Constructs and Simplifications

This chapter explores the nature and role of constructs in professional communication and understanding. It examines how both physically perceivable (PHPE) and physically unperceivable (PHUN) constructs are used through metaphors and simplifications to convey complex meanings. While acknowledging the practical utility of such constructs, the chapter warns against the trap of over-simplification, where PHUN constructs like ‘culture,’ ‘morale,’ or ‘time management’ become mere scapegoats rather than starting points for deeper professional inquiry. The chapter also emphasises the inherent relativeness of all human-made constructs, arguing that none can be validated as categorically true or false since validation itself is a construct. Using examples from mathematics, time, and technology, the chapter illustrates how everything is understood and defined in relation to something else. Despite this limitation, the chapter argues that constructs are necessary for human civilisation and professional development. The chapter concludes by highlighting the ongoing professional challenges of knowing when to embrace new constructs and establishing criteria for comparing construct-based qualities, emphasising that these challenges evolve with changing societal and professional landscapes.