There are four representative elements that shaped the modern era. The first is modern science. The second is the modern accounting system. The third is modern democracy. And the fourth is modern sports.
However, the economic system has not yet been established. This is causing confusion in modern society.
Understanding the elements common to these four matters reveals the ideal future society and economy.
The elements common to the four matters are as follows:
First, mathematics. It is quantitative. The characteristics of mathematics are its visuality, operability, and logic. The fact that it is visible, operable, and logical has been a major factor in the development of mathematics. At the same time, the logical structure being universal is important. When based on a qualitative system, interpretations vary. By basing it on numbers, the point of understanding could be lowered.
Second, it is materialism. The basic principle is to eliminate metaphysical problems and derive the laws behind the phenomena that appear as objects. Therefore, the foundation is realism and materialism. It should not be misunderstood that metaphysical problems are being disregarded or denied. They are respected and valued, but are temporarily put on hold. The law exists because it is based on the spirit of compliance. However, codifying the spirit of compliance is meaningless. It can only be assumed.
Third, it is realism. The foundation is always reality and facts. Metaphysical existence is neither affirmed nor denied. However, the conceptual entity is denied as the basis of logical grounds and inference. As a result, the inductive method based on observation and experiment plays an important role.
Fourth, it is logical positivism. In logical positivism, the premise proposition is an arbitrary assumption. Experiments are conducted based on hypotheses, and results are produced. The procedure of proving the hypothesis with the results is necessary. In such logical positivism, procedures and processes are important. This is also true for democracy. Games like chess and shogi can be said to be competitions of procedures. Sports are an extension of this.
Fifth, it is relativism. Arbitrarily, a relative space is set. The premise is arbitrariness. Arbitrariness means that will is at work. Nothing is established where there is no will. That is the essence of relativism. Physical units are relatively fixed standards. In contrast, economic units, such as monetary units, are relatively variable standards. This makes economic laws complex. However, monetary units are also linear.
Sixth, it is the principle of law and rule. Modernity is established on the premise of arbitrary rules. Once a law is proven, conclusions are derived deductively. The problem is the consistency between laws. Mathematical logic can prove this consistency mathematically, but in the artificial space of society, this consistency may not be maintained. This is where politics intervenes. In the world of sports and accounting, this consistency is maintained to some extent. Therefore, sports and accounting systems can have a solid foundation.
Seventh, it is the concept of contract. The concept of contract is a fundamental concept of democracy. The concept of contract here does not simply refer to what is exchanged between humans. It refers to a concept that is established through the mediation of some universal existence. Also, a contract is established on the premise of the procedures that accompany it. In other words, procedures are important. A contract is established on the premise of codifying the agreement. In science, this is hypothesisism. In other words, agreement is a matter of the possibility of understanding, and science bases its grounds on reality and provability. A contract bases it on agreement and procedures. It is also consensualism. There is initial agreement in parliament and procedures.
Eighth, it is the concept of field. When a force is filled in an arbitrary space by a certain law, a field is formed. Real space is formed by these fields overlapping. Each overlapping field is independent and is connected by matter or self as a medium. Therefore, if the laws of each field are clarified, the laws behind the phenomena can be elucidated. This is a very important element when considering a democratic society.
Ninth, it is structuralism. The concept of structure is an important element in considering modernity. Democracy is particularly structural and institutional thought. When organization and system are assumed, it inevitably becomes functionalism. Logic also has a structure. This logical structure becomes one of the important elements expressing thought. Dialectics is a good example. However, dialectics is incompatible with modernization. This is because inconsistency cannot be proven. As long as inconsistency cannot be proven, it inevitably becomes a kind of mysticism.
Tenth, it is functionalism. The important thing is function. Structure becomes dynamic through function. Structure seeks stability, while function does not. Sports are functions. Sports are activities.
Eleventh, it is informatization. When considering modernity, the flow of informatization cannot be overlooked. The flow of informatization is trying to change the essence of the monetary economy. Modernity is about to face a new phase through the information revolution.
Twelfth, it is universalism and generalization. The essence of science is in generalization. By generalizing, science could become universal. Airplanes flying in communist countries and airplanes flying in liberal countries fly on the same principle. Airplanes flying in Christian countries and airplanes flying in Islamic countries are the same. Modern people think this is natural. However, there was a time when this was not considered natural. There was a time when even the same human beings were thought to be different creatures depending on the family they were born into, their race, or the god they believed in.
Thirteenth, it is standardization. Sports were established by standardization. The more standardized it is, the more individual abilities stand out.
Fourteenth, it is openness. Openness is also populism. It can involve anyone. An open society and system greatly propelled modernity. For the first time, humanity could obtain a common ground through the sharing of knowledge, information, and technology.
Fifteenth, it is liberalism. Freedom is brought about by laws. The freedom of sports is guaranteed in an artificial space created by rules. There is no freedom in a lawless society.
Sixteenth, it is individualism. Science, democracy, accounting, and sports are not represented by individual names. Science and technology made great progress by guaranteeing individual free research and rights. Industry developed through the results of technological innovation, building today’s prosperity. The foundation is individualism.
Seventeenth, it is the concept of time. There is some form of definition of the concept of time. Time is a unit of change. In accounting and sports, certain units of time and change are defined. For example, accounting periods, sports rounds, counts, sets, and times. The definition of time plays an important role. The problem of time is how to mark irreversible changes. Everyday time seems universal, but nothing is as relative as time. Sports are a good example, but the time during which sports rules are valid is limited. Moreover, it is individual. It can be stopped. However, the commonality is that it is an irreversible change. How to define that time specifies the space-time. Time is defined as a unit of change. Irreversible change is a one-way change, with past, present, and future temporal order in the events that occur, and it refers to changes that cannot be reversed. An event that has occurred once cannot be denied. In sports, it means that a play once made cannot be denied, and in accounting, it means that a transaction once occurred cannot be denied. In other words, it means how to develop and structure events with order. Baseball is a good example, with nine innings as the basis, alternating offense and defense each inning, and three outs per change, constructing irreversible events. The usual concept of time is a clock concept, referring to changes at regular intervals, but the concept of time here refers to the irreversible order of events without limiting the interval. In other words, it is possible to replace the unit of change with events without limiting it to regular intervals.
Eighteenth, it is egalitarianism. Thorough elimination of attributes and abstraction are characteristics. The result is egalitarianism and meritocracy. However, the egalitarianism mentioned here is not equalism. The existence of sports with handicaps is a good example. In sports, attributes unrelated to sports are eliminated. In extreme cases, even sexual differences are ignored. And it is evaluated by achievements and abilities. This also means equality in a logical sense. In other words, it does not recognize hierarchy or authority in theory. Family background, race, social status, etc., are not considered. That is equality. Today’s capitalism has a structure that begins to decline as soon as it matures. This is because capitalism contains an irreversible structure.
Arbitrarily set a relative economic space, establish laws, and establish an economic field. Then, by constructing an institutional structure in the economic field, control the functions of the economy. That is structural economics.