#horizontal #vertical #knowledge Related to, [[The Knowledge-Language-Perception Complex]] and [[High and Low Level Language]] ![[The édifice.excalidraw.png]] The making of knowledge is comprised of two kinds of movement instead of one. When you inquire, you aren’t just digging through a tunnel. You are within an édifice; opening doors and moving across floors. This structure not only represents the whole knowledge but also its topics. One can use this framework to explain his endeavor and come up with better knowledge-seeking actions. I have been fine with the idea of inquiry as a journey—a linear path—because nothing seems to be wrong about the thought locally. Similarly, the claim that “earth is flat” seems fair when we look around. Lines are just good enough. However, round things can appear flat if we look them up close. It would be wrong to think that, “if it is the case here, then it must be the case everywhere since I can say this everywhere”. A more appropriate statement in this case would be, “there is a bigger picture in which it is possible to say this everywhere despite the whole picture being something entirely different”. This kind of thinking made me to entertain a similar thought about knowledge-seeking. As inquirers we live in a structure that allows two kinds of knowledge-seeking freedoms. They are independent and their product expands our understanding in two different ways. One generates “expanding” horizontal knowledge and the other “elevating” vertical knowledge. A horizontal walk expands one’s understanding without integrating something new. It is an attempt to exhaust the possibilities and reach the limits one’s state of assimilation. The more time one spends exploring that state, the more articulate he becomes at describing its manifestations and their derivatives. Horizontal knowledge brings forward unknown knows. It draws on unrealized connections by combining and arranging distinctions. Hence, I recon the correlation between this dimension and language. As the expressive power of the representation and its flexibility plays an important role in defining the limit of expansion. A vertical move alters one’s structure of understanding by adopting or dropping distinctions. The inquirer integrates new knowledge and in doing so, moves from one level to another. Moving across levels implies new perceptual contrasts and radical shifts in perspective. The highest and lowest levels indicate formalization and realization directions. If we start with a concept-top category, like *Thing*[^1], and enrich it with further distinctions, we get increasingly verbose levels. At some point, further specification will just cause restriction of the levels down to the instance-bottom. Concepts may correspond to many realizations even though there are only few distinctions behind them, while instances can be subsumed under a similar formalization even though there is a lot of discernment involved in their representation. While extremes of representation—conceptual abstractions and specific instances—may not align perfectly with the freedom of what they represent, there is an intermediate level where representation fits the freedom of the represented. This intermediate level signifies a balance between generalization and specificity, enabling a more accurate and comprehensive descriptions of the subject matter. An immediate application I see for the horizontal-vertical distinction is to characterize what kind of knowledge one possesses or desires. Within this framework, I can enumerate three types of understandings. Vertical Assimilation implies that you understand the underlying principles that govern the relationship between abstract ideas and their concrete manifestations. You are aware of the relevant distinctions at each level of abstraction and how they relate across levels. At this point, you attain a holistic understanding which empowers you to engage in transformative thinking. You can reshape your structure of understanding and accommodate new knowledge. You are open to paradigm shifts and radical shifts in perspective as you explore different levels of abstraction. This flexibility allows you to evolve your understanding and adapt to changing contexts, leading to continuous growth and development of knowledge. Horizontal Comprehension entails an expansive exploration of a particular level of abstraction without necessarily integrating new knowledge from other levels. It involves delving into the intricacies and possibilities within a specific domain, exhaustively examining the manifestations and derivatives that emerge within that context. By dedicating time and effort to thoroughly explore a state of assimilation, your understanding becomes increasingly refined and articulated. You gain a profound familiarity with the various facets, connections, and unrealized associations within that particular level of abstraction. Combining both horizontal and vertical, we obtain a third type of understanding. A Diagonal Grasp. It is the type of understanding which would explain one being able to use a piece of information without knowing the derivation or the underlying theory. Given starting point, you resolve what each element of the target knowledge stand for to be able to immediately use it with minimum justification. A diagonal understanding is what we aim for when we don’t have time to go through the whole topic. Although, this is just a shortcut and can’t substitute proper engagement with the subject. It is still a realization of partial knowledge. These diagonal routes constitute the **Nakatomi space**[^2] within the édifice. They are alternatives to conventional access between levels of assimilation. In one go, you move to the appropriate level and expand toward your point of interest. The distinction between horizontal and vertical knowledge highlights the importance of structure in our pursuit of knowledge. It connects with the world of architecture, providing an intriguing parallel between the construction of knowledge and the creation of physical spaces. Just as knowledge is built upon layers of understanding, architecture involves the layering of floors and the arrangement of rooms within a structure. Similar to the architect's sensitivity to the interplay between form and function. The horizontal-vertical framework makes us aware of both depth and breadth in knowledge-building. It enables us to construct a well-rounded understanding of the world, akin to an architect creating a cohesive and functional space. By embracing both horizontal and vertical knowledge, we can cultivate a more comprehensive, adaptable, and transformative understanding of the world around us. Understanding the different types of understanding—*vertical assimilation, horizontal comprehension, and diagonal grasp*—provides us with insights into the diverse ways in which we can engage with information. [^1]: [[On the Principles of Distinction]] [^2]: [Nakatomi Space – BLDGBLOG](https://bldgblog.com/2010/01/nakatomi-space/)