The effort to lump to split

In a lump of the world we call taxonomy people are split into lumpers and splitters.

A "lumper" is a person who assigns examples broadly, judging that differences are not as important as signature similarities. A "splitter" makes precise definitions, and creates new categories to classify samples that differ in key ways.

Lumpers are inclined to not dwell on fine differences, splitters discern more importance in being as fine as is practical. Both look for patterns to solve problems or acts as valuable, if not value-laden, leads into new areas or research. Research being an effort, an inquiry, a labour.

Both splitting and lumping can end up right or wrong, regardless of the preference involved, indulged or developed, and equally regardless of the preference downplayed. Effort made does not guarantee success, truth, nor make another preference wrong.

Both preferences are a part of reasoning, the seeking out of a frame or view that does not yet exist. One can be a lumper in one field and a splitter in another.

If we lump splitters in with lumpers what do we get?

To be human we must end up in a meeting about it, to discuss an answer, but before then how can we prepare?

If we lump/split do we get a useful blur? Where the addition of chaotic noise to a potential signal can lift it above the threshold of our senses, and it can then be perceived… framed and studied —and limped or splut.

This will take even more effort, perhaps more than I have time to explain properly. I may not be able to split it out to describe it out into the lump of everybody's keen understanding. Alone I seek to unite, the effort betrays me, and atomicised I go nuclear. Some signals are not worth the bother. Why bother with the effort?

But we do.

It is more than taking the forest for the trees, or vice-versa. It is more than a question of scale and resolution.

It’s a question of boundaries and relationship, of structure or loyalty, of habit and inclination, or group, grid and effervescence.

Both lumping and splitting take effort.

An inclination does not presupposed capability or excellence without effort. Destiny is never certain, and overcoming bias is likewise rarely more than realising that one’s strengths are also weaknesses, and while fortune favours the bold, pride grants no certainty.

To split is to lump everything as doable, to lump is to split it off from one’s complete understanding, and both ways can confuse the word with the tree, the phrase for the forest.

(With apologies to Ursule le Guin).

Crossposted at substack. You can leave comments there.