Note 136

Competition is mimetic. Units compete for dominance over groups; groups compete for mimetic dominance. Institutions exist to establish, concretize memes into standards, within a context of existing standards.

Power as such in relation to power as an instrument of mimetic competition is as short run to a long run phenomenon.

Note 135

In any complex system, it is not one factor, but a set of factors, that drive a change in question. However, the set of factors that can drive change depend on the interrelationship between that set of factors and other factor conditions, or, an existing systemic state, making changes path-dependent in actual situations. It is assumed constances in those relations that allow for theory.

Note 134

Things belong to a cause-values-identity nexus.

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The notion of the properties and object of the self is built on the usefulness of the combination of psychological features and the social structures (profiling, incentives and restrictions) that accompany these features.

Note 133

Space and time are just languages for interpreting signals, that is, a form of sensory grammar.

Culture

Culture as framing of natural problems as social problems.

Social values as a necessary condition of doing so - and culture as a seat of contention of values as social values.

Teleology as prioritization of values and culture as contest - every gesture is an expression of contention. So every non-significant gesture renders the culture sterile.

Political Pragmatism as Philosophy

Political pragmatism as philosophy calls for the flourishing of the greatest number of individuals in the context of the value structure of that society- made in recognition of facts of society- and is neutral about systems of governance.

It distinguishes between value structure and power structure of a society- pragmatism is conservatism about value structure not power structure.