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A Model to Understand the World: W+T=Z — LessWrong

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A Model to Understand the World: W+T=Z

9th Nov 2025

3 min read

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On W+T=Z

By Meng Liangyu

Is there a formula that can explain most phenomena in the world? I propose one here called W+T=Z. Let me elaborate in the following sections. There may be unclear or incorrect points, and I welcome everyone’s corrections.

First, let’s talk about W, which refers to the state of the system itself. For example, when Xiao Zhang plays with Xiao Hong, Xiao Zhang is W (though from Xiao Hong’s perspective, Xiao Zhang is T). The perspectives of W and T are interchangeable and exist in dialectical unity.

T: The environment and external influences. Everything that stands in dialectical unity with the system itself is T.

+: The process of interaction between W and T. This process is indispensable and inevitable.

Z: The new state after the process concludes. Why say it this way? Because a major entity contains many smaller entities, and a single instance of W+T=Z often cannot fully encompass all of them (though it may cover some).

Having explained the definitions, let me now discuss another article of mine, “On Three Impressions.”

· The first impression refers to the almost purely perceptual, non-reflective reaction a person has when first encountering something.

· The second impression refers to the incomplete or erroneous thinking about something that has already entered one’s mind.

· The third impression refers to the highest level of reflection in the mind, where understanding of the thing has reached a very mature state (I abbreviate these as I1, I2, I3).

The reason I mention this seemingly unrelated article here is that W+T=Z can analyze relationships between people and between people and things. Since human thinking constantly evolves when encountering new things, this framework can be applied in the article.

Let’s take a romantic relationship as an example (assuming a man and a woman have just met). Initially, both are at I1—reserved and cautious because they’ve just met:

WI1 + TI1 = ZI1.

Later, one might say or do something wrong, causing anger. The other (T) may overthink, transitioning to TI2 (before the first conflict, both remain at I1, no matter how intimate). At this point, W is also at I2. Eventually (perhaps resolved in one cycle of W+T=Z—here, we’re discussing unstable relationships or casual ones), they reconcile. After arguing and making up, both reach I3:

WI3 + TI3 = ZI3.

This, in essence, is a process of negation of negation.

Now, let’s consider the example of the War of Resistance Against Japan:

Initially, the Chinese people were at I1—startled, fearful, and ignorant upon facing the Japanese invaders. As the brutality and malevolence of the Japanese gradually revealed themselves, some among the Chinese people rose up, reflecting, rebelling, and fighting (though mostly in blind and erroneous ways). Lacking scientific ideological guidance, they acted on passion, mistaking incorrect ideas for right ones (though a few were correct, they were rare). At this stage, two erroneous ideologies emerged: the “Theory of Quick Victory” and the “Theory of National Subjugation.”

Later, with the emergence of the Communist Party of China and a series of scientific ideologies, the people underwent a process of negation of negation, advancing to I3. Under the guidance of the Communist Party of China and these scientific ideologies, they drove out the Japanese invaders. This process can be represented as:

WI1 + TI2 = Z → WI2 + TI2 = Z → WI3 + TI2 = ZI3.

The reason we later defeated the Kuomintang was that our thinking had reached I3—we deeply recognized that the Communist Party of China was right and worked for our benefit, while the Kuomintang largely remained at I2, representing barbaric, erroneous, and backward thinking. Thus, we swiftly defeated them, established a new people’s government, and subsequently triumphed over the United States and the UN forces, embarking on a path of flourishing development. This can be represented as:

WI3 + TI2 (Kuomintang) = ZI3 → WI3 (ideologically and spiritually I3) + TI3 (ideologically and spiritually I2) = ZI3.

These two examples are not fully comprehensive, but I believe W+T=Z can certainly analyze many domains—aerospace, environment, food, biology, and more. However, this will require everyone’s collective efforts.

This is an AI translation. I'm sorry, my English is not very good, but the article was written by myself