This is the second in a series of three foundational posts.
First post summary
With “An Invitation,” I invited readers to join in inquiry deeper than we commonly pursue. I framed my offer in terms of our extraordinary times and the possible necessity for commensurately extraordinary adaptation of thought and action to survive and thrive in them.
Second (this) post summary
In this second post, “How might we link value to science with prediction?” I argue for valuescience by examining its constituent elements “value” and “science,” pointing to prediction as a nexus between them, and noting that all of us currently valuescience—using “science” as a verb to characterize it first and foremost as something we do—and can benefit individually and collectively by valuesciencing better.
Third post summary
In “Why a human ecology framework?” I’ll characterize human ecology as an overarching discipline comprising valuescience and other subdisciplines, and I’ll outline a human ecology framework for valuesciencing. In later posts I’ll apply this framework to valuescience specific topics.
Why read the foundational posts
I anticipate that readers familiar with the contents of the foundational posts will reap greater benefit from those that follow by being able to understand better the context from which I generated them and into which I fit them.
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Prediction, nexus of value and science
Value
Many times every day, each of us asks consciously and unconsciously, “What do I want?” and “How can I get it?” We respond to these questions with ideas about value.
We perceive value imperfectly. For example, we sometimes get what we thought we wanted and wonder why we wanted it, or we do what we deemed sufficient and fail to obtain intended outcomes.
Prediction
Because we can fulfill current want—whether it be for a drink of water a few moments from now, a comfortable retirement in thirty years, or peace on Earth—only in the future, we increase our enjoyment of value only to the extent we predict with accuracy greater than we can achieve by pure chance both that we’ll feel satisfaction when we attain our ends and that we’ll prove our means sufficient.
Science
Over many millennia, humans have identified a set of behaviors, which we now term a “scientific method” or “science,” by which we discover repeating patterns and use them to make successful predictions. We have included in this method questioning, observing (both with physical senses and by introspection), reasoning, predicting, testing prediction against experience, inviting others to do so, and—critically important—repeating these actions without end.
Valuescience
Whenever we ask, “What do I want?” or “How can I get it?”—that is, whenever we address questions of value—we valuescience in response. To live and die well, we conform ideas about value to represent actual value more accurately. By valuesciencing and only by valuesciencing have we done this.
Expanding meaningful choice
With valuescience we create basis for meaningful choice, since we necessarily rest such choice on foreknowledge of outcome. By valuesciencing we increase satisfaction and lessen suffering.
Trend to more inclusive sciencing
Once, many people held beyond the domain of scientific inquiry questions about origins of the universe, Earth, and life. Today a growing number more often science to address these questions and perceive that when we approach them by other means, we pose impediments to our and others’ living and dying well.
Foundational element of successful human adaptation
Despite this trend to expand the domain of science, people around the globe remain oblivious to valuesciencing. Many go so far as to deny its possibility. As more of us valuescience more consciously, consistently, and competently, we become better able to live and die well, and we evolve shared culture that we make basis for cooperating so others may do so. By leading in this transition, we contribute to a necessary foundational element of successful human adaptation.
