#concept [[Worldmaking]] refers to the process of creating and imagining worlds, whether they exist in reality or in fiction. This can take many forms, from designing video games to writing stories to creating new political systems. Worldmaking is a human activity that has been present throughout history, from ancient mythology to modern-day science fiction. "Ways of Worldmaking" is a philosophical work by Nelson Goodman, first published in 1978. Goodman challenges the notion that knowledge about the world is based on a fixed reality. Instead, he argues that we construct worlds through the symbolic systems and scientific models we create. Goodman introduces the idea that rather than discovering worlds, we create them through various "worldmaking" processes. This involves making and remaking of worlds through symbolic, artistic, and scientific activities. A significant part of Goodman's argument is that the worlds we make are constructed through symbols. Language, art, and science serve as symbolic systems that allow us to describe, understand, and navigate our worlds. Goodman challenges the notion of a single, true world, arguing instead for the existence of multiple worlds. These are not parallel universes but rather different versions of the world, each created through our interpretative practices. He discusses the criteria for what makes one world version more acceptable than another. These criteria include coherence, simplicity, and suitability within a particular symbolic system. It's not about finding the one true world but about understanding the utility and effectiveness of various constructed worlds. Goodman spends considerable time discussing how art and science are forms of worldmaking. In science, theoretical models create worlds that help us understand and predict phenomena. In art, creative works construct worlds that can express, evoke, and explore human experience. The book has profound implications for how we understand knowledge and truth. Goodman suggests that knowledge is not about accurately representing a pre-existing world but about creating useful and coherent worlds through our symbolic activities. The concept of worldmaking has become increasingly relevant in today's world, where technology has made it possible to create highly immersive and believable virtual environments. This has led to a proliferation of constructed, internally coherent worlds, from video games to virtual reality simulations. Worldmaking also encompasses the ways in which we make sense of the world around us and shape our perceptions of reality. Our beliefs, values, and experiences all play a role in shaping the worlds that we imagine and create. This is why it matters what stories make worlds and what worlds make stories. One of the key aspects of worldmaking is that it is a collaborative process. Whether we are working with a team to design a video game or participating in a political system, we are always co-creating the worlds around us. Worldmaking is not just about imagining new possibilities, but also about negotiating and shaping the worlds that we share with others. There are different approaches to worldmaking, ranging from the moralistic, which seeks to create utopian worlds, to the anti-moralistic, which emphasizes the importance of experimentation and play. Whether you are an anti-moralist or a moralist, the most important thing is to engage in the process of worldmaking, to imagine new possibilities, and to shape the world in the way that you see fit. In conclusion, worldmaking is a fundamental human activity that encompasses the ways in which we create and imagine new worlds, whether they exist in reality or in fiction. It is a collaborative process that requires us to engage with the world around us, to imagine new possibilities, and to shape our perceptions of reality. We live in the times of endless multiplication of worlds, and may need a toolkit (a concept map) that explores ways that these are designed and can be understood. The term 'Worldmaking' comes from [Nelson Goodman's](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/goodman-aesthetics/) book called '[[N. Goodman, Ways of Worldmaking]]'. In this context, it refers to an expanded idea of design. Design in the expanded sense. Worldmaking is what architectural design needs to become to remain relevant as a practice of [[Cosmology]]. A negative definition would be: worldmaking is not worldbuilding, in the same way that gaming is not gamification. In my particular reading, worldmaking as a practice is fundamentally about [[Space]] [[On Planet Garden, Simulations and Worldmaking]]