Concept Taxonomy
This document defines the categorical taxonomy for organizing the 250 concepts in the Data-Driven Ethics and Systems Change learning graph.
Taxonomy Categories
1. Foundation Concepts (FOUND)
TaxonomyID: FOUND
Description: Core foundational concepts that provide the basic framework for understanding data-driven ethics. These include fundamental definitions of ethics, scientific methodology, critical thinking skills, and data literacy.
Concept Range: 1-25 (Ethics basics, reasoning, research methods, bias recognition)
2. Harm Measurement (HARM)
TaxonomyID: HARM
Description: Concepts related to measuring, quantifying, and assessing harm across health, environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Includes metrics like DALYs, social costs, and life-cycle analysis.
Concept Range: 26-55 (Harm definition through intergenerational harm)
3. Data Gathering (DATA)
TaxonomyID: DATA
Description: Concepts covering ethical data collection methods, source evaluation, bias detection, data quality assessment, and research validity. Focuses on how to gather unbiased, reliable information.
Concept Range: 56-80 (Ethical data collection through data documentation)
4. Systems Foundations (SYSF)
TaxonomyID: SYSF
Description: Core systems thinking concepts including complex systems, feedback loops, stocks and flows, and dynamic behavior. Provides the theoretical foundation for systems analysis.
Concept Range: 81-106 (Systems thinking through mental models)
5. System Archetypes (ARCH)
TaxonomyID: ARCH
Description: Common patterns of system behavior including Tragedy of the Commons, Shifting the Burden, and other archetypes. Helps recognize recurring problematic patterns in harmful industries.
Concept Range: 107-128 (System archetypes through geographic shifting)
6. Market and Power (MRKT)
TaxonomyID: MRKT
Description: Economic and power dynamics concepts including market failures, externalities, stakeholder relationships, regulatory capture, and game theory. Explains why harmful industries persist.
Concept Range: 129-145 (Stakeholder analysis through Pareto efficiency)
7. Industry Cases (CASE)
TaxonomyID: CASE
Description: Specific harmful industry case studies including tobacco, fossil fuels, ultra-processed foods, fast fashion, cybercrime, pharmaceuticals, gambling, and social media.
Concept Range: 146-170 (Tobacco industry through attention economy)
8. Leverage Points (LEVR)
TaxonomyID: LEVR
Description: Donella Meadows' framework for system intervention including the hierarchy of leverage points from parameters to paradigm shifts. Focuses on where to intervene for maximum impact.
Concept Range: 171-190 (Leverage points through intervention sequencing)
9. Advocacy Strategies (ADVOC)
TaxonomyID: ADVOC
Description: Policy design, regulatory approaches, market-based solutions, and political strategies for creating systemic change. Covers both top-down and bottom-up approaches.
Concept Range: 191-215 (Advocacy strategies through corporate engagement)
10. Behavioral Economics (BEHAV)
TaxonomyID: BEHAV
Description: Psychological concepts that influence decision-making including nudges, choice architecture, framing effects, and cognitive biases as they relate to intervention design.
Concept Range: 199-208 (Behavioral economics through decision fatigue)
11. Communication (COMM)
TaxonomyID: COMM
Description: Data visualization, graphical storytelling, message framing, and persuasive communication techniques for advocating change and presenting evidence effectively.
Concept Range: 216-224 (Data visualization through evidence presentation)
12. Capstone and Reform (CAP)
TaxonomyID: CAP
Description: Concepts related to designing and implementing reform proposals, including success metrics, monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management for the capstone project.
Concept Range: 225-230 (Reform proposals through capstone project)
13. Corporate Responsibility (CORP)
TaxonomyID: CORP
Description: Corporate ethics concepts including ESG metrics, sustainability reporting, stakeholder capitalism, B Corps, impact investing, and corporate accountability mechanisms.
Concept Range: 231-250 (Corporate responsibility through future of ethics)
Summary Table
| TaxonomyID | Category Name | Concept Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOUND | Foundation Concepts | 25 | 10.0% |
| HARM | Harm Measurement | 30 | 12.0% |
| DATA | Data Gathering | 25 | 10.0% |
| SYSF | Systems Foundations | 26 | 10.4% |
| ARCH | System Archetypes | 22 | 8.8% |
| MRKT | Market and Power | 17 | 6.8% |
| CASE | Industry Cases | 25 | 10.0% |
| LEVR | Leverage Points | 20 | 8.0% |
| ADVOC | Advocacy Strategies | 17 | 6.8% |
| BEHAV | Behavioral Economics | 10 | 4.0% |
| COMM | Communication | 9 | 3.6% |
| CAP | Capstone and Reform | 6 | 2.4% |
| CORP | Corporate Responsibility | 20 | 8.0% |
| Total | 250 | 100% |
Notes
- No single category exceeds 15% of total concepts
- Categories are balanced across course parts (Understanding, Analysis, Action)
- BEHAV overlaps with ADVOC but is separated for pedagogical clarity
- MISC category not needed - all concepts fit within defined taxonomies