9.10 Hierarchy within perception spheres
It seems that the hierarchy is such that the perception sphere with the higher number helps maintain order in the preceding sphere(s): values contribute to maintaining relationships, principles balance these values, and the ultimate (non)sense governs it all.
The democratic system illustrates this hierarchy: the principles of democracy exist because of some higher sense and are more important than various political values or the relationships among politicians. If democratic principles are not protected and their deeper meaning respected, then some “attractive” political values may be elevated to (institutionalized) principles, and seductive political “leaders” can drag society into totalitarianism. Democratic principles will not disappear but will continue to exist only as caricatures of their true form.
Perception spheres with higher numbers also have a broader sphere of influence. Concrete relationships and general values affect only some people, whereas fundamental principles—such as those governing gravity, birth, and death—impact everyone.
Even if, after being born, we were taken to a different environment where our relationships and values might be different, under any circumstances we would always be subject to the same universal principles and remain part of the whole of existence. Relationships and values are relative compared to the universality of principles and existence itself.
Conversely, the level of human agency decreases from the 1) Concrete to the 4) Essential sphere. This diminishing agency is even reflected in language: while ‘WE relate’ and ‘WE value’ highlight our active roles, we are ‘guided by principles,’ and we are an inherent part of the whole Existence or Reality, over which we have no direct control.
Generalization across Perception Spheres:
A substantial aspect of the hierarchy within the perception spheres pertains to the process of generalization. It is crucial to understand that valid generalization does not directly proceed from a sphere with a lower numerical order to a reality situated immediately higher without proper mediation. For instance, it is often erroneous to generalize based on merely one or a few concrete phenomena (from Sphere 1), thereby concluding that a higher-level reality is generally so, simply because a particular phenomenon occurred. Such direct jumps between spheres can lead to flawed conclusions.
Instead, correct generalization requires a nuanced approach that respects the inherent hierarchy. For example, a valid principled conclusion about some overall reality (Sphere 3) can be formed, but it must be based on a comprehensive understanding of the general (Sphere 2) representation of concrete (Sphere 1) phenomena within a given totality. This process implies a step-by-step ascent through the levels of abstraction and understanding, ensuring that conclusions about higher-order realities are grounded in appropriately generalized lower-order observations. This hierarchical approach to generalization underscores the structured nature of knowledge acquisition across the different levels of perceived reality.
Note:
For more on this topic, see the blog posts
“Levels of Human Agency Across Perception Spheres”
“What rules life situations?”