1b5 - Idea Emergence - Part 2

Last updated Aug 15, 2023

Atlas/Maps/LYT 10 MOC

Now let’s review how Cards/Idea Emergence reveals itself in our link-based notes:

In the beginning…

We go from the nothingness of fleeting thoughts »» to the “somethingness” of an externalized note.

This is the ==primordial idea soup==: sources, memories, ideas, interactions, insights, things that you’ve come across…below the surface of anything concrete, or anything externalized.

Then as you create a new note, you bring an idea into life, and into the first level of Idea Emergence. ==New ideas solidify into unique notes.==

Systems perspective 🧩
Between convergence (things becoming unified) and divergence (things becoming unique), this is more about divergence.

Once you take a unique note and link it to another note, you’ve entered “Emergence Level 2.” ==Direct relationships are formed.== This is the basics of a zettelkasten. 

 Systems perspective 🧩
 At this level, there is still more divergence than convergence.

As we continue making connections, the system starts to come alive, almost naturally evolving itself. ==The beauty of the direct link is that bigger ideas start to emerge organically.== This is a well-oiled zettelkasten. But there is not a clear perspective.

As your number of notes grows, it becomes difficult to navigate through them quickly—even with excellent direct links between notes. The limitation is that you’re always at eye-level with you notes…like you’re on the ground in the forest. And very often, you want a ==birds-eye view== to manage these growing relationships.

The solution is to make higher-order notes—which are just ==“notes primarily with links to other notes”. ==

Higher-order notes like MOCs (Maps of Content) serve countless purposes… You can use MOCs to overcome the "Mental Squeeze Point" & ensure you keep working proactively on your ideas and projects.

Just assemble links to notes in a new MOC note. In this way, you offload the cognitive burden so you can stay in creative Flow.

But the even more profound and next-level power of MOCs is to use them as ==rapid ideation chambers. ==

I can’t stress the superpower of this enough…MOCs are ==ideation accelerators. ==

 Systems perspective 🧩
Massive emergence, convergence, and divergence happen here. 

And yes, most obviously, higher-order notes like MOCs can be used for navigational purposes (hence the “map” nomenclature).  

With your MOCs, you are 80% of the way done to finalized creations. But that’s not all the value you’ve created…

At this next level of emergence, you are ==linking higher-order notes.== MOCs are linked to MOCs. Instead of a just having living systems—like a standard zettelkasten—now we have ==living ecosystems==!

Systems perspective 🧩
 Less divergence happens here, but plenty of convergence does.

This allows you to fly around your note library rapidly, organically getting unforced behavior-driven spaced repetition (Speculation: We’re going to find this is a superior method of memory retention versus the anki version of rote-like spaced repetition)

Now you have multiple MOCs that easily communicate and contribute to more enriched creations.

How powerful is that?! 

Now, we get to the highest level of your Idea Emergence…Your home note. It consolidates new higher-order notes w/ older, more mature higher-order notes. 

All roads lead to home. 

The home note is the beginning and the end. It is a launchpad and a homebase. It is a fixed point in the sky. At this level, your ideas have become like a relatively stable planetary system. It’s your “Earth”. (Someone else’s PKM would be another planet by the way.)

Systems perspective 🧩
The Home note is all about Convergence. 
It allows for top-down “Convergent” thinking like navigating and deliberate creating. 
It also allows for bottom-up “Convergent” thinking by consolidating new forms of emergence.

That is Cards/Idea Emergence.
If you can utilize this framework effectively, I am confident you will change the way the game is played and take your thinking to another level!