ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how ultrametric topology provides a most useful representational and computational framework. It describes how ultrametricity provides a representation of Matte Blanco's symmetric reasoning. Symmetric reasoning is associated with repressed or otherwise unconscious thought processes. The chapter seeks to quantify isosceles with small base configurations and equilateral configurations. The distribution of the ultrametric-respecting triangles in a data set such as this allows us to assess the statistical significance of ultrametricity of any given word. The chapter speculates on how one would exploit the "strands" or "threads" of ultrametricity. It presents excellent proof of concept that from empirical – textual – data it can determine measures of ultrametricity, or hierarchical symmetry. The chapter develops an operational procedure for ranking manifestations of reasoning in terms of Matte Blanco's symmetric, on the one hand, and asymmetric, on the other hand, logic.
