Catalysis

(see entredonneur, emulsifier, ideas density and other glossary entries)

In chemistry, a catalytic reaction is the opposite of an 'inhibitor'.
A catalyst is the 'host' for reaction and transformation in other agents (chemicals).
It does so without using much energy and without seriously affecting the process that it facilitates.

In chemistry

The above diagram shows how a catalyst 'assists' in a chemical reaction (X + Y) to produce Z.
The assisted reaction is shown here as red.
This reaction pathway differs from the reaction without a catalyst (black curve) in requiring less energy.
The final result and the overall thermodynamics are the same.
One may host many catalytic reactions in parallel.
Importantly, to qualify as a 'catalyst' the catalytic chemical is not consumed by the process.

The chemistry

Elizabeth Fulhame conceived the idea of ‘catalysis’ in 1794.
It comes from the Greek word ‘katalúō’ (‘καταλύειν’) that means to ‘loosen’ or ‘untie’.
In chemistry a ‘catalyst’ is a substance that will enhance, or quicken a chemical reaction without being changed or depleted in the process.
Notably, this process will not take place unless there is sufficient available space for it to work.

Applying Catalysis to Feng Shui

In this respect, de-cluttering a work room may help to catalyse unforeseen opportunities.
The logistics of rearranging objects may follow the mathematical principles of the ‘Tower of Hanoi’ puzzle.

Applying the term to social intervention

One might consider the difference between two types of charismatic facilitator.
- 1. An inspiring facilitator who walks away after inspiring a team to achieve lasting outcomes.
- 2. A similarly impressive facilitator who becomes messianic and indispensable to future successes.
Here, the first example corresponds more closely to the catalytic model of intervention.

Applying the term to joke telling

In 2021, David MacMillan received a Nobel prize (jointly with Benjamin List) for inventing a general procedure for rapidly catalysing novel chemical structures. Interviewed about his qualifications for devising the process, MacMillan cited his upbringing and sense of humour.

You can convey ideas quickly from growing up in Scotland…you learn how to talk and you learn how to tell a joke and you can get to a punchline," he said - you're good at it. BBC interview, 2021
As Paul Auster put it: The joke is the purest, most essential form of storytelling. Every word has to count. (Paul Auster)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gingell, James, Guardian article, How to write the shortest joke in the world, Fri 19 Feb 2016
David MacMillan: 'Being Scottish helped me win Nobel Prize’ BBC interview
Koestler, A., 1964. The Act of Creation, Penguin, London
Wood, 2022, Metadesigning Designing in the Anthropocene, Routledge (see overview reference to catalysts & emulsifiers).
Wood, J, 2012. ‘In the Cultivation of Research Excellence, is Rigour a No-Brainer?’, Journal of Writing in Creative Practice 5:1, pp. 11-26, doi: 10.1386/jwcp.5.1.11_1
Wood, J., 2009. ‘Auspicious Reasoning; can metadesign become a mode of governance?’ in Journal of Postcolonial Studies, Volume 12, Issue 3 September (2009) pp. 315 – 327
Wood, J., 1990. "COMMENT: The Socially Responsible Designer", Design Magazine, July 1990