Symbols unrelated to human experience

Other Names:

Unrelated cultural form

Nature:

When symbols, rites, ceremonies, myths stop pointing beyond themselves to human experiences of reality they become meaningless gestures repeated for the sake of repetition. The vast majority of symbols are constantly being redefined and re-invested with meaning and those that are not are soon dropped from use. In some few cases, usually because of especially rigid social systems or extremely powerful connotations, symbols remain in use without a clear understanding of their relationship to human experience.

Broader Problems:

Misperception
Conflicting symbol systems
Deterioration of human environment
Impoverished psychosocial human environment
Undetermined procedures for adapting tradition-bound cultures

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

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Symbols unrelated to human experience

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA