, ont itD

F!s;I s+ppos! so. A't!r a thats hat I sai# +st no abo+tg!st+r!s;that th! r!nch(an can say so(!thing sp!cia bystopping his g!st+r!s.

* * * +t th!n, hat #o I (!an by saying that S(!r! or#sT can n!"!r

con"!y th! sa(! (!ssag! as g!st+r!s;i' th!r! ar! no (!r!or#sD

? !, th! or#s (ight b! ritt!n.

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)o;that ont !t (! o+t o' th! #i''ic+ty. !ca+s! ritt!nor#s sti ha"! so(! sort o' rhyth( an# th!y sti ha"!o"!rton!s. :h! point is that no (!r! or#s !-ist. :h!r! ar! on y

or#s ith !ith!r g!st+r! or ton! o' "oic! or so(!thing o' th!sort. +t, o' co+rs!, g!st+r!s itho+t or#s ar! co((on !no+gh.

* * *? ?a##y, h!n th!y t!ach +s r!nch at schoo, hy #ont th!y

t!ach +s to a"! o+r han#sD I #ont *no. I( s+r! I #ont *no. :hat is probaby on! o' th!

r!asons hy p!op! 'in# !arning ang+ag!s so #i''ic+t.

* * * Anyho, it is a nons!ns!. I (!an, th! notion that ang+ag! is

(a#! o' or#s is a nons!ns!;an# h!n I sai# that g!st+r!sco+# not b! transat!# into (!r! or#s, I as ta*ingnons!ns!, b!ca+s! th!r! is no s+ch thing as (!r! or#s. An#

a th! synta- an# gra((ar an# a that st+'' is nons!ns!. Its abas!# on th! i#!a that (!r! or#s !-ist;an# th!r! ar! non!.? +t, ?a##y .. . I t! yo+;! ha"! to start a o"!r again 'ro( th! b!ginning an#

ass+(! that ang+ag! is 'irst an# 'or!(ost a syst!( o' g!st+r!s.Ani(as a't!r a ha"! ony g!st+r!s an# ton!s o' "oic!;an#or#s !r! in"!nt!# at!r. +ch at!r. An# a't!r that th!yin"!nt!# schoo(ast!rs.

? ?a##yD

F!s.? o+# it b! a goo# thing i' p!op! ga"! +p or#s an# !nt bac*

to ony +sing g!st+r!sD E((. I #ont *no. ' co+rs! ! o+# not b! ab! to ha"! any

con"!rsations i*! this. ! co+# ony bar*, or (!, an# a"!o+r ar(s abo+t, an# a+gh an# gr+nt an# !!p. +t it (ight b!'+n;it o+# (a*! i'! a sort o' ba!t;ith #anc!rs (a*ingth!ir on (+sic.

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Metaloue: A)out "a(e! an# *ein+e&iou!%

?a+ght!r ?a##y, ar! th!s! con"!rsations s!rio+sDath!r C!rtainy th!y ar!.? :h!yr! not a sort o' ga(! that yo+ pay ith (!D o# 'orbi# . . . b+t th!y ar! a sort o' ga(! that ! pay tog!th!r.? :h!n th!yr! not s!rio+sO

* * * &+ppos! yo+ t! (! hat yo+ o+# +n#!rstan# by th! or#s

s!rio+s an# a ga(!.? ! . . . i' yo+r! . . . I #ont *no. I' I a( hatD? I (!an . . . th! con"!rsations ar! s!rio+s 'or (!, b+t i' yo+ ar!

ony paying a ga(! .. . &t!a#y no. @!ts oo* at hat is goo# an# hat is ba# abo+t

paying an# ga(!s. irst o' a, I #ont (in# ;not (+ch;abo+t inning or osing. h!n yo+r +!stions p+t (! in a tightspot, s+r!, I try a itt! har#!r to thin* straight an# to say c!aryhat I (!an. +t I #ont b+'' an# I #ont s!t traps. :h!r! is not!(ptation to ch!at.

? :hats +st it. Its not s!rio+s to yo+. Its a ga(!. $!op! ho

ch!at +st #ont *no ho to pay. :h!y tr!at a ga(! as tho+gh it!r! s!rio+s.

+t it is s!rio+s.? )o, it isnt;not 'or yo+ it isnt. !ca+s! I #ont !"!n ant to ch!atD? F!s;party that.

H:his (!taog+! is r!print!# by p!r(ission 'ro( =:C. A !"i! o' !n!ra&!(antics, Go. U, 1953.

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+t #o yo+ ant to ch!at an# b+'' a th! ti(!D ? )o;o'co+rs! not.

! th!nD

? h;?a##y;yo+ n!"!r +n#!rstan#. I g+!ss I n!"!r i. @oo*, I scor!# a sort o' #!bating point +st no by 'orcing yo+ to

a#(it that yo+ #ont ant to ch!at;an# th!n I ti!# onto thata#(ission th! conc+sion that th!r!'or! th! con"!rsations ar! nots!rio+s 'or yo+ !ith!r. as that a sort o' ch!atingD

? F!s;sort o'. I agr!!;I thin* it as. I( sorry.? Fo+ s!!, ?a##y;i' I ch!at!# or ant!# to ch!at, that o+#

(!an that I as not s!rio+s abo+t th! things ! ta* abo+t. Ito+# (!an that I as ony paying a ga(! ith yo+.

