Difference between revisions of "Innovation"

Revision as of 12:05, 18 February 2024

Full Title or Meme

The application of new ideas that cause disruption of existing patterns and traditions and how those disruptions impact Identifiers.

Context

• Identifiers have been discussed at least since the time that Adam was given the authority to name the animals of the world. (Genesis 2:19)
• Chinese have been using family names since around 2,800 BC. Supposedly this was decreed by Emperor Fushi for all, not just the rich.
• Cesar determined that all the world should be taxed. He had them go to their ancestral home to be enumerated. (Luke 2:1)
• William the conqueror determined that all of the British Isles should be taxed. He created the doomsday book.
• The Roman use of family name (Gens) died out with the Roman empire, but really only ever applied to the landed aristocracy.
• In Britain last names became popular as people lost their binding to the land. Henry VIII ordered that legal events be recorded to make tax collection easier, which led to the addition of surnames (see section below).

In other words, necessity (to raise money, workers or armies) is the mother of innovation in identity, as in much else that we use today.

The Naming of People

Innovation is impacting Identifiers applied to people. In Roman times, the family name (gens) was important, in Ancient Israel it was the tribal association. In western land the patronym became common. In Spain the matronym is added after the patronym. The Picts of Scotland used just the matronym. Confusion was created when the location of these surnames turned out to be very different in different parts of the world. In 2024 we are still trying to reconcile these traditions with technology.

1. Dissolution of Monasteries: Henry VIII dissolved numerous monasteries and convents as part of the English Reformation. These religious institutions had often been centers of education, record-keeping, and administration. With their dissolution, many records were lost, including those containing information about lineage and family names.
2. Land Ownership and Taxation: As part of his reforms, Henry implemented a system of land ownership and taxation. To efficiently collect taxes and administer land, it became essential to have clear identification of individuals. Surnames played a crucial role in this process.
3. Formation of Parish Registers: The dissolution of monasteries also led to the establishment of parish registers. These registers recorded baptisms, marriages, and burials within parishes. Surnames were used to distinguish individuals, especially in densely populated areas.
4. Standardization and Legal Documentation: Henry’s government emphasized the need for standardized legal documentation. Surnames facilitated legal transactions, inheritance, and property rights. People began adopting fixed family names, which were passed down through generations.
5. Social Mobility and Identity: The use of surnames allowed for greater social mobility. Individuals could establish their identity beyond their occupation or location. It also provided a sense of belonging and lineage

While Henry VIII didn’t explicitly demand the use of surnames, his policies indirectly encouraged their adoption. The dissolution of monasteries, administrative reforms, and the need for clear identification all contributed to the widespread use of surnames in England.

And in China where the surname is the first name:

1. Chinese mythology traces the establishment of surnames back to the legendary figure Fuxi (with the surname Feng). Fuxi is said to have introduced surnames to distinguish different families and prevent marriages between people with the same family names.
2. Prior to the Warring States period (around the fifth century BC), only ruling families and the aristocratic elite possessed surnames.
3. These surnames are exclusively patronyms. Women typically do not change their surnames upon marriage, except in places with more Western influences. Meanwhile western countries are either combining patronyms and matronyms or following the Chinese tradition of allowing women to keep their surname after marriage.

Technology

Unfortunately technology is created mostly in European-originated countries so we have absurdities like the following which mixes the idea of Surname (a logical type) with Firstname (a position type). Clearly this is an absurdity brought about by chauvinistic attitudes of developers.^[1]

   "familyName": "Castafiori",
   "firstName": "Bianca",

Problem

• Technology innovation does: upend the patterns, habits and values of tradition.
• Technology innovation does not determine: causes, values, reactions, outcomes.
• People have evolved to seek out causes based on patterns. That has helped them to survive. But see page on Apophenia for the downside to that.
• People now believe that their identity is personal property that they can manage. Governments still need to raise money, workers and armies. Conflict is inevitable.

Solutions

• There are few functional naming services today, for example:

1. DOI
2. DNS
3. URN

Compare with other solutions like:

Reference

1. ↑ W3C, Verifiable Credentials Data Model v2.0 https://www.w3.org/TR/vc-data-model-2.0/#names-and-descriptions