SECTION ONE

CHAPTER TWO

INORGANIC FUNCTIONS
 
 

In Chapter One we went through certain basic concepts in as purely an abstract and detached manner as possible. We will see these concepts, again and again through the text.

In this chapter, we shall apply the pure notions of Chapter One to that class of things which we call Synthetic structures. By SYNTHETIC, we refer to those things which are a product of man as opposed to a product of nature.

In Chapter Three, we will discuss Natural structures.
 
 
 

INORGANIC STRUCTURES

TYPES

We divide Inorganic Structures into three basic types, The "tool', the "machine", and the "computer".

We refer to a TOOL as an inorganic structure capable of performing a limited number of specific static functions ONLY with the assistance of a machine, computer, or organic structure.

We refer to a MACHINE as an inorganic structure capable of performing a limited number of specific static functions.

We refer to a COMPUTER as an inorganic structure capable of performing any static operation.
 

The Computer is mainly concerned with the processing of Data, and the Tool is mainly concerned with the processing of matter. The Machine, the transient class, is concerned a little bit with both functions.
 
 
 

THE INORGANIC FUNCTION CONCEPT

BASIC TERMS

Recall from Chapter one the notion of a processor, domain, and range of a function and the ordered pair.

An INORGANIC FUNCTION is a function whose processor is either a computer or a machine or a tool, or, more technically phrased, a function whose processor is an inorganic structure.

A domain member of an inorganic function is called a PROBLEM. A range member of an inorganic function is called a SOLUTION,

The ordered-pair formed by an inorganic function is called a DECISION. This ordered-pair has the general form (P,S), where P a specific problem and S a specific solution.

TYPES OF FUNCTIONS FORMED

Inorganic Functions can be classified as static or dynamic. Under static, there are constant and variable types. Under dynamic, there are both dependent and independent.

STATES

The ability of an inorganic structure to continuously perform its intended function is called TOLERANCE. An inorganic structure operates normally within the constraints of TOLERANCE and abnormally elsewhere, where malfunctions occur.
 
 

PROGRAMMING

In programming, the basic relevant factors are the Set, the Sequence and the programming method.

The two basic types of programming are DIRECT PROGRAMMING and INDIRECT PROGRAMMING.
BY DIRECT PROGRAMMING, we refer to the case when domain members need not be interpreted to be processed, i.e., domain members are already in the "Native language", so to speak, of the processor.

BY INDIRECT PROGRAMMING, we refer to the case when domain members must be interpreted before they can be processed, i.e., they are not in the so called "native language".

When dealing with the COMPUTER, we call direct programming the OBJECT PROGRAM and we refer to indirect programming as the SOURCE PROGRAM.
 

PROCESSING

The stages in processing consist of Interpreting, processing and coding.

We call that subset of a processor which transforms indirect programming into a form which the processor can comprehend the INTERPRETER.
We call that subset of a processor which transforms indirect programming which has been processed from the processor's "language" to the language in which it was programmed the CODER.

In processing, when a problem is encountered, it may be paired with a solution if a sufficient solution exists. If a sufficient solution does not exist, the problem may be stored.
If the requested rate of processing exceeds tolerance, we may see an overload condition develop.

Relevant factors in processing, by summary, are the notion of programming and consequences relative to programming rate. And there is the consideration of the processor's contents and tolerance.
 
 

In inorganic structures, all things relative to the structure are relative to its programming.

POWER

Control methods for inorganic structures may be obtained by applying the appropriate properties for general functions from Chapter one. Specifically:

METHODS OF COMPARING PROCESSORS
For Comparing Use:

STATIC FUNCTION I
STATIC FUNCTION II
STATIC FUNCTION III
STATIC FUNCTION IV

METHODS FOR DEVELOPING KNOWLEDGE

For Developing Use:

PREDICTION PROPERTY
HISTORICAL PROPERTY
RATIONALIZATION PROPERTY
PROJECTION PROPERTY

METHODS OF CONTROLLING PROCESSORS

For Control use set theory properties 1-1 through 1-10 inclusive.
 
 
 

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC STRUCTURES

A synthetic organic structure produced entirely by man from previously inorganic materials is called an ANDROID.

In Chapter Three we will be discussing natural organic structures, and we will introduce the concept of a special characteristic of these structures which we call "Identity".

Inorganic structures do not possess this property. ANDROIDS are a transient class between inorganic structures and natural organic structures.
The notion of the ANDROID class and the implications of comparisons between inorganic structures, ANDROIDS, and natural organic structures present interesting philosophic problems which are covered later on.