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In This Chapter
Theoretical postulates and axioms
Axiomatic nature of Streaks Recognition Theory
Theory’s foundation
6 postulates

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Postulates and axioms are basic statements that are accepted as true an undeniable due to their self-evident nature. For ex, the axioms of parallel lines never crossing each other and, if crossed by a third line, then only at the same angle, are those that lie in the foundation of Euclidean Geometry. Axioms of commutative and associative rules are among the rules that govern the operations of addition and multiplication in Algebra etc. Like mathematical disciplines, all philosophical systems have their postulates. For ex, all three idealistic schools – Berkley’s subjective, Kant’s transcendental and Hegel’s objective – assume for their basic postulate that idea (“spirit”) is “primary” and a “matter is “secondary”. Materialism – mechanistic or dialectic – on the contrary, puts a matter in a driver’s seat and declares, after Marx, an idea (anything “spiritual”) to be a product of a “highly-organized” matter.

Philosophical systems and mathematical theories like to be presented in axiomatic form or fashion because it makes it possible to see exactly what their basic assumptions are. Those assumptions are the foundations, which all their complex and sophisticated bodies stand on. All conclusions and results that make up the content of the systems are derived, in the final analysis, from their basic postulates.

Postulates can be purely speculative in nature as the examples above are. They can also be based on and originated from the experiment like, for ex, Darwin’s principles of natural selection and inheritance, which where based on observed scientific data and, as such, they are inductive in nature. They are the postulates of his evolutionary views. The same applies to a lot broader and deeper Spencer’s Theory of Evolution that has “First Principles” (1862) for its postulates that also were born out of and confirmed by an observed data. Even geometrical postulates mentioned above, as Mill argued in “System of Logic” (1843), are also of inductive origin.

Streaks Recognition Theory follows the lead of Philosophy and Mathematics and assumes axiomatic nature. It has its own postulates, which are its foundation and starting point for its development. Due to the arguments of the previous two chapters, Theory accepts them to be correct and undisputable.

Since those postulates are the result of the observed data, they are trial (experiment) – based and inductive in nature. Empirical observations and their theoretical interpretations in chapters 12 and 13 allow us, finally, to list Theory’s Postulates and lay down the foundation for Theory’s development.

Theory’s Postulates

Postulate I:

As a rule, the sequences of symbols combinations appear in the form of “streaks”.

Postulate II:

There are only two types of streaks – “cold” and “hot”.

Postulate III:

Streaks are not “uniform” and get interrupted by the “splashes” of an opposite “temperature”.

Postulate IV:

“Cold” streaks are long and “uneventful” and “hot” streaks are short and “violent”.

Postulate V:

It is impossible to predict duration of a “cold” and “hot” streak.

Postulate VI:

The same machine can be in opposite “modes” or “streaks” in different periods of time.

These 6 postulates are the basic assumptions of Streaks Recognition Theory. In the final analysis, all further conclusions, results and recommendations of the Theory and Method are based on them. Our postulates immediately lead us in the next chapter to 5 corollaries, which are extremely important due to their practical nature.