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--- polemos:8th_age:philosophies:constructionism [2016/10/04 21:51] – Blake Anderton
+++ polemos:8th_age:philosophies:constructionism [2025/10/16 13:51] (current) – Blake Anderton
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Constructionism ======
-Constructionism is a materialist philosophy that espouses the use of rational thought in all areas of life. Going beyond mere rationalism, though, constructionism formulates the following process for improving the material world:
+Constructionism is an all-encompassing philosophy that builds on materialist thought to touch all areas of life. Going beyond rationalism or scientism, constructionism formulates the following process for improving the material world:
-  - Man has an imperfect nature, but begets rational thought.
+  - The world is not how Man would want it to be because Man is limited in thought and ability, but does have rational thought.
-  - Rational thought produces technology.
+  - Rational thought produces Technology.
-  - Technology can control man's baser urges, changing his nature and leading to an increase in rational thought.
+  - Technology can improve Man, increasing his thoughts and ability, in essence changing his nature. This leads to an increase in rational thought.
-While there are variations in the philosophy, constructionists are often utopian, thinking a perfect world can be achieved through proper //construction// (hence root of the philosophy's name) of social structures such as governments.
+While there are variations in the philosophy, most constructionists are often utopian, thinking a perfect world can be achieved through proper //construction// (hence the root of the name) of a person's nature (genetics) and environment (social structures, governments, education).
-Governments adhering to constructionism are often [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technocracy|technocratic]] and oligarchical. Sometimes (ex: in the case of the [[polemos:8th_age:factions:usc|USC]]) they are literal technocracies - men ruled by computers.
+States adhering to constructionism are often [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technocracy|technocratic]] and oligarchical with explicit rule-by-expert designs. Sometimes, like in the case of the [[polemos:8th_age:factions:usc|USC]], they are literal technocracies - men ruled by computers.
+The USC in particular posits an additional maxim:
+  * As Technology transforms Man, new transcendent purposes must be given or people will cling to tradition. The state must provide this transcendence.