Solid vs. Fluid Methodological Systems

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There is a major difference between solid and fluid methodological systems, or in other words, concrete and abstract methodological systems.

A solid or concrete system is something in which the scientific method heavily applies, something that is meant to work in a specific way as observable by our five senses, and will yield a specific result with extreme levels of accuracy as it was intended each time. Much of practical actions or systems, such as physics, construction, manufacturing, trades, lumber, water collection, anything that has to do with molding physical reality, is dependent on principles tied to a solid system, where the nature is unchanging based on our need for the nature to be unchanging based on the ultimate goals. It wouldn’t make sense if a house suddenly turned into dust, for example, once we finished building it, by itself. It would be an anomalous event based on our expectations. It would however be almost guaranteed the house would be destroyed, if we used explosives to blow it to smithereens. It would be no guarantee it would turn to dry dust right away though. That would require some sort of de-atomizer designed with the specific purpose of turning that which is solid into fine dust.

A fluid or abstract system, is something that will attempt to yield the same results each time, but is so flexible in it’s nature that certain actions can completely circumvent it’s intended results. The way governments function, much of social interactions, thoughts, human psychology and so fourth, is dependent on the interactions between chaotic systems influenced by too many factors to stay stable for prolonged periods of time. A weapon only works to deter violence if the other person has no weapon, if the other person is aware of the consequences of being hit by this weapon, or if they have felt the weapon’s effects before, such as waving a fire torch to keep away certain animals such as wolf packs.

Both systems have one thing in common despite their functioning being different anatomically and for different reasons – they are dictated by our observation of certain cause and effect relationships in addition to the assumption of fact. If reality was different every passing day then methodological design itself would have to take a very different approach yet again.