Understanding Hierarchy by Translating Folgezettel and Structure Zettel * Zettelkasten ... - 0 views
-
Understanding Hierarchy by Translating Folgezettel and Structure Zettel
-
If you use the Folgezettel technique, you achieve two things:
-
You assign each Zettel a place in a hierarchy.
- ...19 more annotations...
-
You automatically create a connection to the Zettel you create.
-
Given this technique, it is less important where we place a new note. If there are several possibilities, we can solve the problem as we wish and just record the connection by a link [or reference].
-
If you use the Luhmann-ID, the answer is the same: the position is of minimal importance.
-
But just to be clear, let me tell you that Folgezettel does not mean hierarchy. When I saw argonsnorts post about it, I thought a Digital implementation of Folgezettel was a hierarchical method of creating notes and combined the decentralized characteristic of UID-systems. I even commented on it; but I’d be wrong. After seeing that, I reviewed how the Folgezettel worked, and then finally understood that it actually meant a direct, obvious connection between notes.
-
The Folgezettel technique realizes two things: Hierarchy and direct linking. This hierarchy, however, is meaningless.
-
Folgezettel and Structure Zettel are manifestations of introducing a general principle to your note taking. They realize the principles of hierarchy to the Zettelkasten.
-
Folgezettel create one single hierarchy. Its meaning is minimized by the arbitrariness of the position: You can put a Zettel in one position or another. It is not important as long as you link from the other position to the Zettel.
-
Structure Zettel on the other hand do not introduce one single hierarchy but the possibility of indefinite hierarchies. If there are indefinite hierarchies, the position of each hierarchy has zero importance to the individual Zettel. You can make it part of one hierarchy, or another, or both. You can even create new hierarchies.
-
Meaningless hierarchies
-
Luhmann created order with his Folgezettel to force each Zettel into an unchanging position: Once it is placed, it could not be moved
-
If each Zettel has an unchanging position, you can refer to it.
-
There is no meaning in the Folgezettel hierarchy on purpose. It is just another connection.
-
I have Zettel like those, too: I have a Structure Zettel on the Zettelkasten Method that links to other departments (in my case realized via Structure Zettel) of the Zettelkasten Method. These departments/Structure Zettel would be “linking”, “complexity”, “developing ideas”, and more.
-
Christian wrote his well-received article as a warning: Don’t collect content of other people. Don’t postpone processing, but make things your own.
-
So I will formulate stronger: Collector’s Fallacy means that you collect without processing, while making the assumption that it is fine to process later.
-
Example: I have a Structure Zettel that is named Self-Development. It links to a Zettel that is named The concept of the future-self. The Structure Zettel gives me an ordered view of my Zettelkasten as if it was only ordered for the purpose of developing a knowledge structure around the concept of self-development. The Zettel Concept of the future-self is linked because it is one of the core models that map the self in time and space.
-
At the same time, I have a Structure Zettel named Time. What it is about is self-evident. It puts every Zettel in a hierarchy as if my whole Zettelkasten is only designed to create a knowledge structure around the concept of time. The Zettel Concept of the future-self is linked because it is a model that maps the subjective nature of time.
-
Summary
-
Folgezettel and Structure Zettel use the form of hierarchy. Folgezettel uses one single hierarchy to eliminate any meaning from hierarchy. Structure Zettel does the same by introducing infinite possible hierarchies. Folgezettel do provide an address via ID and therefore hypertextuality through linking. Structure Zettel don’t, and we rely on time-based IDs. Folgezettel do not establish meaningful connections because their position and therefore their relationship to parents or children of the one single hierarchy is meaningless – even by design. Structure Zettel establish meaningful connections. Hierarchy is meaningful for this one Structure Zettel. But because any Zettel can be part of any hierarchy the ultimate importance of its position is erased. Using the Folgezettel to capture some connections and hope that their nature will reveal themselves later on it just another form of Collector’s Fallacy.