Dimensional thinkers
Chapter 1 - Worldview
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Welcome to the Dimensional thinkers page
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- Dimensions are guiding metaphors for the complex reality that we are and our context is. They structure the totality of our world of experiences
Direction provides the 'expansiveness' of your world model
Hidden layers are fields created by the 'action' and 'evaluation' dimension
On top, all layers together create the third 'potential' dimension
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Dimensional thinkers
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Max Boisot - Information Space
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| 1-Why | 2-How | 3-What | |
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| Interests | Values | Goals | |
| Active dimension | Evaluative dimension | Potential dimension | |
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| Abstraction | Codification | Diffusion | |
| Definitions | Abstraction is the degree to which knowledge has been stripped of concrete, context‑specificdetails and reduced to general, salient characteristics that apply across many situations | Codification is the degree to which knowledge has been structured, formalised and expressed in a symbolic form (a “code”) so that it can be stored, transmitted and processed independently of the original experience | Diffusion is the degree to which a given piece of information or knowledge is shared across a population of agents - how widely and easily it has spread from its point of origin |
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The ‘dimensional’ approach to the classification of types of knowledge is a very useful way of looking at capabilities development and value creation. For example, we can see that for a given capability we are likely to be interested in all three dimensions.
- By abstracting knowledge, the potential for applying the capability into new areas is enhanced.
- By codifying knowledge defining a capability, it increases the potential for diffusing the capability to others.
- Finally, the degree of diffusion will define the potential for gaining value.
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| Content Source |
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| Open University |
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Hannah Arendt - Acting
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| 1-Why | 2-How | 3-What | |
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| Interests | Values | Goals | |
| Active dimension | Evaluative dimension | Potential dimension | |
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| Labour | Work | Action | |
| Definitions | Labour is judged by its ability to sustain human life, to cater to our biological needs of consumption and reproduction | Work is judged by its ability to build and maintain a world fit for human use | Action is judged by its ability to disclose the identity of the agent, to affirm the reality of the world, and to actualize our capacity for freedom |
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Although Arendt considers the three activities of labour, work and action equally necessary to a complete human life, in the sense that each contributes in its distinctive way to the realization of our human capacities, it is clear from her writings that she takes action to be the differentia specifica of human beings, that which distinguishes them from both the life of animals (who are similar to us insofar as they need to labor to sustain and reproduce themselves) and the life of the gods (with whom we share, intermittently, the activity of contemplation). In this respect the categories of labour and work, while significant in themselves, must be seen as counterpoints to the category of action, helping to differentiate and highlight the place of action within the order of the vita activa.
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| Content Source |
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| Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Lemma: Hannah Arendt |
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Hannah Arendt - The life of the mind
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| 1-Why | 2-How | 3-What | |
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| Interests | Values | Goals | |
| Active dimension | Evaluative dimension | Potential dimension | |
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| Willing | Judging | Thinking | |
| Definitions | The freedom to choose between two or more possibilities and to realize or actualize one of those possibilities | Whoever judges takes responsibility for the world | Thinking is dialogue, the active investigation and articulation of meaning and purpose. Not the thirst for knowledge, but the question of meaning drives thinking activity. Thinking withdraws itself from utility and resides in the domain of purpose and meaning |
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| Content Source |
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| Het leven van de Geest - Ten Have - 2025 |
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Jay Van Bavel - Judgement
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| 1-Why | 2-How | 3-What | |
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| Interests | Values | Goals | |
| Active dimension | Evaluative dimension | Potential dimension | |
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| Decision making | Hedonic | Moral | Pragmatic |
| Definitions | Hedonic decisions focussing on pleasure | Based on what’s right or wrong, and rooted in social norms and values, judgment is likely to become loaded with emotion and feels more extreme | Pragmatic weights the practical costs and benefits |
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Every day, each of us makes countless evaluations. Whether you rely more on a pragmatic, moral or hedonic perspective to evaluate an object or action depends on multiple considerations, including your goals and the social context. The way you look at a problem might change based on how you feel at that moment, or whether you are alone or accompanied by a friend. And this can fundamentally change how you judge the goodness of something. The decision about where to buy a coffee can be based on hedonic ones (eg, which café has the most delicious coffee?), moral ones (eg, is the café ethical in the way they treat their staff ?) or pragmatic considerations (eg, which café has the cheapest prices?).
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| Content Source |
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| Clara Pretus & Jay Van Bavel |
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