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Composition and Methodology (Chapter 9)

What can composition be other than control?

evol I

Approaching composition [through its methodology] has the great advantage of enabling us to relate the arts and sciences, to see their similarities and differences in sharp relief.

MUSIMAT programming language, which appears to have been written for this book. Is this like when Tolkien wrote Elvish and all those other languages. Has anyone ever written a programming language inside the world of a book? If you make up a language in your book, does that make the book fictional? Is Principia Mathematica fictional?

Methodology is what allows us to construct the wheel, plant crops, solve equations, and write symphonies. Methodology is the DNA of human culture: it carries information that enables societies to function and to persist from generation to generation. The proper study of composition is the study of methodology, and the full appreciation of methodology requires an understanding of algorithm.

A bit like the weird Nooscope facebook page thing above: "ritual is the most important programming technology of the human body." Although this one acknowledges more that methods or rituals are something that exist in cultures, not individuals. Also a method as opposed to a ritual, seems to have more emphasis on a productive material outcome while a ritual is more a transfer (celebration, affirmation, exploration) of ideas.

How can we find the greatest common divider of 91 and 416, which we almost certainly do not 'know'?

What is the nature of knowledge? These seem like an interesting choice for a pair of integers. I notice both numbers are two less than 93 and 418, and 93=418. 93-AIWASS-418. And 418 is the number of Abrahadabra.

A B R A H A D A B R A
 A B R A H A D A B R
  A B R A H A D A B
   A B R A H A D A
    A B R A H A D
     A B R A H A
      A B R A H
       A B R A
        A B R
         A B
          A

A delegated external choice-making entity is called an oracle. If a method requires consulting an oracle of any kind, it is automatically art, not algorithm. We should also distinguish between choice-making and choice-accepting. The latter is always subjective.

Wait I thought algorithms were oracles? Choice-making and choice-accepting as two decoupled phenomena is really interesting. Remembering that deciding to act is not exactly the same as acting. Why is it called ex-act? Sometimes e- or ex- are intensifiers rather than meaning "out of". And act as in perform, so exact means to thoroughly perform or do. Or to misinterpret it a little, to outperform.

The analysis of methodology can reveal the aesthetic agenda of its creator.

Why are you doing it that way?