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I am trying to find out what is meant by circumstances with respect to transformations. In the bookNorm and Action by George Henrik von Wrighta transformation is described as a transition from an initial state of affairs to an end state of affairs. For example; Opening the window is viewed as a transformation from an initial state of affairs where there is a closed window, to an end state of affairs where there is an open window. I have read that the 'circumstance of transformation' as being important when describing the transformations, but the book doesn't say anything about them, so i'm trying to find out what they are. The definition of circumstance i'm struggling to understand is1.a in the Merriam Webster dictionary. For example when the post office fills out forms the initial state of affairs is when there are blank forms and the final state of affairs is when there are filled out forms and the instructions and data are classed as circumstance of transformation. My problem is that it seems like everything that is in the initial state of affairs could seen as possibly determining or conditoning the transformation. For example the material the form is made out of, the time of (reduction to absurdity?) are determining factors/circumstances too? Am I misinterpreting the idea of circumstances, because there only seems to be determining factors present. Thanks, R. everything that is in the initial state of affairs could seen as possibly determining or conditoning the transformation This is demonstrably false. The form will likely be filled out the same way regardless of if the day's weather is sunny or cloudy. If I drop a ball, it will hit the ground regardless of if I'm touching my nose or not. Only certain aspects of the circumstances are causally relevant to the transformation. Sometimes causal relations are non-deterministic and/or outside the reach of current human knowledge, but at a general level they are usually easy to discern. a) Relevance in Transformation: Identifying factors directly contributing to or affecting the transition from an initial state of affairs to an end state.

b) Contextual Conditions: Understanding the environmental, instructional, or situational elements influencing the process of change.

c) Causal Relevance: Differentiating between determining factors and mere coincidental elements present in the initial state, emphasizing those directly impacting the transformation.

d) Impactful Elements: Recognizing specific aspects within the circumstances that significantly contribute to the actual process of altering the state of affairs.

User Yahnoosh
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Final answer:

Circumstances of transformation describe the influential conditions that impact the process of change from an initial state to an end state across settings like theater or history, stressing the importance of distinguishing between causal and incidental factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term circumstances of transformation references the specific conditions or factors that contribute to or influence the process of change from one state to another, in various contexts such as theater, history, or thermodynamics. These circumstances can include environmental factors, instructional guidelines, or determining elements essential to the transformative process.

In theater, for example, the Given Circumstances define the actor's parameters for character choices within the world of the play, while in history, they might entail the immediate and long-term factors that explain why an event happened. Understanding causal relevance is key in distinguishing factors that are essential for the transformation as opposed to incidental aspects that do not affect the outcome.

User Quant Christo
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