F!s, that (a*!s s!ns!.

* * *? +t it #o!snt (a*! s!ns!, ?a##y. Its an a'+ (+##!. F!s;a (+##!;b+t sti a sort o' s!ns!.? Eo, ?a##yD

* * * ait a (in+t!. :his is #i''ic+t to say. irst o' a;I thin* that !

g!t so(!h!r! ith th!s! con"!rsations. I !noy th!( "!ry (+chan# I thin* yo+ #o. +t aso, apart 'ro( that, I thin* that ! g!tso(! i#!as straight an# I thin* that th! (+##!s h!p. I (!an;that i' ! both spo*! ogicay a th! ti(!, ! o+# n!"!r g!tanyh!r!. ! o+# ony parrot a th! o# cich!s that

!"!rybo#y has r!p!at!# 'or h+n#r!#s o' y!ars.? hat is a cich!, ?a##yD A cich!D Its a r!nch or#, an# I thin* it as originay a

print!rs or#. h!n th!y print a s!nt!nc! th!y ha"! to ta*! th!s!parat! !tt!rs an# p+t th!( on! by on! into a sort o' groo"!#stic* to sp! o+t th! s!nt!nc!. +t 'or or#s an# s!nt!nc!shich p!op! +s! o't!n, th! print!r *!!ps itt! stic*s o' !tt!rsr!a#y (a#! +p. An# th!s! r!a#y(a#! s!nt!nc!s ar! ca!#

cich!s.

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? +t I"! 'orgott!n no hat yo+ !r! saying abo+t cich!s,?a##y.

F!s;it as abo+t th! (+##!s that ! g!t into in th!s! ta*s

an# ho g!tting into (+##!s (a*!s a sort o' s!ns!. I' !#i#nt g!t into (+##!s, o+r ta*s o+# b! i*! paying r+((yitho+t 'irst sh+''ing th! car#s.

? F!s, ?a##y;b+t hat abo+t thos! things;th! r!a#y(a#!stic*s o' !tt!rsD

:h! cich!sD F!s;its th! sa(! thing. ! a ha"! ots o' r!a#y(a#! phras!s an# i#!as, an# th! print!r has r!a#y(a#! stic*so' !tt!rs, a sort!# o+t into phras!s. +t i' th! print!r ants to

print so(!thing n!;say, so(!thing in a n! ang+ag!, h!i ha"! to br!a* +p a that o# sorting o' th! !tt!rs. In th!sa(! ay, in or#!r to thin* n! tho+ghts or to say n! things,! ha"! to br!a* +p a o+r r!a#y(a#! i#!as an# sh+''! th!

pi!c!s.? +t, ?a##y, th! print!r o+# not sh+''! a th! !tt!rsD o+#

h!D E! o+#nt sha*! th!( a +p in a bag. E! o+# p+t th!(on! by on! in th!ir pac!s;a th! as in on! bo- an# a th! bsin anoth!r, an# a th! co((as in anoth!r, an# so on.

F!s;thats right. th!ris! h! o+# go (a# trying to 'in# an ah!n h! ant!# it.

* * * hat ar! yo+ thin*ingD? )o;its ony that th!r! ar! so (any +!stions. or !-a(p!D? !, I s!! hat yo+ (!an abo+t o+r g!tting into (+##!s. :hat

that (a*!s +s say n! sorts o' things. +t I a( thin*ing abo+t

th! print!r. E! has to *!!p a his itt! !tt!rs sort!# o+t !"!ntho+gh h! br!a*s +p a th! r!a#y(a#! phras!s. An# I a(on#!ring abo+t o+r (+##!s. ?o ! ha"! to *!!p th! itt!

pi!c!s o' o+r tho+ght in so(! sort o' or#!r;to *!!p 'ro( going(a#D

I thin* so;y!s;b+t I #ont *no hat sort o' or#!r. :hato+# b! a t!rriby har# +!stion to ans!r. I #ont thin* !co+# g!t an ans!r to that +!stion to#ay.

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* * * Fo+ sai# th!r! !r! so (any +!stions. ?o yo+ ha"! anoth!rD

? F!s;abo+t ga(!s an# b!ing s!rio+s. :hats hat ! start!#'ro(, an# I #ont *no ho or hy that !# +s to ta* abo+t o+r(+##!s. :h! ay yo+ con'+s! !"!rything;its a sort o'ch!ating.

)o, abso+t!y not.

* * * Fo+ bro+ght +p to +!stions. An# r!ay th!r! ar! a ot (or! . . .

! start!# 'ro( th! +!stion abo+t th!s! con"!rsations;ar! th!ys!rio+sD r ar! th!y a sort o' ga(!D An# yo+ '!t h+rt that I(ight b! paying a ga(!, hi! yo+ !r! s!rio+s. It oo*s astho+gh a con"!rsation is a ga(! i' a p!rson ta*!s part in it ithon! s!t o' !(otions or i#!as;b+t not a ga(! i' his i#!as or!(otions ar! #i''!r!nt.

? F!s, its i' yo+r i#!as abo+t th! con"!rsation ar! #i''!r!nt 'ro((in! .. .

