A BROADER LOOK AT UNDERSTANDING

by Frank Gordon, USA

Before taking a broader look at understanding, let's examine how Hubbard classifies definitions:

Logic 1. Knowledge is a whole group or sub-division of a group of data or speculations or conclusions on data or methods of gaining data.

Logic 5. A definition of terms is necessary to the alignment, statement and resolution of suppositions, observations, problems and solutions and their communication.

Descriptive definition: one which classifies by characteristics, by dscribing existing states of being. (This is further expanded by differentiative and associative definitions).

Action definition: one which delineates cause and potential change of state or being by cause of existence, inexistence, action, inaction, purpose or lack of purpose.

Understanding as Doing
Hubbard's view of understanding is that it is basically a dynamic action; an ability being carried forward, an action taking place (These are action definitions), and that it is composed of affinity, reality, and communication (This part of the definition is descriptive).(1)

In order to convert understanding as ARC to an action or "doing" definition, something like affinity-ize or affinity in action (2), realize (in both senses - see Reality as a Mental Model, IVy 10), and communicate would have to be viewed as actions. Hubbard clearly saw communicate as an action, and this is probably why he considered it 1000% more important than affinity and reality.

By re-defining affinity and reality in action terms, these might well be raised in importance.

Understanding as Having
The definition of understanding, in philosophy, is the power to render experience intelligible by bringing perceived particulars under appropriate concepts.(3) This is a descriptive definition.

Understand is a curious word in that it appears to be a literal translation from the Latin substans.

Substance n. (fr. L. substans present participle (standing under) of substare to stand under) 1. a. essential nature: essence b. a fundamental or characteristic part or quality 2 a: outward reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change b: practical importance.

Intelligence as Having
Hubbard's definition of Intelligence is: the ability to recognize differences, similarities and identities and the ability to perceive, pose, and resolve problems; especially those relating to survival (4). As abilities that one has, these are descriptive definitions.

A dictionary definition is the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new and trying situations, the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as in intelligence tests) (5). Another is the ability to apprehend the interrelationship of presented facts in such away as to guide action towards a desired goal (3). Again, these are both descriptive definitions.

Intelligence as Doing
A simpler way to define intelligence would be in terms of its Latin origin: Inter: between or among, and legere: to gather, select. Then intelligence can be given an action definition: gathering pertinent information, selecting out what is controlling or important, and organizing it into a coherent pattern; using among others, Logics 7, 8, and 10 as guiding principles (6).

Understanding as having, the resulting intelligible coherent pattern, can then be used as a guide to further observation.

Doing or Having?
Both understanding and intelligence can be viewed as either continuing actions (what one is doing) or as abilities (what one has). These can co-operate in a repeated cycle of action; in which by doing, one has; and then what one has becomes a tool for more effective doing.

Common sense definitions might be that knowledge is the data you have stored, understanding is how well you have it organized for use, and intelligence is how well you use it.

Auditing can then be viewed as improving one's access to this stored data, organizing it more efficiently and using it more effectively.

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1 Understanding. 1. understanding is composed of affinity, reality, and communication. 2. knowingness could simply be a potential understanding. It could be an ability being carried forward, an action taking place; understanding is an action. Understanding is knowingness in action. 3. understanding is a sort of total solvent, it's the universal solvent, it washes away everything. Tech Dict. 79, p.454.

2 As an example of affinity-izing, see: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

3 Web. New Coll. Dict. 61

4 Tech. Dict. 79, p.212.

5 Web 9th Coll. Dict. 85.

6 Logic 7. Gradient scales are necessary to the evaluation of problems and their data. Logic 8. A datum can be evaluated only by a datum of comparable magnitude. Logic 10. The value of a datum is established by the amount of alignment (relationship) it imparts to other data.