The value of maps is that they are abstractions of territory. They
represent the essential aspects of the domain while ignoring the
inconsequential and avoiding the extraneous. Creating these is a
form of compression, generating knowledge (meaning) from raw data.
The problem with maps is that they are (necessarily) incomplete. It
isn’t enough to simply have an accurate map, the map must be
appropriate for the current context. For example if I’m driving a car
a road map is more useful than a terrain map.
Exploration then is the process of mapping the maps. Identifying
maps and their appropriate contexts. This structure of abstracted
abstractions is recursively defined, terminating (perhaps)
in our physical reality. From this perspective there is very little
difference between area and accuracy.
To tie this back to terminology more commonly used on this site,
exploration is a process of learning how to
carve reality at its joints.
On maps, exploration and context:
The value of maps is that they are abstractions of territory. They represent the essential aspects of the domain while ignoring the inconsequential and avoiding the extraneous. Creating these is a form of compression, generating knowledge (meaning) from raw data.
The problem with maps is that they are (necessarily) incomplete. It isn’t enough to simply have an accurate map, the map must be appropriate for the current context. For example if I’m driving a car a road map is more useful than a terrain map.
Exploration then is the process of mapping the maps. Identifying maps and their appropriate contexts. This structure of abstracted abstractions is recursively defined, terminating (perhaps) in our physical reality. From this perspective there is very little difference between area and accuracy.
To tie this back to terminology more commonly used on this site, exploration is a process of learning how to carve reality at its joints.