I' ! both ha# th! ga(! i#!a, it o+# b! a rightD ? F!s;o'co+rs!. :h!n it s!!(s to b! +p to (! to (a*! c!ar hat I (!an by th!

ga(! i#!a. I *no that I a( s!rio+s;hat!"!r that (!ans;abo+t th! things that ! ta* abo+t. ! ta* abo+t i#!as. An# I*no that I pay ith th! i#!as in or#!r to +n#!rstan# th!( an#'it th!( tog!th!r. Its pay in th! sa(! s!ns! that a s(a chi#pays ith boc*s . . . An# a chi# ith b+i#ing boc*s is(osty "!ry s!rio+s abo+t his pay.

? +t is it a ga(!, ?a##yD ?o yo+ pay against (!D )o. I thin* o' it as yo+ an# I paying tog!th!r against th!

b+i#ing boc*s;th! i#!as. &o(!ti(!s co(p!ting a bit;b+tco(p!ting as to ho can g!t th! n!-t i#!a into pac!. An#so(!ti(!s ! attac* !ach oth!rs bit o' b+i#ing, or I i try to#!'!n# (y b+it+p i#!as 'ro( yo+r criticis(. +t aays in th!!n# ! ar! or*ing tog!th!r to b+i# th! i#!as +p so that th!yi stan#.

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* * *? ?a##y, #o o+r ta*s ha"! r+!sD :h! #i''!r!nc! b!t!!n

a ga(! an# +st paying is that a ga(! has r+!s. F!s. @!t (! thin* abo+t that. I thin* ! #o ha"! a sort o' r+!s ...

an# I thin* a chi# paying ith boc*s has r+!s. :h! boc*sth!(s!"!s (a*! a sort o' r+!s. :h!y i baanc! in c!rtain

positions an# th!y i not baanc! in oth!r positions. An# ito+# b! a sort o' ch!ating i' th! chi# +s!# g+! to (a*! th!

boc*s stan# +p in a position 'ro( hich th!y o+# oth!ris!'a.

? +t hat r+!s #o ! ha"!D !, th! i#!as that ! pay ith bring in a sort o' r+!s. :h!r!ar! r+!s abo+t ho i#!as i stan# +p an# s+pport !achoth!r. An# i' th!y ar! rongy p+t tog!th!r th! ho! b+i#ing'as #on.

? )o g+!, ?a##yD )o;no g+!. ny ogic.

* * *? +t yo+ sai# that i' ! aays ta*!# ogicay an# #i# not g!t

into (+##!s, ! co+# n!"!r say anything n!. ! co+# onysay r!a#y(a#! things. hat #i# yo+ ca thos! thingsD

Cich!s. F!s. +! is hat cich!s ar! st+c* tog!th!r ith.? +t yo+ sai# ogic, ?a##y. F!s, I *no. !r! in a (+##! again. ny I #ont s!! a ay o+t

o' this partic+ar (+##!.

* * *? Eo #i# ! g!t into it, ?a##yD A right, !ts s!! i' ! can r!trac! o+r st!ps. ! !r! ta*ing

abo+t th! r+!s o' th!s! con"!rsations. An# I sai# that th! i#!asthat ! pay ith ha"! r+!s o' ogic .. .

? ?a##yO o+#nt it b! a goo# thing i' ! ha# a '! (or! r+!san# ob!y!# th!( (or! car!'+yD :h!n ! (ight not g!t intoth!s! #r!a#'+ (+##!s.

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F!s. +t ait. Fo+ (!an that I g!t +s into th!s! (+##!s b!ca+s!I ch!at against r+!s hich ! #ont ha"!. r p+t it this ay. :hat! (ight ha"! r+!s hich o+# stop +s 'ro( g!tting into

(+##!s;as ong as ! ob!y!# th!(.? F!s, ?a##y, thats hat th! r+!s o' a ga(! ar! 'or. F!s, b+t #o yo+ ant to t+rn th!s! con"!rsations into that sort o'

a ga(!D I# rath!r pay canasta;hich is '+n too.? F!s, thats right. ! can pay canasta h!n!"!r ! ant to. +t

at th! (o(!nt I o+# rath!r pay this ga(!. ny I #ont *nohat sort o' a ga(! this is. )or hat sort o' r+!s it has.

An# y!t ! ha"! b!!n paying 'or so(! ti(!.? F!s. An# its b!!n '+n. F!s.

* * * @!ts go bac* to th! +!stion hich yo+ as*!# an# hich I sai#

as too #i''ic+t to ans!r to#ay. ! !r! ta*ing abo+t th!print!r br!a*ing +p his cich!s, an# yo+ sai# that h! o+# sti*!!p so(! sort o' or#!r a(ong his !tt!rs;to *!!p 'ro( going(a#. An# th!n yo+ as*!# hat sort o' or#!r sho+# ! cing toso that h!n ! g!t into a (+##! ! #o not go (a#D It s!!(sto (! that th! r+!s o' th! ga(! is ony anoth!r na(! 'or thatsort o' or#!r.

? F!s;an# ch!ating is hat g!ts +s into (+##!s. In a s!ns!, y!s. :hats right. =-c!pt that th! ho! point o' th!

ga(! is that ! #o g!t into (+##!s, an# #o co(! o+t on th!oth!r si#!, an# i' th!r! !r! no (+##!s o+r ga(! o+# b!i*! canasta or ch!ss;an# that is not ho ! ant it to b!.

