February 11, 1995: "The Nature of Notational Engineering." Presented at the Third Interdisciplinary Conference on General Evolutionary Systems, sponsored by the Washington Evolutionary Systems Society.
Cover Page Uploaded June 22, 2011 The Nature of Notational Engineering Author: Jeffrey G. Long ([email protected]) Date: February 11, 1995 Forum: Talk presented at the 3 rd Interdisciplinary Conference on Evolutionary Systems, sponsored by the Washington Evolutionary Systems Society. Contents Page 1: Proposal Pages 2‐16: Slides intermixed with text for presentation License This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
Forum: Talk presented at the 3rd Interdisciplinary Conference on Evolutionary Systems, sponsored by the Washington Evolutionary Systems Society.
Contents
Page 1: Proposal
Pages 2‐16: Slides intermixed with text for presentation
License
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial
3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative
Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
Abstract of proposed talk for the
3rd Interdisciplinary Conference on Envolutionary Systems Washington Evolutionary Systems Society
February 11, 1995
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Many of us take our notational systems for granted, so much so that indeed a discussion of them may seem boring. But writing, mathematical notation, musical notation, chemical notation, dance notation, etc., were not always around. They were invented. Like any other technology, they evolved through use. And like any other technology, each has its own distinct limits. Once we cross these limits, our notations fail us and we are perplexed. We call "complex" any situation that takes us across this "complexity barrier". As our notations improve, however ‐‐ as we invent the infinitessimal calculus, or the staff musical notation, or fractal geometry ‐‐ we push out this complexity barrier and can understand the world, and express ourselves creatively and artistically, in wholly new ways. The goal of notational engineering is to systematically create new and more powerful notational systems. This discussion will be an introduction to the sciences of representation, the comparative study of the taxonomies, foundations and characteristics of various formal symbol systems that are essential to our ability to conceptualize. The talk will compare and contrast this study with semiotics and formal systems theory in logic.
Jeff Long 133‐1/2 11th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003
The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus,
or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination;
or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions;
all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.
(from Engineers Council for Professional Development)
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 3 of 16
Definition of Engineering
The invention and full expression of an ontological invention;
i.e. an abstraction that has been minutely analyzed, whose minute parts have been individually tokenized, and whose rules of behavior have been documented.
Source of Authority Author, Government, Profession...
Feature Main Options
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 12 of 16
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."1 Restating this in notational terms, we might say:
First, that all abstract thinking is dependent upon the existence or invention of notational systems. Second, that the underlying ontological inventions of the notational systems one habitually uses influences the manner in which one understands his environment. Acquiring literacy in a major notation causes us to add a new dimension to our picture of the universe.
1 -- John B. Carroll (Editor), Language, Thought, & Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Cambridge MA: The M.I.T. Press, 1956. Page vi
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 13 of 16
What metrics and tests should we use to measure effectiveness?
What metrics can we use to measure efficiency?
What are the human factors considerations?
What new media could be utilized?
What minimum benefit/cost ratio must a new notational system offer?
What can we do to minimize notational inflation?
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 14 of 16
Engineering Issues in Notational Engineering
What are notational systems?
How do notational systems evolve?
Why does society accept new systems so slowly?
What is the cognitive effect of acquiring literacy in a given notation?
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 15 of 16
Can there be a "periodic table of abstractions"?
Can we systematically create new notational systems?
What does a new notational system tell is (if anything) about reality?
Foundational Issues in Notational Engineering
Notational systems historically have taken centuries or millennia to develop, and then additional centuries to be generally accepted. The objective of notational engineering is to speed up this process by systematizing it.
Jeffrey G. Long [2/11/1995]
The Nature of Notational Engineering
Page 16 of 16
To forward this effort I have started a research center and clearinghouse for people interested in all aspects of notational systems. It is called the Notational Engineering Laboratory (NEL), and is located at George Washington University. We have a biweekly series of lunchtime seminars, to which the public is invited. NEL has a World Wide Web site that can be accessed through the Internet at:
http://www.seas.gwu.edu/seas/institutes/nel
To get on the e‐mail list for NEL announcements, contact me at:
