Arch-themes, Macro-themes, Micro-themes and Sub-themes
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Arch-themes are the Primeval manifestation of what are popularly known as cognitive functions - the logical conclusion of what each function represents taken to the highest level of abstraction.
The Macro-themes are the ways in which the Micro-themes play out on a larger scale, in broader terms.
The Micro-themes are the concrete understanding of 'cognitive functions', limited to human behaviour on the individual level.
Sub-themes are a collection of concepts that fit into each cognitive function as an umbrella term - e.g. consequence is a concept that clearly correlates to Introverted Intuition.
Archthemes
The Arch-themes are the Primeval manifestation of the principles that form the 8 cognitive functions, which are really just consciousness divided into 4 dualities.
Creation (Extraverted Intuition) - The Archtheme of Creation is exploring conceptual possibility. This is directly related to the ancient Chinese idea of the Dao, which is the space in which all potentialities pre-exist (by which I mean they could exist - including Creation itself) until the intrepid explorer of is-ness stumbles upon them.
Trajectory (Introverted Intuition) - The individual path each Thing has between being created and inevitably concluding.
Momentum (Extraverted Sensing) - The reality that every Thing is in motion, even if it appears to be stationary, it simply means it is moving along its Trajectory at a level that can't be normally perceived.
Stillness (Introverted Sensing) - Momentum slowed down, so as to experience the details, rather than the flow.
Oneness (Extraverted Feeling) - That all Things must co-exist in order to exist. Even if they appear to us as conflicting, if they were truly irreconcilable with cosmic logic, they simply couldn't exist in the first place.
Uniqueness (Introverted Feeling) - The specific combination of properties that a Thing possesses which separate itself from other Things.
Parameters (Extraverted Thinking) - The definitive properties of a Thing that cannot be breached without it ceasing to be the Thing that it is.
Logos (Introverted Thinking) - The internal logic of a Thing that justifies its existence. Note: this logic requires no specific purpose. Simply: If a Thing exists, there is are reasons it exists sustainably.
Macro-Themes
The Macro-themes are the larger-scope patterns of how the 8 functions play out societally, and how they are explored and integrated by pioneering thinkers, especially in the field of Philosophy.
Potentiality (Extraverted Intuition) - As the direct derivitive of the concept of Creation itself, Ne is the very soil that has given life to mankind's growth in thought and understanding. Just... try to think about how many concepts have been created. Try to count how many Things exist and are all connected at every level of abstraction; from something as simple as the concept of having fun to the concepts that govern Quantum Physics. Go on...
It's an impossible proposal, right? This is exactly why Ne is such an invaluable asset to our species, it allows certain individuals who are sufficiently attuned to this theme to see into that endless web of interlinked concepts which precede our existence and harness them. The entire Philosophical foundation of Human progress is owed to those whom this theme manifests through.
The negatives of this theme manifest as openness to exploring the novelty of concepts without boundaries or adequate consideration for the Trajectory a concept might lead to. A prime example would be polyamory, both on an individual basis and as a concept, because polyamory - no matter how much its proponents defend it, really boils down to two things:
The pathological avoidance of devotion and its inherent risks
Being controlled by your desires
Meaning/Depth (Introverted Intuition) - The derivitive theme of Trajectory, every Thing in existence holds a volume of secrets that lie beneath its surface. The perfect example is the base theory proposed by Carl Jung for the concept of cognitive functions and personality types - that concept had so much more than was being seen that even in a hundred years no one found what I have found by simply allowing it to reveal more of its depth to me rather than imposing any pre-conceived notions upon it.
The first key way this manifests across societies and cultures is through the Human desire to see the depths of Creation itself, and this is why we get so many different interpretations of abstract meaning as well as religious frameworks and thought structures to house it. The true essence of religion - as much as those who are still holding on to generational trauma around that concept would tell you otherwise - is a structure of community built around a shared yearning for connecting with the depths of existence.
The second is Humanity's nature to project themselves onto meaning itself in an ultimately futile attempt to achieve metaphorical immortality. This results in people conflating their own existence with group identity and concepts, seeking to imprint themselves upon something that will last longer than them, which is exactly why people do things such as name businesses after themselves or their family, become activists, and on the extreme end invade other countries to strengthen and expand the Thing they associate their 'self' with.
The negatives of this theme manifest as obsession on the depth of a concept to the point of existential dependency and a paranoia about the Trajectory towards outcomes in opposition to this abstract sense of meaning. Example: Any form of religious extremism.