? Is it yo+ that (a*! th! r+!s, ?a##yD Is that 'airD :hat, #a+ght!r, is a #irty crac*. An# probaby an +n'air on!. +t

!t (! acc!pt it at 'ac! "a+!. F!s, it is I ho (a*! th! r+!s;a't!r a, I #o not ant +s to go (a#.

? A right. +t, ?a##y, #o yo+ aso chang! th! r+!sD &o(!ti(!sD E((, anoth!r #irty crac*. F!s, #a+ght!r, I chang! th!(

constanty. )ot a o' th!(, b+t so(! o' th!(.? I ish yo+# t! (! h!n yo+r! going to chang! th!(O

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E((;y!s;again. I ish I co+#. +t it isnt i*! that. I' it !r!i*! ch!ss or canasta, I co+# t! yo+ th! r+!s, an# ! co+#, i'! ant!# to, stop paying an# #isc+ss th! r+!s. An# th!n !

co+# start a n! ga(! ith th! n! r+!s. +t hat r+!s o+#ho# +s b!t!!n th! to ga(!sD hi! ! !r! #isc+ssing th!r+!sD

? I #ont +n#!rstan#. F!s. :h! point is that th! p+rpos! o' th!s! con"!rsations is to

#isco"!r th! r+!s. Its i*! i'!;a ga(! hos! p+rpos! is to#isco"!r th! r+!s, hich r+!s ar! aays changing an# aays+n#isco"!rab!.

? +t I #ont ca that a ga(!, ?a##y. $!rhaps not. I o+# ca it a ga(!, or at any rat! pay. +t it

c!rtainy is not i*! ch!ss or canasta. Its (or! i*! hat *itt!nsan# p+ppi!s #o. $!rhaps. I #ont *no.

* * *? ?a##y, hy #o *itt!ns an# p+ppi!s payD I #ont *no;I #ont *no.

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Metaloue: ,o- Mu'h Do .ou /no-$%

?a+ght!r ?a##y, ho (+ch #o yo+ *noDath!r !D E((;I ha"! abo+t a po+n# o' *no!#g!.? ?ont b! siy. Is it a po+n# st!ring or a po+n# !ightD I (!an

r!ay ho (+ch #o yo+ *noD !, (y brain !ighs abo+t to po+n#s an# I s+ppos! I +s!

abo+t a +art!r o' it;or +s! it at abo+t a +art!r !''ici!ncy. &o!ts say ha' a po+n#.

? +t #o yo+ *no (or! than Johnnys #a##yD ?o yo+ *no (or!than I #oD

E((;I onc! *n! a itt! boy in =ngan# ho as*!# his 'ath!r,?o 'ath!rs aays *no (or! than sonsD an# th! 'ath!r sai#,F!s. :h! n!-t +!stion as, ?a##y, ho in"!nt!# th! st!a(!ngin!D an# th! 'ath!r sai#, Ja(!s att. An# th!n th! sonca(! bac* ith ;b+t hy #i#nt Ja(!s atts 'ath!r in"!nt itD

* * *? I *no. I *no (or! than that boy b!ca+s! I *no hy Ja(!satts 'ath!r #i#nt. It as b!ca+s! so(!bo#y !s! ha# to thin*o' so(!thing !s! b!'or! anybo#y co+# (a*! a st!a( !ngin!. I(!an so(!thing i*!;I #ont *no;b+t th!r! as so(!bo#y!s! ho ha# to #isco"!r oi b!'or! anybo#y co+# (a*! an!ngin!.

F!s;that (a*!s a #i''!r!nc!. I (!an, it (!ans that *no!#g! is

a sort o' *nitt!# tog!th!r, or o"!n, i*! coth, an# !ach pi!c!o' *no!#g! is ony (!aning'+ or +s!'+ b!ca+s! o' th! oth!r

pi!c!s;an# . . .? ?o yo+ thin* ! o+ght to (!as+r! it by th! yar#D )o. I #ont.? +t thats ho ! b+y coth.

H:his (!taog+! is r!print!# by p!r(ission 'ro( =:C.A !"i! o' !n!ra&!(antics, Go. U, 1953. 91

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F!s. +t I #i#nt (!an that it is coth. ny its i*! it;an#c!rtainy o+# not b! 'at i*! coth;b+t in thr!! #i(!nsions;

p!rhaps 'o+r #i(!nsions.

? hat #o yo+ (!an, ?a##yD I r!ay #ont *no, (y #!ar. I as +st trying to thin*. I #ont thin* ! ar! #oing "!ry ! this (orning. &+ppos! !

start o+t on anoth!r tac*. hat ! ha"! to thin* abo+t is ho th!pi!c!s o' *no!#g! ar! o"!n tog!th!r. Eo th!y h!p !achoth!r.

? Eo #o th!yD !;its as i' so(!ti(!s to 'acts g!t a##!# tog!th!r an# a

yo+ ha"! is +st to 'acts. +t so(!ti(!s inst!a# o' +st a##ingth!y (+tipy;an# yo+ g!t 'o+r 'acts.

? Fo+ cannot (+tipy on! by on! an# g!t 'o+r. Fo+ *no yo+cant.

h.

* * * +t y!s I can, too. I' th! things to b! (+tipi!# ar! pi!c!s o'

*no!#g! or 'acts or so(!thing i*! that. !ca+s! !"!ry on! o'th!( is a #o+b! so(!thing.

