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Reference: Data Series

[This is a very abbreviated partial summary. To get full understanding, please study the Data Series. Note: DS 2 = Data Series number 2.]

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In Data Series, Hubbard starts out by sketching an Ideal Scene for Logic. He says, 

By establishing the ways in which things become illogical, one can then establish what is logic.  (DS 2)

Hubbard then looks at the ways that things become illogical, and lists them as follows:

1. Omit a fact.
2. Change sequence of events.
3. Drop out time.
4. Add a falsehood.
5. Alter importance.  (DS 2)

He then establishes logic as follows:

1. All relevant facts must be known.
2. Events must be in actual sequence.
3. Time must be properly noted.
4. The data must be factual, which is to say true or valid.
5. Relative importances amongst the data must be recognized by comparing the facts with what one is seeking to accomplish or solve. (DS 2)

These are the conditions that must be present in the scene of the activity that one is examining. These conditions are part of the Ideal Scene. Any departures from the Ideal Scene are outpoints. Hubbard says, 

Using these conditions, we can analyze the data we have. But, the quality of the data analysis depends on one knowing the ideal organization and purpose on which the activity is based. This means one has to know what its activities are supposed to be from a rational or logical viewpoint. (DS 4)

When one decides to examine an activity for outpoints, one must first work out its IDEAL SCENE. But such ideal scene need not be long and complex. Hubbard says, 

The entire concept of an ideal scene for any activity is really a clean statement of its PURPOSE.  (DS 12)

But working out such a clean statement of PURPOSE and the Ideal Scene may not always be easy. A person’s fixed ideas can prevent him or her from working out a sane Ideal Scene. Hubbard cautions

The “idée fixe” is the bug in sanity. Whenever an observer himself has fixed ideas he tends to look at them, not at the information. Prejudiced people are suffering mainly from an “idée fixe.” The strange part of it is that the “idée fixe” they think they have isn’t the one they do have.  (DS 8)

A person with fixed ideas confuses outpoints in his own thinking with outpoints in an activity. This is a grave error. Hubbard points out.

Errors are usually a comparison to one’s personal ideals. Outpoints compare to the ideal for that particular scene.  (DS 9)

Therefore, Hubbard emphasizes again and again,

The purpose of the activity must be part of the ideal one has for that activity. The fact that something is actually operating and solvent can outweigh the untested advantages of changing it.  (DS 8)

Hubbard cautions against opinions creeping into the Ideal Scene, 

The moment that one goes into any dependence on opinion, he goes into quicksand and will see too late the fatal flaw in restoring anything. (DS 12)

According to Hubbard, statistics are the key to the awareness of the ideal and existing scenes.

Statistics are the only sound measure of any production or any job or any activity… Just as the purpose from which the ideal scene is taken must be correct, so must the statistic be all the more thoughtfully correct. (DS 12)

Hubbard provides a test for the correct Ideal Scene:

The correctly stated ideal scene will have a production statistic. (DS 13)

Hubbard provides an excellent example of working out the correct Ideal Scene and Statistics in Data Series 13. This example must be carefully studied. Once the Ideal Scene has been worked out with great care, one can start to examine the existing scene for the actual situation.

A situation is a major departure from the ideal scene. (DS 11)

One immediately starts to see outpoints (illogical departures from the ideal scene) in the existing scene. One should carefully differentiate between outpoints and errors.

It will be found that outpoints are really few unless the activity is very irrational. Simple errors on the other hand can be found in legions in any scene. (DS 9)

If your existing scene is very broad, you may have to narrow it down first. You do this by assigning the outpoints to areas of the existing scene. Then you look more closely at the area having the most outpoints. 

We obtain an analysis of the situation by analyzing all the data we have and assigning the outpoint data to the areas or parts. The area having the most outpoints is the target for correction. (DS 4)

After narrowing the existing scene as necessary, one now looks for the situation.  

A situation analysis only indicates the area that has to be closely inspected and handled. (DS 5)

The Ideal Scene may have to be refined for the narrowed down existing scene. This will make one see the relevant outpoints. One starts by listing these outpoints (not errors) as they come up in his awareness. This is pretty much like the Listing and Nulling procedure in Scientology. The moment you find the situation, all other outpoints will start to make more sense. One will now have the situation.

This means a wide and significant or dangerous or potentially damaging CIRCUMSTANCE or STATE OF AFFAIRS which means that the IDEAL SCENE has been departed from and doesn’t fully exist in that area. (DS 11)

The next step is to find out the “change” that brought about the situation. This may require pulling strings further on outpoints.

In order to resolve a situation fully one has to get the real reason WHY a departure from the Ideal Scene occurred. “Change” is the root of departures. One has to isolate THE change in order to obtain full recovery. (DS 12)

Once the WHY is found, one embarks on the handling of the situation.

Just as you proceed to the MOST MAJOR SITUATION—go big, when it comes to handling it usually occurs that reverse is true—go small! (DS 11)

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Comments

Hubbard says, “By establishing the ways in which things become illogical, one can then establish what is logic.”

This is a circular statement, which omits the ideal scene for logic. The ideal scene for logic may be stated as ONENESS, which leads to the anomalies of discontinuity (missing data), inconsistency (contradictory data), and disharmony (arbitrary data).

The outpoints of Data Series may be related to anomalies as follows:

1. Omit a fact (discontinuity)
2. Change sequence of events (inconsistency)
3. Drop out time (discontinuity)
4. Add a falsehood (inconsistency and disharmony
5. Alter importance  (disharmony)

The outpoint of “Add a falsehood” can only be spotted as an inconsistency. You will need additional data to show the falsehood.

It is very important to work out the correct ideal scene. Hubbard cautions against fixed ideas corrupting the ideal scene. However, Hubbard had the fixed idea of “oneness is destructive of individuality.” Therefore, he did not believe in the overall ideal scene of ONENESS for logic.

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