Transmathematica

Exploration of Problem and Solution Types in Los Angeles County Smog Control 1943-1976

Bas van Vlijmen — 2025-10-15

Aggregation dynamics looks for basic principles in the co-development of complex structures of any kind. Provided free energy and raw materials are available, it is hypothesised that complex structures result from a rigid natural state space and an inevitable lack of computational power and information at all levels of complexity.

One specific principle is the Innovation Illusion, it says that people are limited to fixed patterns of thought when identifying and solving problems. This article examines air pollution control in Los Angeles County between 1943 and 1976. It identifies different problem types and solution repertoires, including discord, unfamiliarity, and interference.

Problem Positions and Nineteen Instances in the Smog Control Case Los Angeles County 1943-1976

Bas van Vlijmen — 2025-10-15

This is the second of two papers which examines the aggregation dynamics in a case study of smog control in Los Angeles County in 1943-1976. First, it elaborates problem positions of some typical interested and affected parties in the case study. Second, it reworks the history of air pollution control in Los Angeles County into a foundation for further research.

Extreme Accusations II

Jan Aldert Bergstra — 2025-01-08

Following up earlier work on accusations, we proceed with a detailed investigation of a particular class of extreme accusations called genocide accusations. We focus on real time accusations of episodal genocide, meant to bring the target behaviour of the accusee to an end, or to contribute to its termination. We derive conditions under which issuing such accusations may be justified.

Genocide Accusations and the Logic of Genocide

Jan Aldert Bergstra — 2025-04-15

Following earlier work we proceed with a detailed investigation of genocide accusations which we consider to constitute a particular class of extreme accusations. We focus on controversial real-time accusations of episodal genocide. We find that the logic of genocide and the logic of genocide accusations interact in complicated ways, and that there is a plausible use for a new term: tribocide. Tribocide entails the visible and often detrimental effect of genocide on the victims, while abstracting from the perpetrator's plans, motives, and intentions, as well as from side-effects which may be advantageous from the perpetrator's perspective. Importantly, validating a tribocide accusation is simpler than validating a genocide accusation because the focus is exclusively on the victim's perspectives.

Categorial Gender Theory:

Jan Aldert Bergstra — 2025-09-30

Categorial gender theory is concerned with frameworks for categorizing human individuals in terms of gender and gender-related notions. A survey of gender frameworks is presented. We observe two alternative ways of conveying similar information: one via features and the other via process algebraic descriptions of gender lifecycles. The development of categorial gender theory is compared with the Formal Gender Theory that was previously developed in collaboration with Laurens Buijs.