? I #ont +n#!rstan#. !;at !ast a #o+b! so(!thing.? ?a##yO F!s;ta*! th! ga(! o' :!nty V+!stions. Fo+ thin* o'

so(!thing. &ay yo+ thin* o' to(orro. A right. )o I as* Isit abstractD an# yo+ say F!s.)o 'ro( yo+r y!s I ha"! got a#o+b! bit o' in'or(ation. I *no that it is abstract an# I *no

that it isnt concr!t!. r say it this ay;'ro( yo+r y!s I canha"! th! n+(b!r o' possibiiti!s o' hat th! thing can b!. An#thats a (+tipying by on! o"!r to.

? Isnt it a #i"isionD F!s;its th! sa(! thing. I (!an;a right;its a (+tipication

by .5. :h! i(portant thing is that its not +st a s+btraction or ana##ition.

? Eo #o yo+ *no it isntD

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Eo #o I *no itD;!, s+ppos! I as* anoth!r +!stion hichi ha"! th! possibiiti!s a(ong th! abstractions. An# th!nanoth!r. :hat i ha"! bro+ght #on th! tota possibiiti!s to an

!ighth o' hat th!y !r! at th! b!ginning. An# to ti(!s toti(!s to is !ight.? An# to an# to an# to is ony si-. :hats right.? +t, ?a##y, I #ont s!!;hat happ!ns ith :!nty V+!stionsD :h! point is that i' I pic* (y +!stions prop!ry I can #!ci#!

b!t!!n to ti(!s to ti(!s to ti(!s to t!nty ti(!s o"!rthings;220 things. :hats o"!r a (iion things that yo+ (ightha"! tho+ght o'. n! +!stion is !no+gh to #!ci#! b!t!!n tothingsL an# to +!stions i #!ci#! b!t!!n 'o+r things;an#so on.

? I #ont i*! arith(!tic, ?a##y. F!s, I *no. :h! or*ing it o+t is #+, b+t so(! o' th! i#!as in it

ar! a(+sing. Anyho, yo+ ant!# to *no ho to (!as+r!*no!#g!, an# i' yo+ start (!as+ring things that aays !a#s toarith(!tic.

? ! ha"!nt (!as+r!# any *no!#g! y!t.

)o. I *no. +t ! ha"! (a#! a st!p or to toar# *noingho ! o+# (!as+r! it i' ! ant!# to. An# that (!ans !ar! a itt! n!ar!r to *noing hat *no!#g! is.

? :hat o+# b! a '+nny sort o' *no!#g!, ?a##y. I (!an*noing abo+t *no!#g!;o+# ! (!as+r! that sort o'*noing th! sa(! ayD

ait a (in+t!;I #ont *no;thats r!ay th! W64 V+!stion onthis s+b!ct. !ca+s!;!, !ts go bac* to th! ga(! o' :!nty

V+!stions. :h! point that ! n!"!r (!ntion!# is that thos!+!stions ha"! to b! in a c!rtain or#!r. irst th! i#! g!n!ra+!stion an# th!n th! #!tai!# +!stion. An# its ony 'ro(ans!rs to th! i#! +!stions that I *no hich #!tai!#+!stions to as*. +t ! co+nt!# th!( a ai*!. I #ont *no. +tno yo+ as* (! i' *noing abo+t *no!#g! o+# b! (!as+r!#th! sa(! ay as oth!r *no!#g!. An# th! ans!r (+st s+r!y b!no. Fo+ s!!, i' th! !ary +!stions in th! ga(! t! (! hat

+!stions to as* at!r, th!n th!y (+st b! party +!stions abo+t*noing. :h!yr! !-poring th! b+sin!ss o' *noing.

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? ?a##y;has anybo#y !"!r (!as+r!# ho (+ch anybo#y *n!. h y!s. 't!n. +t I #ont +it! *no hat th! ans!rs (!ant.

:h!y #o it ith !-a(inations an# t!sts an# +i//!s, b+t it s i*!

trying to 'in# o+t ho big a pi!c! o' pap!r is by throing ston!sat it.? Eo #o yo+ (!anD I (!an;i' yo+ thro ston!s at to pi!c!s o' pap!r 'ro( th!

sa(! #istanc! an# yo+ 'in# that yo+ hit on! pi!c! (or! o't!nthan th! oth!r, th!n probaby th! on! that yo+ hit (ost i b!

bigg!r than th! oth!r. In th! sa(! ay, in an !-a(ination yo+thro a ot o' +!stions at th! st+#!nts, an# i' yo+ 'in# that yo+hit (or! pi!c!s o' *no!#g! in on! st+#!nt than in th! oth!rs,th!n yo+ thin* that st+#!nt (+st *no (or!. :hats th! i#!a.

? +t co+# on! (!as+r! a pi!c! o' pap!r that ayD &+r!y on! co+#. It (ight !"!n b! +it! a goo# ay o' #oing it.

! #o (!as+r! a ot o' things that ay. or !-a(p!, ! +#g!ho strong a c+p o' co''!! is by oo*ing to s!! ho bac* it is;that is, ! oo* to s!! ho (+ch ight is stopp!#. ! thro ighta"!s at it inst!a# o' ston!s, its th! sa(! i#!a.

? h.

