THE ORACLE MACHINE

An oracle is an appeal or a question asked to an element or entity of another kind, surpassing the ontological status of humanity. Inside the attitude to ask for answers outside the Self is a diffuse sense of insecurity, and confusion of perceptions, but, also, the tendency to construct a meta-level of comprehension where elements become signifying because a system appears to have a certain structure, and intrinsic and extrinsic relations are considered relevant. A diffuse level of uncertainty is present whereas articulated language is at use: the path traced by rational science leads to a chasm where concomitant possibilities are obfuscating any image, rendering logicians and their instruments tremendously fragile, and metamorphic: everything depends on the perspective of the observer, and reality becomes slightly out of measurement.

The generative semiotics of the 'Paris School', which is based on that linguistic tradition originated from De Saussure and Hiemslev - and whose most representative member is Algirdas Greimas - offers incredibly appropriate instruments to approach (and dissect) a symbolic system. According to the generative hypothesis, semiotics is the study of systems and processes of signification. The basilar postulate is that the signification of a text can be articulated in different levels, from the most abstract to the concrete, along the 'generative trajectory'.

What we learn from our everyday experience in the technologic world of comfort and commodities, is that machines are intrinsically different from humans. First of all, they are honest: machines are not programmed to lie to people, and, whenever they make a mistake, they would declare it. Whereas humans tend to deny or hide mistakes, machines pre-emptively advise us of any possible error. Thus, when we learn how to use machines, we learn how to trust machines.


#sympathetic rites 01 - similarity
if x(god, saint, hero):
do such & such2;
while circumstance = bla;

then x(god, saint, hero):
do such & such2;
while circumstance = bla2;


Doubt, faith, rational choice
Science is based on postulates, and its definition of truth starts from hypothetical assumptions. Rational positive science presents a direct relation with uncertainty and doubt, whereas religion, magic and 'para-scientific' disciplines are attempting to provide a system of knowledge which avoids uncertainty because of its relation with supernatural forces. Rational choice is, in a contemporary perspective, the base of sociology and economic theory. Nevertheless, the oracular tradition is a contradictory sign and an irrational answer to the limits of rationality.