Template:Form and substance capsule: Difference between revisions

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→‎Form versus substance in a nutshell

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 ====Form versus substance in a nutshell====
-[[Form]] is the [[Map|map]]: simplified, rationalised, modularised: it establishes through followable rules, a safe passage through the incomprehensible thickness of the jungle. It tries to reduce ''[[complexity]]'' — scary, unmanageable, non-linear — to mere ''[[Complicated system|complication]]'' — fiddly, but tamable by punctilious attention to the ''detail'' — by prescribing fixed rules and procedures — [[process]] — which maybe followed even by those with no particular experience or expertise of the [[territory]], as long as they can ''read'' and are generally disposed to quickly and quietly ''doing what they are told''. The only judgment made of one in a formal system is, ''did you faithfully follow the rules?''
+[[Form]] is the [[Map|map]]: simplified, rationalised, modularised: it establishes through followable rules, a safe passage through the incomprehensible thickness of the jungle. It tries to reduce ''[[complexity]]'' — scary, unmanageable, [[non-linear]] — to mere ''[[Complicated system|complication]]'' — fiddly, but tamable by punctilious attention to ''detail'' — by prescribing fixed rules and procedures — [[process]] — which maybe followed even by those with no particular experience or expertise of the [[territory]], as long as they can ''read'' and are generally disposed to quickly and quietly ''doing what they are told''. The only judgment made of one in a formal system is, ''did you faithfully follow the rules?''
 [[Substance and form|Substance]] is the [[Territory|territory]]: the fractal, inchoate, indeterminate, dancing, organic mass of messiness in which we are consigned to play our mortal games. Without a map, there is only one way to navigate the territory: by ''knowing'' it. Knowledge is an investment of time, patience, energy and skill. A map is a proxy, not a substitute for knowledge: one who knows the territory — an ''[[Subject matter expert|expert]]'' — will bridle upon being told to use a map. Would you use a map to navigate from the station to your own home?