* * *? +t th!n;hy sho+#nt ! (!as+r! *no!#g! that ayD EoD y +i//!sD )o;o# 'orbi#. :h! tro+b! is that that sort

o' (!as+ring !a"!s o+t yo+r point;that th!r! ar! #i''!r!nt sortso' *no!#g!;an# that th!r!s *noing abo+t *no!#g!. An#o+ght on! to gi"! high!r (ar*s to th! st+#!nt ho can ans!r th!i#!st +!stionD r p!rhaps th!r! sho+# b! a #i''!r!nt sort o'

(ar*s 'or !ach #i''!r!nt sort o' +!stion.? !, a right. @!ts #o that an# th!n a## th! (ar*s tog!th!r an#

th!n .. . )o;! co+#nt a## th!( tog!th!r. ! (ight (+tipy or #i"i#!

on! sort o' (ar*s by anoth!r sort b+t ! co+#nt a## th!(.? hy not, ?a##yD !ca+s!;b!ca+s! ! co+#nt. )o on#!r yo+ #ont i*!

arith(!tic i' th!y #ont t! yo+ that sort o' thing at schoo;hat

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#o th!y t! yo+D oy;I on#!r hat th! t!ach!rs thin*arith(!tic is abo+t.

? hat is it abo+t, ?a##yD

)o. @!ts stic* to th! +!stion o' ho to (!as+r! *no!#g!;Arith(!tic is a s!t o' tric*s 'or thin*ing c!ary an# th! ony '+nin it is +st its carity. An# th! 'irst thing abo+t b!ing c!ar is notto (i- +p i#!as hich ar! r!ay #i''!r!nt 'ro( !ach oth!r. :h!i#!a o' to orang!s is r!ay #i''!r!nt 'ro( th! i#!a o' to (i!s.!ca+s! i' yo+ a## th!( tog!th!r yo+ ony g!t 'og in yo+r h!a#.

? +t, ?a##y, I cant *!!p i#!as s!parat!. +ght I to #o thatD )o; )o; ' co+rs! not. Co(bin! th!(. +t #ont a## th!(.

:hats a. I (!an;i' th! i#!as ar! n+(b!rs an# yo+ ant toco(bin! to #i''!r!nt sorts, th! thing to #o is to (+tipy th!(

by !ach oth!r. r #i"i#! th!( by !ach oth!r. An# th!n yo+ g!tso(! n! sort o' i#!a, a n! sort o' +antity. I' yo+ ha"! (i!sin yo+r h!a#, an# yo+ ha"! ho+rs in yo+r h!a#, an# yo+ #i"i#!th! (i!s by th! ho+rs, yo+ g!t (i!s p!r ho+r;thats a sp!!#.

? F!s, ?a##y. hat o+# I g!t i' I (+tipi!# th!(D h;!r;I s+ppos! yo+# g!t (i!ho+rs. F!s. I *no hat th!y

ar!. I (!an, hat a (i!ho+r is. It s hat yo+ pay a ta-i #ri"!r.

Eis (!t!r (!as+r!s (i!s an# h! has a coc* hich (!as+r!sho+rs, an# th! (!t!r an# th! coc* or* tog!th!r an# (+tipyth! ho+rs by th! (i!s an# th!n it (+tipi!s th! (i!ho+rs byso(!thing !s! hich (a*!s (i!ho+rs into #oars.

? I #i# an !-p!ri(!nt onc!. F!sD? I ant!# to 'in# o+t i' I co+# thin* to tho+ghts at th! sa(!

ti(!. &o I tho+ght Its s+((!r an# I tho+ght Its int!r. An#

th!n I tri!# to thin* th! to tho+ghts tog!th!r. F!sD? +t I 'o+n# I asnt ha"ing to tho+ghts. I as ony ha"ing on!

tho+ght abo+t ha"ing to tho+ghts. &+r!, thats +st it. Fo+ cant (i- tho+ghts, yo+ can ony co(bin!

th!(. An# in th! !n#, that (!ans yo+ cant co+nt th!(. !ca+s!co+nting is r!ay ony a##ing things tog!th!r. An# yo+ (ostycant #o that.

? :h!n r!ay #o ! ony ha"! on! big tho+ght hich has otso' branch!s an# ots an# ots o' branch!sD

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F!s. I thin* so. I #ont *no. Anyho I thin* that is a c!ar!ray o' saying it. I (!an its c!ar!r

than ta*ing abo+t bits o' *no!#g! an# trying to co+nt th!(.

* * *? ?a##y, hy #ont yo+ +s! th! oth!r thr!!+art!rs o' yo+r brainD h, y!s;that;yo+ s!! th! tro+b! is that I ha# schoot!ach!rs

too. An# th!y 'i!# +p abo+t a +art!r o' (y brain ith 'og. An#th!n I r!a# n!spap!rs an# ist!n!# to hat oth!r p!op! sai#,an# that 'i!# +p anoth!r +art!r ith 'og.

? An# th! oth!r +art!r, ?a##yD

h;thats 'og that I (a#! 'or (ys!' h!n I as trying to thin*.

