HackMD - Collaborative Markdown Knowledge Base

##### PROPOSITION TITLE: <h1 style="text-align: center;">The 'Proposition' approach <img src="https://i.imgur.com/4hfXWEs.jpg" alt="proposition image" /> </h1> *This proposition may be a contributor to / operate in the context of the overall project - [Group Empowering Social Tech (GEST)](/@dilgreen/r1m0-tM4D).* e e e ## Deep proposals in complex domains are best presented as linked simple propositions, rather than one big 'story'. If we wish to present a novel idea that has many facets, and operates in a domain that is as complex as the relation between human society and technology, we will inevitably need to develop a wide range of sub-propositions. If these are presented as one linked 'story', several problems arise: 1. A reader who finds one of these linked propositions weak will be inclined to believe that this undermines the whole idea. 2. Since the domain is complex, a 'linear' story will not easily communicate the analysis or the proposition - the form of communication will be at odds with the idea we are attempting to describe. 3. It is easy to tell a story that is apparently coherent, but which contains hidden assumptions that have not been the subject of proper analysis. Another version of this issue is the feeling a reader can have of 'cognitive entrapment' - "*We've shown how 'A' results in'B', and then 'C' and ... yada yada ... therefore 'Z' **is** the answer!*" An approach which breaks the domain down into cognisable probopositions (aka hypotheses), and shows how these may be linked together into a coherent 'graph' is harder work - both to develop and to read - but has these advantages: 1. It encourages and captures analysis of many features of the domain, at a variety of scopes/scales. 2. It allows a multiplicity of possible combinations and relationships between propositions to be explored. 3. It allows for propositions to be independently revised and improved. 4. It makes for simpler problem solving, as the domain is analysed as a series of sub domains - each of which can, if necessary, be further analysed to develop sub-propositions. ##### Therefore: ## Develop and document our proposition as a 'graph' of linked propositions, each of which is realtively straightforward to describe, analyse and make a proposition around. This Proposition is presented in a format which encourages clear statement of the intent of the proposition, clarity about the problem, documentation of problem analysis and supporting arguments , and a clearand practical statement of the working proposition itself. Further, the format encourages identification of propositions of wider and narrower scope which are related. The propositions are documented in simple markdown/html text files which can become linked web pages relatively easily (this point will become a separate proposition probably) e e e *This proposition may be reinforced / be the context for <<names of propositions with wider scope - linked>>, optionally with brief reasoning / commentary.*