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%DICHOTOMY CLASSIFICATION DIFFERENCE GOOD EVIL DUAL 890707

     In  trying  to  deal with the  differences  which  we
encounter in everyday life we often fall into the trap  of
making   excessive   use   of   dichotomous   systems   of
classification.   Often it is misleading to try to  divide
things,   relationships,   and other  realities  into  two
mutually exclusive classes.

     At  first it might seem that all numbers  are  either
even  or odd in character;  until you encounter fractions.
Then  it  might  seem that all numbers  are  either  whole
numbers  or  fractions;   until you  encounter  irrational
numbers  which cannot be expressed as fractions.  Then  it
might  seem  that all numbers are rational or  irrational;
until  you encounter complex numbers which are the sum  of
rational and irrational parts.

     Systems of classification which presume to divide the
whole  domain of classification into just two classes  end
up basing decisions upon a single criteria.  What is to be
done if two different criteria give contradictory messages
as to how the distinction is to be made?

     Dichotomous classifications systems are simplistic in
character.   In such a system there is a tendency to  view
the  members  of  the  two classes as  having  nothing  in
common,   even  though  it  is  always  possible  to  find
something  in  common  between  the  members  of  the  two
classes.

     It  appeared  that elementary constituents of  nature
such  as  electrons and radiation had nothing  in  common,
except perhaps energy;  until it was discovered that waves
have  particulate characteristics and particles have  wave
characteristics,    and  both  have  linear  and   angular
momentum.

     In most situations of human conflict it is common for
members  of the opposing teams in the conflict to heighten
their awareness of those things which divide them,  and to
forget  those  things  which they  have  in  common.   The
relationship  between  the  participants  degenerate  into
statements   about   us/them,    either/or,     good/evil,
acceptable/rejectable,  saveable/waste-able, heaven/ hell,
spare/kill.

     Systems    of   mutually   exclusive   classification
procedures  inevitably  lead  to relationships  of  mutual
alienation;  unless there are integrative principles which
are valued more highly than are the elements of the system
of   dichotomous   classification.   In  the  absence   of
integrative  ultimate  values  there  is  a  tendency  for
disintegration to be the dominant pattern. It pays to look
for  ultimate values which are integrative in  ways  which
compensate for our dichotomous tendencies.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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