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Metaloue: Why Do Thin! ,a0eOutline!$%

?a+ght!r ?a##y, hy #o things ha"! o+tin!sDath!r ?o th!yD I #ont *no. hat sort o' things #o yo+ (!anD? I (!an h!n I #ra things, hy #o th!y ha"! o+tin!sD !,

hat abo+t oth!r sorts o' things;a 'oc* o' sh!!pD or acon"!rsationD ?o th!y ha"! o+tin!sD

? ?ont b! siy. I cant #ra a con"!rsation. I (!an things. F!s;I as trying to 'in# o+t +st hat yo+ (!ant. ?o yo+ (!an

hy #o ! gi"! things o+tin!s h!n ! #ra th!(D or #oyo+ (!an that th! things ha"! o+tin!s h!th!r ! #ra th!( ornotD

? I #ont *no, ?a##y. Fo+ t! (!. hich #o I (!anD I #ont *no, (y #!ar. :h!r! as a "!ry angry artist onc! ho

scribb!# a sorts o' things #on, an# a't!r h! as #!a# th!yoo*!# in his boo*s an# in on! pac! th!y 'o+n# h!# ritt!nis! (!n s!! o+tin!s an# th!r!'or! th!y #ra th!( b+t in

anoth!r pac! h!# ritt!n a# (!n s!! o+tin!s an# th!r!'or!th!y #ra th!(.

? +t hich #o!s h! (!anD I #ont +n#!rstan#. !, iia( a*!;that as his na(!;as a gr!at artist an# a

"!ry angry (an. An# so(!ti(!s h! ro!# +p his i#!as into itt!spitbas so that h! co+# thro th!( at p!op!.

? +t hat as h! (a# abo+t, ?a##yD +t hat as h! (a# abo+tD h, I s!!;yo+ (!an angry.!

ha"! to *!!p thos! to (!anings o' (a# c!ar i' ! ar! goingto ta* abo+t a*!. !ca+s! a ot o' p!op! tho+ght h! as (a#

;r!ay (a#;cra/y. An# that as on! o' th! things h! as(a#angry abo+t. An# th!n h! as (a#angry, too, abo+t so(!artists ho paint!# pict+r!s as tho+gh things #i#nt ha"! o+tin!s. E! ca!# th!( th! sobb!ring schoo.

? E! asnt "!ry to!rant, as h!, ?a##yD

H!print!# by p!r(ission 'ro( =:C. A !"i! o' !n!ra &!(antics, Go. UI,1953.

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:o!rantD h, o#. F!s, I *no;thats hat th!y #r+( intoyo+ at schoo. )o, a*! as not "!ry to!rant. E! #i#nt !"!nthin* to!ranc! as a goo# thing. It as +st (or! sobb!ring.

E! tho+ght it b+rr!# a th! o+tin!s an# (+##!# !"!rything;that it (a#! a cats gray. &o that nobo#y o+# b! ab! to s!!anything c!ary an# sharpy.

? F!s, ?a##y. )o, thats not th! ans!r. I (!an F!s, ?a##yis not th! ans!r.

A that says is that yo+ #ont *no hat yo+r opinion is;an#yo+ #ont gi"! a #a(n hat I say or hat a*! says an# thatth! schoo has so b!'+##!# yo+ ith ta* abo+t to!ranc! thatyo+ cannot t! th! #i''!r!nc! b!t!!n anything an# anything!s!.

? !!ps. h, o#. I( sorry, b+t I as angry. +t not r!ay angry ith

yo+. J+st angry at th! g!n!ra (+shin!ss o' ho p!op! act an#thin*;an# ho th!y pr!ach (+##! an# ca it to!ranc!.

? +t, ?a##y F!sD? I #ont *no. I #ont s!!( ab! to thin* "!ry !. Its a in a

(+##!. I( sorry. I s+ppos! I (+##!# yo+ by starting to !t o'' st!a(.

* * *? ?a##yD F!sD? hy is that so(!thing to g!t angry abo+tD Is hat so(!thing to g!t angry abo+tD

? I (!an;abo+t h!th!r things ha"! o+tin!s. Fo+ sai# iia(a*! got angry abo+t it. An# th!n yo+ g!t angry abo+t it. hyis that, ?a##yD

F!s, in a ay I thin* it is. I thin* it (att!rs. $!rhaps in a ay, isth! thing that (att!rs. An# oth!r things ony (att!r b!ca+s!th!y ar! part o' this.

? hat #o yo+ (!an, ?a##yD I (!an, !, !ts ta* abo+t to!ranc!. h!n !nti!s ant to

b+y J!s b!ca+s! th!y *i!# Christ, I g!t into!rant. I thin*

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th! !nti!s ar! b!ing (+##!h!a#!# an# ar! b+rring a th!o+tin!s. !ca+s! th! J!s #i#nt *i Christ, th! Itaians #i# it.

? ?i# th!y, ?a##yD

F!s, ony th! on!s ho #i# ar! ca!# o(ans to#ay, an# !ha"! anoth!r or# 'or th!ir #!sc!n#ants. ! ca th!( Itaians.Fo+ s!! th!r! ar! to (+##!s an# I as (a*ing th! s!con#(+##! on p+rpos! so ! co+# catch it. irst th!r!s th!(+##! o' g!tting th! history rong an# saying th! J!s #i# it,an# th!n th!r!s th! (+##! o' saying that th! #!sc!n#antssho+# b! r!sponsib! 'or hat th!ir anc!stors #i#nt #o. Its aso"!ny.

