Today I want to introduce you into the topic of decontextualisation.


Decontextualisation means, that something that is in a very close connection to something other, is moved into a more remote position. This seems to me a basic quality in evolution, as well in Darwinian (genetic) evolution as in Lamarckian (memetic) evolution. It's very interesting to watch the self-amplifying 'supernova' of decontextualisation in modern world.

Decontextualisation could be described in rows of adventitious properties.

A simple example:

spear:

• separation from the human body (tooth is firmly connected with the body)
• ballistic flight (distance to prey is given, improving acess and self protection)
• penetrating power  (compared with the penatrating power of a human tooth)

bow and arrow:

• the human arm is no more the direct source of tension energy -> bow
• the projectile is gaining more energy
• the distance to prey is amplified

crossbow:

Try to find out, what the additional features of a crossbow are!

.....

These rows  are ubiquitous

eg.:

feather

pen

typewriter

text processing and printer

Try to find such rows!