Is there such a thing as a complete taxonomy? Is there any framework, in any discipline, which reaches the "Well...I guess that's it" asymptote?
The scientific method is a tried and true approach to this problem. Francis Bacon says hypothesize, experiment, then conclude. In other words, scientists can create hypotheses, but ultimately, science defers to real world results. The history of the sciences could be represented as a long chain of failed hypotheses, superseded by increasingly comprehensive theories. This chain makes it clear that the likelihood of finding a perfect system is equal to the chance of errant data never again materializing.
Obviously, this constant theoretical flux is not the modus operandi for everyday life. Efficient communication depends on some degradation of the signal in question. Systems of deduction are much more efficient, because we create the theories that classify and order the natural world. The deductive method is a lot sexier than open-ended inquiry, precisely because it is flattering to think that humanity is capable of creating a complete system to understand everything (including itself). Never-mind if some bits and pieces are lost along the way...
I have been searching for a specific term to measure the degree to which a system accurately accounts for "everything," and I have come up with semantic harmony (if something more scientific and academically established exists, please let me know!). It is tempting to think that we are at complete semantic harmony right now, even though in my heart of hearts, I know this is not true. I am interested in this outer limit, why it is so enticing for people to try and achieve this seemingly impossible goal.
In relation to makin' stuff, I have recently been obsessed with obviously incomplete systems which present themselves as semantically harmonious. To go into detail would be to ruin the outcome, but I have realized that this web-log is great for self-clarification, so in the interest of "My Spiritual Journey," I figured I would try and write this out.
related: Net artist Guthrie Lonergan has done the world a favor by excavating surreal videos from Getty Film / Images, a stock photo and video repository that begins to look a lot like one person's cinematic conception of the entire world. see this post and this website