The functionalist approach is based on the fact that human actions are driven by concepts people have and that such concepts are stored in the long-term memory. It is based on knowing the conceptual structure of what needs to be managed.
The functionalist approach requires using an abductive approach to apprehend the triadic functional structure of ideas, actions or facts that are part of a system. This requires apprehending their underlying purpose, active function and energy conservation function.
This abductive approach needs to be integrated with the deductive and inductive approaches to generate functional knowledge that can be stored in the long-term memory as a concept.
According to their functionality, there are different types of concepts. In a learning process what matters is that the intrinsic concept of something and its extrinsic concept must be apprehended to deal with a specific process.
The intrinsic concepts define the intrinsic functionality of things while the extrinsic concepts define the functionality of their use. Something might have an intrinsic and an extrinsic concept at the same time, for example an airplane, because its intrinsic concept makes it fly, and its extrinsic concept makes it usable. Human actions have concepts where the intrinsic aspects and the extrinsic aspects are integrated, for example the concept of leadership, because the relationship with others defines its intrinsic functionality and simultaneously its usability.
The apprehension of the intrinsic concept of something requires having sound technical and operational knowledge of such thing. The apprehension of the extrinsic concept of something requires having a sound empathic approach in the field of application.
The Learning Curve
The management of the functionality of things requires passing a long period of time in which the knowledge does not suffice to develop structural solutions while many logical applications need to be assimilated until being able to develop such solutions. Teamwork is the natural complement to feel successful during the initial stage.
That is why the learning process to manage functionality requires covering different stages that define the learning curve of the functionalist approach.
The Decision to Learn
Stage 0) Discovery of the Functional Structure
The learner needs to rediscover that all that exists in the world, and is part of a system, has a purpose, an active function and an energy conservation function. It is necessary that those who need to manage the functionalist approach understand this structure (purpose-active function and energy conservation function) in an application field where they have sound technical and operational knowledge.
The confirmation that an individual is able to perceive this structure allows making the decision of entering the functionalist approach. The lack of this decision hinders the beginning of the learning process.
The understanding of the functional structures of processes demands less than 6 hours.
The Path of Learning
Part 1) Introduction
The achievement of stages 1 (Discovery of the Functional Structures) and 2 (Unicist Logic) demands 3 months. It requires multiple applications of the unicist logic in terms of binary actions, which are two synchronized action that aim at the same purpose.
Part 2) The Structural Functional Knowledge
The acquisition of the structural knowledge included in stages 3 (Binary Actions) and 4 (Q Method) requires 3 months expanding the applications that were developed before by using the Q method, unicist reflection and managing the complementation and supplementation laws.
Part 3) The Integration of the Functionalist Approach
The integration of knowledge requires 3 months managing the Synchronicity and Timing of processes (Stage 5) based on the evolution laws and using Catalysts (Stage 6) to be able to deal with strategies and future scenarios in the specific field of actions.
Access the complete description of the learning curve at:
www.unicist.org/talents/learning-the-functionalist-approach
Unicist Innovation Center – A Sharing Space
The Unicist Research Institute
NOTE: We invite you to invite your children or the children of your friends to participate in the “Empower your Freedom” program, that works as a catalyst for abductive reasoning processes. It is a non-profit program that has been designed for teenagers from 14 to 17 years old. This program demands 1-hour a week (including the 20-minute session on TWITCH). Access