From a broader perspective, one might observe a world of an expanding field of ever narrower ‘expertises’ each with an individual perspective fundamentally focussed upon the specific detail within that field, rather than upon fundamentals that may underpin the reality of our endeavors and from which, specific detail is derived. This site aims to shift that focus back to the basics, inspired by:

“If I were an alien visiting earth (and my wife sometime thinks I am) I would marvel at the time spent on the trivial and the lack of attention to the fundamentals”. – Stephen Hawking

This site aims to shift that focus back to the basics and is in three sections:

1. Articles on exploration of the proposal.
2. Articles on possible exploitation of the proposal.
3. A section for comment and discussion, hopefully leading to the development of further articles. Please note that drafts of articles will initially be placed here, so that discussion may aid refinement.

Although the initial articles are mine, I hope that I will merely become ‘another’ contributor to the dialogue.

‘So – ‘Fundamentally’:

When we are dealing with detail, we are encouraged and supported by ‘theories’ and tend, perhaps too often to regard corroboration as adequate.

When we are dealing with a ‘fundamental’, it is merely a proposition. We need a shift of ‘mind-set’.

If ‘fundamental’, it may be widely recognised. Surely the test for anything being ‘fundamental’, is to propose that it is not so – if you can manage without it, it fails the test and is, therefore, not truly ‘fundamental’. If you cannot prove redundancy, then the proposition is more robust and you can take the risk of exploiting it with slightly increased confidence – awaiting the next challenge. It is still only a proposition.

This website attempts to offer a basic but valid, model, of human activity, that uses the fewest, most fundamental and simplest perspectives, without any one of which, that model would become invalid.

The modelling starts with the assumption that our activity is ‘purposeful’ and that the most appropriate purpose, most effectively executed, is the ‘wisest’ course.

Thus ‘purpose’ is seen as the first and overarching perspective, guided by ‘wisdom’.

Whilst no discreet components of ‘wisdom’ have, yet, been justified, adopting four further (interacting) perspectives seems necessary (and adequate) for its evaluation.

The ability to exploit each perspectives potential, leads to four skills, without any one of which ‘purpose’ cannot be served and (if this is so) around which, all human activity are comprised and solely dependent.

The labels chosen for these perspectives and skills are:

• ‘Belief’ From the domain of certainty and confidence – Leading to ‘Believing’
• ‘Curiosity’ From the domain of uncertainty – Leading to ‘Thinking’
• ‘Concentration’ From the domain of confusion – Leading to ‘Concentrating’
• ‘Timeliness’ From the domain of correlation and relevance – Leading to ‘Timeliness’

Finally, since as individuals, we coexist with others in ‘societies’. Thus any, valid, model should withstand observation from both ‘personal’ and ‘societal’ perspectives.

As our actions affect (are designed to affect) others, each perspective may (should?) apply both to an individual and the society in which they operate.

Fortunately, the proposal is somewhat simplified since societies have fewer degrees of freedom than their individual members, which somewhat reduces the potential complexity.

• This, proposed, model has been tested by 100 or so, people over several years of evolution.
• It is still (and should remain) presumed inadequate.

• All articles are offered only as proposals and are subject to constant revision.
• This process is dependent upon constant critique.

• Which is warmly welcomed.
• As are discussions and contributions furthering development.

The object of the exercise is to explore and exploit the basic modelling, hopefully, in line with Colin Chapman’s aim of “adding lightness and simplicating”

This project has been largely dormant for nearly 25 years. It seemed then to offer benefit to those who engaged with it. Today’s context is significantly different. Detail information is available at a keystroke. Encouraging, a more fundamental (and purpose-centered) perspective to emerge.

Development of the Model

At the point of launching this site, though I am the teller of this story and its development and though the story is part of my life, it is not solely mine. I hope that my recounting highlights the contribution and influence of others.

I hope that the website encourages you also to contribute and that the story, as it develops further, becomes more widely recounted, as that is its sole objective.

Foundations

My journey began in the technical fields of chemistry and electronics, where I found practical application and problem-solving paramount. Having little ability to remember detail and encouraged by mentors to question everything, I developed a core approach based on understanding rather than rote memorization.

Shift to Personal Development

A pivotal and catastrophically liberating moment, came with a misinterpreting a quote from Karl Popper in the early ’70s, which shifted my focus from ‘perfection’ and towards embracing ‘good-enough’ solutions. This epiphany led me to explore hypnotherapy and solution-centered approaches, focusing on practical applications and human-centric designs of technology.

Collaborative Model Development

Seeking commonality in aspects of ‘alternative’ practices, In partnership with a psychologist friend, we sketched the initial ‘Woodrow-Collins’ model, aiming to simplify complex human functions into the fewest manageable skills into a crude but valid base model. This collaboration was crucial, underscoring the model’s iterative nature.

The importance of external inputs immediately became obvious once this ‘personal’ model was presented in workshops, where a fourth aspect was quickly added where any social application was proposed.

Practical Application

The context of presenting this and other material in a (non-instructional but investigative) university MA course module moved from consideration of exploration and towards those of exploitation. In previous workshops, participants were merely challenged to consider personal implications, as they chose.

In the MA context, they were required to give statements of evaluation, including any perceived potential for exploitation. This brought the model more into ‘the real world’ and the interface with conventional academic evaluation posed a problem (initially insurmountable) for many participants, when required to make and validate personal assessments, including a claimed, numerical value.

This dilemma was relieved by Stan Lester’s creation of an assessment matrix showing learning progressing from ‘personal knowledge’ through ‘fitness of purpose’, to ‘fitness for purpose’ and finally to ’systemic wisdom’ – each stage progressing from ’reflecting’ to ‘investigating’ to ‘creating’ and finally, ‘communicating’.

This allowed assessment from two perspectives. The academic, commencing with the detail and the practical, requiring ownership of the risk (and potential opportunity) associated with purpose.

25 Years ago, the allure of the purpose perspective was overwhelming for me and the rate of change in society seemed to suggest a possible and profitable, shift to that perspective.

Modern Relevance and AI

Recently, motivated by my son, to play with AI, my passion for exploring the interplay between detailed knowledge and overarching purpose, was rekindled after a delay of almost 25 years. This technology, can (almost) instantly, provide required detail, with sufficient validity of consideration for use.

More importantly, it seems to offer potential for ‘mentoring’, where an opinion, with clear bias, can be explored, in the same manner as I have gained most value from effective mentoring.

Today

After 25 years, advances in technology, particularly, the internet, the Mobile Phone and Artificial Intelligence, free us from the excuse of ‘not-knowing’ some detail and facilitate our ability to make preliminary assessment of ‘fitness for purpose’, freeing us to consider purpose itself and strategies likely to further it.

Join The Journey

I invite you to explore, critique, and contribute to this ongoing journey. Your experiences and insights can help refine or redefine our understanding? Please collaborate and enhance a collective approach to personal development.