Discussion
Once
loaded, activating links in the left frame will displace this Discussion. However, it can always be retrieved from
the Unified Schematic (scene in the left frame) by clicking on the red “D” in
the lower, right-hand corner (inside small white border). The most obvious way
to learn to use the Unified Schematic would be to just jump in. Run the cursor
over text shapes, if they turn blue, they are clickable. Otherwise, read the Instructions. You may also want to look at this map for many of the more interesting VRML
scenes
This web site is devoted to the
presentation of a patent-pending (PCT/US2008/010190)[1], science-related reference tool, one that takes the form of
a graphics-based summation of concepts. The primary feature of the site is the
scene in the frame to the left. This is, in essence, a three-dimensional graph,
one that plots the standard schematics for the phenomena studied in the various
intellectual disciplines. The rational for this graph is necessarily
complicated, detailed and lengthy. It is also something that requires a
refereed publication. This is in preparation. Meanwhile, this expanded abstract
is provided. A working draft of the detailed explanation can be made available
on a selective basis. Prefatory note:
terms in brackets, e.g., [The Atom (LF) 
H (RF)], indicate
link-paths starting from the left frame. “LF” refers to the left frame, and
“RF” refers to the larger of the right frames. (In this example, “H” refers to
hydrogen in the Periodic Table.)
For virtually every category of phenomena, science provides some standard schematic (e.g., the cross-section of the earth). The most notable exception concerns the cosmos as a whole. This web site is devoted to the presentation of such a holistic schematic. This is produced by plotting the standard schematics for constituent phenomena within a three-dimensional coordinate system. In this context, the term “cosmos” is given a very broad interpretation; as would be indicated by the range of scientific disciplines, it includes time, space, particle phenomena (e.g., atoms, planets), life and civilization.[2]
Alternatively, this schematic for the cosmos can be characterized as a Unified Schematic. More generally, the project is concerned with the development of an interactive unification of schematics, graphs, formulae, tables and other concept presentations. The result is a 3D, scientific, graphical user interface, one that is intended, over time, to map all knowledge. This project is likely to be developed along the lines of Wikipedia. It will be for scientific visualization, an equivalent of the genome project.
At this time, concepts from different disciplines are largely consistent with one another, but they are conceived of in a disjointed fashion (with an inevitably consequent confusion). A thematically consistent, systematic presentation of concepts would facilitate comprehension, retention, synthesis, reference, review and analysis. Furthermore, the project is having the effect of highlighting gaps and inconsistencies in knowledge. It is also having the apparent effect of identifying patterns among concept presentations within and across disciplines. Such patterns would reflect laws relating to knowledge, i.e., the subject matter of epistemology. Most importantly, then, the project may provide an impetus for the transition to scientific epistemology; just as the other sciences have come out of philosophy, so epistemology may now be emerging. This possibility has been of increasing concern in philosophy and information science (e.g., Feldman, 2001; Zins, 2006 & 2007).
By way of providing an overall perspective for the effort, we can start with a brief description of this Unified Schematic. First, we set up a three-dimensional coordinate system, with time along the vertical axis and space (radius) along the other two. This is the frame-like structure, a cube drawn according to certain idealized specifications. At the lowest point in this coordinate system, we plot the standard schematic for the gravitational field, the embedding diagram.[3] Above this, we plot the disc-like schematics for particle phenomena. Above these, we plot a three-dimensional version of the primary schematic for biology, the phylogenetic tree or cladogram.[4] Within the tree, and starting at a still higher level, we plot a proposed schematic for civilization[5] (there being no standard at this time). Also within the tree, we plot various other, typically disc-like schematics for other life- and civil-science phenomena, e.g., a schematic for the typical ecosystem.[6] Positions along the time line are according to event times for fully formed phenomena (e.g., about 300 years ago for science - the development of the scientific method - rather than, say, 3000 years ago - the first use of mathematics in natural philosophy). The scale for the temporal axis is a modification of the logarithmic scale used in astrophysics. Neglecting the derivation, this is
where N is event number (position in the formation sequence for phenomena) and T is the logarithm of event time in years since the big bang. (The purely logarithmic scale is unworkable when life and civil science events are included with physical science events along the same timeline.)
Additionally, various standard tables and graphs are found to fit well as panels to the coordinate system, e.g., the geologic time scale (left side panel).[7] Text shapes at the corners, e.g. [Time log (yr since)], are labels for the axes. They also serve as hyperlinks that call the associated panels.
Each of the interior shapes (e.g., the schematics for the Earth) is labeled along the right side (e.g., “Ellipsoids”). These terms are also hyperlinks that call classification tables to the right HTML frame. Clicking on [The Atom], for example, will load a new form of the Periodic Table. This Table, in turn, is interactive. Hyperlinks therein act back on the left frame, calling schematics for atoms from the Unified Schematic.
Along the left side of the Unified Schematic, we find a list of the primary disciplines that correspond to the phenomena itemized on the right. These terms load lists of subdisciplines to the right frame. Terms in these lists, in turn, will eventually be developed such as to act as hyperlinks to load lists of topics for each subdiscipline to the right frame. These topics will then be broken down into concepts in as concise and systematic a fashion as possible, e.g., lists of formulae for physics topics. Examples, derivations and explanations will be provided, via hyperlinks, as supplemental material. Meanwhile, the list of subdisciplines acts as links to Wikipedia articles. The lists of disciplines, subdisciplines, topics and concepts will eventually be developed as concept maps. These would be much more informative than the standard table of contents. Concept maps can show relations in two or three dimensions; the standard table of contents is strictly one-dimensional.[8]
The Schematic at present is necessarily a bare-bones draft; we need some illustration of its potential to accommodate detail. The hydrogen atom has been chosen for this purpose. Clicking on [The Atom] will load the Stowe Periodic Table to the right frame. Clicking on the symbol for hydrogen, [H], therein will bring up the cross-section for the ground state in the left frame. It will also load the corresponding energy level diagram to the right frame, along with a data table to the small, lower, right side frame. Links in the energy level diagram (e.g., [2p]) will provide access to fine structure and at that level, there are links for corresponding orbitals (schematics for excited states, e.g., [m = 0]). There are also links for formulary and nomenclature. This is a fairly comprehensive treatment of hydrogen-related concepts. At some point in the future, explanatory comments will be included. The Schematic, then, will accommodate details.
A fully detailed Schematic would constitute a graphical summation of all knowledge. This project, then, is to scientific visualization what the genome project is to genetics. It will require a team effort, substantial funding and at least several years of effort to produce a passable map of knowledge in its current state. (Otherwise, the project will never be truly finished; as long as anyone is still doing science, revisions will be necessary.) The current draft, then, is a first approximation, very much a work in progress. It is intended to serve simply as the illustration of a potential. Some schematics are cartoon-like. Others are grievously superficial. Most are simply missing. Otherwise, the reader should expect to find errors. Any project of this complexity will inevitably raise many issues. Most importantly, these would concern questions relating to the major categories of phenomena. Related publications will address these issues.
References
Feldman, R. (2006). Naturalized Epistemology. In E.N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2006 Edition). http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2006/entries/epistemology-naturalized/
Zins, C. (2006). Conceptions of information
science. Journal of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology, 58, 335-350.
Zins, C. (2007). Conceptual approaches for defining data,
information, and knowledge. Journal of the American Society for
Information Science and Technology, 58, 479-493.
