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On W+T=Z — LessWrong

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On W+T=Z

9th Nov 2025

3 min read

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On W+T=Z

mengliangyu

Is there a formula that can explain most things in the world today? I'll call it W+T=Z. Let me explain in detail below. There may be unclear or incorrect parts, so please correct me.

First, let's talk about W. It refers to the state of the system itself. For example, if Zhang and Hong are playing, Zhang is W (from Hong's perspective, Zhang is T). The perspectives of W and T are mutually convertible and contradictory yet unified.

T: The environment and external influences. Everything that is contradictory yet unified with the system itself is T.

+: The process of mutual influence between W and T. It is an essential and indispensable process.

Z: The new state after the process ends. Why? Because a large thing contains many small things, and W+T=Z often cannot encompass everything (though some small things can).

Having explained the definition, let's talk about my other article, "On Three Impressions."

The first impression refers to the initial, almost thoughtless, emotional response a person has when they first see or encounter something. The second impression refers to an incomplete or erroneous reflection on the thing that has been processed into the brain. The third impression refers to the highest level of understanding a person has of the thing, at which point their comprehension of it has reached a very high level of maturity (I refer to them as I1, I2, and I3).

The reason I'm mentioning this seemingly unrelated article is because W+T=Z can be used to analyze relationships between people and between people and things. Since people's thoughts constantly change when faced with something new, this can be applied in writing.

Let's take a romantic relationship as an example (assuming the man and woman are meeting for the first time). Initially, both are I1, because they've just met and are reserved, i.e., WI1 + TI1 = ZI1. Later, either the man or the woman might say or do something wrong and get angry. Then, T will start overthinking and become TI2 (before the first conflict, both are always I1, no matter how close they are). Of course, W is also I2 at this time. Later (it's possible that W + T = Z will resolve the issue, but this refers to an unstable relationship or just a fling), the two reconcile, argue, and after reconciling, both become I3, i.e., WI3 + TI3 = ZI3 (this is actually a process of negation of negation). Let's take the Anti-Japanese War as another example: Initially, the Chinese people were still in stage I1, because they had just encountered the Japanese invaders, were panicked, afraid, and ignorant. Later, as the brutality and ugliness of the Japanese gradually became apparent, some Chinese people stood up, thought, revolted, and fought (but most of them acted blindly and erroneously). Because there was no scientific guidance at the time, everyone was driven by passion and self-righteousness (of course, some people were correct, but few). Two erroneous ideas emerged during this period: the theory of quick victory and the theory of national subjugation. Later, the Chinese Communist Party and a series of scientific ideas emerged. After a process of negation of negation, the people reached I3, and under the guidance of the Chinese Communist Party and a series of scientific ideas, they drove out the Japanese invaders. At this point, WI1 + TI2 = Z—WI2 + TI2 = Z—WI3 + TI2 = ZI3. The reason we were able to defeat the Kuomintang later was that our thinking had reached I3, and we deeply realized that the Chinese Communist Party was right and for our own good, while the Kuomintang was generally still at the I2 stage, barbaric, erroneous, and backward. Therefore, we quickly defeated them, established a new people's government, and subsequently defeated the United States and the UN forces, beginning a period of rapid development. At this point, WI3 + TI2 (Kuomintang) = ZI3—WI3 (I3 in thought and spirit) + TI3 (I2 in thought and spirit) = ZI3.

These two examples are not entirely comprehensive, but I believe that W+T=Z can definitely be used to analyze many things such as aerospace, environment, food, and biology. However, this will require everyone's efforts.