What Bigger Concepts Can We Understand Through Metaphors?

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The discussion explores the metaphor of progression from smaller components to larger constructs, represented as Line->Paragraph->Book->Bookshelf->Library. Participants are encouraged to apply this metaphor to various concepts. One contributor presents two chains: the first relates dimensions, suggesting a progression from 1D to 5D, where each dimension represents increasing complexity and interaction with the environment. The second chain focuses on the process of understanding, starting from visual perception to measurement, observed results, and derived results, leading to potential applications. The conversation invites further exploration of meaningful chains that can be derived from the initial metaphor, emphasizing the importance of building complexity from simple elements.
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This idea is based on the metaphor:

Line->Paragraph->Book->Bookshelf->Library

It is an idea that several small things make up something bigger. From just the metaphor above what could it be used to represent. For me I have:

(1) 1D->2D->3D->4D->5D?

(2) Visual->measurement->observed results->derived results->?

For (1), 1D is something that can be seen, 2D is something that can be shaped, 3D is something that can be shaped and felt, 4D is something that that can be shaped, felt, and moved. Not sure what 5D can represent (any ideas?).

For (2), Visual is something we can see, feel, or touch, Measurement allows us to define an object more clearly, observed results is a collection of measurements, and derived results is what one can derive from a collection of observed results. The next one can be applications (or it could be something else entirely).

The above is just a chain that advanced toward a bigger picture or idea from the metaphor mentioned above. What other (meaningful) chain can you think of?
 
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