Flow (Extraverted Sensing) - The derivitive theme of Momentum, Flow is perhaps the most simple of the macro-themes to explain: literally just be. Be in the moment; be a Thing existing in its present state without scrutinising that reality. This manifests - in the west, anyway - as life as we know it today. The hustle and bustle, the daily grind, the nights out, etc.
The negative elements of this theme is the as ease at which we can become caught up in this flow without questioning where we're going or what we're missing. Example: Anyone who more closely follows Hedonism more than Epicureanism, which is... most people, unfortunately.
Appreciation (Introverted Sensing) - The derivitive theme of Stillness. In order to appreciate the experience of any Thing - including one's own existence - you must slow it down and engage with it, and this is how Si has manifested across human history - through such concepts as tradition, ceremony and ritual. This includes rituals as modern and simple as your morning cup of coffee, to the universal phenomenon of "tradition" in all forms, be it something as minor as a family tradition or something as far-reaching as religious holidays such as Christmas, Ramadan, Hannukah etc. and all the details that give those holidays their distinct identity.
As life has progressed and become infinitely more complex, Si has also become critical to all forms of infrastructure - attention to detail leads to the maintenance of all "comfortable" parts of life. Structures will simply fall apart without those attuned to Si.
However it also manifests as an attachment to the past, a dependency on rituals to maintain mental or emotional stability, and a strong resistance to anything new and unfamiliar, chiefly because of an unhealthy connection between one's identity and the past. Example: People who are excessively dogmatic with their religious customs, or cultural traditions which are long-past their expiration date such as the Caste system and arranged marriages in India.
Harmony (Extraverted Feeling) - The derivative theme of Oneness. We may have different software installed, but we're all running the same basic hardware. Granted, some variations are a little less operational in the case of detrimental genetic mutations, but nonetheless the schematics are the same. All forms of community, activism and national identity fall under this theme.
The negatives of this theme are excessive tribalism, collectivism, and all other forms of outsourcing one's sense of self or lens of perception too much to a group based on surface-level shared characteristics. Additionally, enforcing harmony where it simply isn't viable. Example: The entire ideology of the political Left for the past century.
Individualism (Introverted Feeling) - The derivative theme of Uniqueness. Although the broad strokes of our experiences are similar enough to be distinguished as patterns within the Human experience, it is also true that each and every one of us is the culmination of a unique series of events that created us. A proper examination of one's life and the intricacies therein would provide any individual an abundance of remarkable moments, sequences and "coincidences". Each individual sees through a lens that is coloured by their life experiences and has a correlating inner world of experience as a result.
The negative aspect of this theme is the death of community, egoistic drives towards a sense of self-importance, fear of the 'the other' as a threatening force and obsession with one's own perception. Example: Late-stage Capitalism.
Order (Extraverted Thinking) - The derivative theme of Parameters. Complex existence requires systems to reasonably function, and systems require order and regulation.
Order is also predicated upon co-operation, and this is very relevant because in order for there to be said co-operation, people need to defer to objective processes to "power the machine" so-to-speak. Far from being an inherently negative connotation, "the machine" is a representation of Human progress, symbolic of our very capacity to work together in a productive fashion.
The negative aspect of this theme is the over-dependance on established systems and how easily exploited they can be by the people who operate them, as well as the demand for conformity in the name of efficiency and the emphasis on maintaning order over individual rights and wellbeing. Example: the entire ideology of the political Right for... well, ever.
Logic (Introverted Thinking) - The derivative theme of Logos. As conscious beings, it is only natural to seek understanding of our circumstances. The "why?" and "how?" of everything. And to do this we require those who are curious enough to uncover the secret details of any Thing's defining properties. This is never more so the case than the phenomenon of "Autism", which is much more cleanly explained by a prevailent pattern of Thinking functions strongly outweighing the Feeling-oriented ones in a percentage of the population, more often oriented towards the Introverted tendency. The amount of Scientists and Philosophers who were almost certainly Autistic is far too overlooked in the neurotypical's feverish attempt to make us look like the dysfunctional ones for not fitting in with dysfuctional systems. The negative of this theme is when Humanity makes the grave mistake of asssuming their conclusions based on individual logical process are suitably reflective of the sublime truth. When one makes a conclusion, what they are truly doing is planting a flag to mark how close to the truth they believe themselves to have burrowed, without any true way to know whether they are correct. Example: Literally everyone, everywhere, all the time.
Micro-Themes & Sub-themes
These have their own dedicated pages found here: https://www.charactersarepeople.blog/the-fundamentals
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