meta-Tao hierarchies

The fourth metapattern introduced by Tyler Volk and Jeff Bloom are hierarchies (from greek ἱεραρχία, ierarchia, derived of hierárkhēs, composed of hieros "sacred" and árkhō "leader", therefore with the overall meaning of "leader of sacred rites"), conceptual structures which define relations among layers, sheets, groups of elements and levels of a system; the most known type of hierarchical structure is the pyramid-like, where the system description levels and the information flows are suitably represented in a vertical structure, typically used in organizations.

In the case of socio-cultural systems, insofar a pyramidal structure is perceived by the involved subjects, some myths are established such "control" and "power":

and related concepts such leadership:

Pyramid-type hierarchies commonly used have the characteristic that the related vertical levels have homogeneous elements, for example they contain always persons, even if with different roles and functions. The Russellian hierarchy of logical types instead shows a logical gap between levels and metalevels, applied for example by Bateson to the logical categories of learning and communication, and found also in description hierarchies where there is a logical dishomogeneity between levels, for example in the case of the transition from physical-chemical levels of the natural sciences to the higher of life and of emergent phenomena in complex systems. The pyramidal hierarchies are not the only possible; for the description of several conceptual systems categorizations of transversal or lateral type may be useful.

Background

Hierarchies tend to be depicted as pyramidal arrangements of sheets. Hierarchies are identified as the relationships between layers become evident. In most cases, hierarchies are exemplified by power or control moving downward. In other cases, the top layers may indicate greater importance or significance. Information, materials, or energy move upward. They tend to create stratified stability. However, this stability may depend upon the types of binary relationships and other patterns that are created within the overall structure.

Examples

• In science: trophic layers, phylogenetic trees, animal societies (bees, ants, chimpanzees, wolves), etc.
• In architecture and design: pyramids, building design and layout, etc.
• In art: as form, etc.
• In social sciences: governmental and organizational structures; classrooms, schools and schooling; some learning theories; etc.
• In other senses: information trees, branching decision trees, etc.

Metapatterns

The Pattern Underground