? F!s, ?a##y. A right, I try not to g!t angry again. A I( trying to say is

that (+##! is so(!thing to g!t angry abo+t. ? ?a##yD F!sD? ! !r! ta*ing abo+t (+##! th! oth!r #ay. Ar! ! r!ay

ta*ing abo+t th! sa(! thing noD F!s. ' co+rs! ! ar!. :hat s hy its i(portant;hat ! sai#

th! oth!r #ay.? An# yo+ sai# that g!tting things c!ar as hat &ci!nc! as

abo+t. F!s, thats th! sa(! thing again.

* * *? I #ont s!!( to +n#!rstan# it a "!ry !. ="!rything s!!(s to

b! !"!rything !s!, an# I g!t ost in it. F!s, I *no its #i''ic+t. :h! point is that o+r con"!rsations #o

ha"! an o+tin!, so(!ho;i' ony on! co+# s!! it c!ary.

* * * @!ts thin* abo+t a r!a concr!t! o+tan#o+t (+##!, 'or a

chang!, an# s!! i' that i h!p. ?o yo+ r!(!(b!r th! ga(! o'cro+!t in Aic! in on#!ran#D

? F!s;ith 'a(ingosD :hats right.

? An# porc+pin!s 'or basD

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)o, h!#g!hogs. :h!y !r! h!#g!hogs. :h!y #ont ha"!porc+pin!s in =ngan#.

? h. as it in =ngan#, ?a##yD I #i#nt *no.

' co+rs! it as in =ngan#. Fo+ #ont ha"! #+ch!ss!s inA(!rica !ith!r.? +t th!r!s th! ?+ch!ss o' in#sor, ?a##y. F!s, b+t sh! #o!snt ha"! +is, not i*! a r!a porc+pin!.? o on abo+t Aic! an# #ont b! siy, ?a##y. F!s, ! !r! ta*ing abo+t 'a(ingos. :h! point is that th! (an

ho rot! Aic! as thin*ing abo+t th! sa(! things that ! ar!.An# h! a(+s!# hi(s!' ith itt! Aic! by i(agining a ga(! o'cro+!t that o+# b! a (+##!, +st abso+t! (+##!. &o h!sai# th!y sho+# +s! 'a(ingos as (a!ts b!ca+s! th! 'a(ingoso+# b!n# th!ir n!c*s so th! pay!r o+#nt *no !"!nh!th!r his (a!t o+# hit th! ba or ho it o+# hit th! ba.

? Anyho th! ba (ight a* aay o' its on accor# b!ca+s! itas a h!#g!hog.

:hats right. &o that its a so (+##!# that nobo#y can t! at ahats going to happ!n.

? An# th! hoops a*!# aro+n#, too, b!ca+s! th!y !r! so#i!rs.

:hats right;!"!rything co+# (o"! an# nobo#y co+# t! ho ito+# (o"!.

? ?i# !"!rything ha"! to b! ai"! so as to (a*! a co(p!t!(+##!D

)o;h! co+# ha"! (a#! it a (+##! by . . . no, I s+ppos! yo+r!right. :hats int!r!sting. F!s, it ha# to b! that ay. ait a (in+t!.Its c+rio+s b+t yo+r! right. !ca+s! i' h!# (+##!# things anyoth!r ay, th! pay!rs co+# ha"! !arn!# ho to #!a ith th!

(+##ing #!tais. I (!an, s+ppos! th! cro+!t an as b+(py,or th! bas !r! a '+nny shap!, or th! h!a#s o' th! (a!ts +stobby inst!a# o' b!ing ai"!, th!n th! p!op! co+# sti !arnan# th! ga(! o+# ony b! (or! #i''ic+t;it o+#nt b!i(possib!. +t onc! yo+ bring i"! things into it, it b!co(!si(possib!. I o+#nt ha"! !-p!ct!# that.

? o+#nt yo+, ?a##yD I o+# ha"!. :hat s!!(s nat+ra to (!. )at+raD &+r!;nat+ra !no+gh. +t I o+# not ha"! !-p!ct!#

it to or* that ay.? hy notD :hats hat I o+# ha"! !-p!ct!#.

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F!s. +t this is th! thing that I o+# not ha"! !-p!ct!#. :hatani(as, hich ar! th!(s!"!s ab! to s!! things ah!a# an# acton hat th!y thin* is going to happ!n;a cat can catch a (o+s!

by +(ping to an# h!r! th! (o+s! i probaby b! h!n sh!has co(p!t!# h!r +(p;b+t its +st th! 'act that ani(as ar!capab! o' s!!ing ah!a# an# !arning that (a*!s th!( th! onyr!ay +npr!#ictab! things in th! or#. :o thin* that ! try to(a*! as as tho+gh p!op! !r! +it! r!g+ar an# pr!#ictab!.

? r #o th!y (a*! th! as +st b!ca+s! p!op! ar! notpr!#ictab!, an# th! p!op! ho (a*! th! as ish th! oth!rp!op! !r! pr!#ictab!D

F!s, I s+ppos! so.

* * *? hat !r! ! ta*ing abo+tD I #ont +it! *no;not y!t. +t yo+ start!# a n! in! by as*ing

i' th! ga(! o' cro+!t co+# b! (a#! into a r!a (+##! ony byha"ing a th! things in it ai"!. An# I !nt chasing a't!r that+!stion, an# I #ont thin* I"! ca+ght +p ith it y!t. :h!r! isso(!thing '+nny abo+t that point.

? hatD I #ont +it! *no;not y!t. &o(!thing

bateson - steps to an ecology of mind

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