detení

Detení is a fictional discipline used in speculative fiction and some role-playing contexts to study and influence the behavior of complex systems through controlled observation and intervention. The term is primarily encountered in created milieus rather than in real-world science. In most depictions, detení combines elements of systems theory, experimentation, and ethics oversight to chart how small changes propagate through networks such as cities, economies, or ecosystems.

Origins and usage: First appearing in late-20th- and early-21st-century science fiction and game texts, detení has been adopted by fan communities and authors as a toolkit for world-building and scenario design. In many works, practitioners—often called detenists—conduct simulations or narrative experiments that reveal vulnerabilities and resilience within a system.

Principles: Detení rests on three pillars: detection (identifying latent patterns and feedback loops), evaluation (assessing potential consequences of interventions), and iteration (repeated cycles to refine models and responses).

Applications: It serves as a fictional tool for authors to design plausible systems, for game masters to structure campaigns, and for educators within the story world to teach systems thinking.

Criticism and scope: As a fictional concept, detení has no formal scientific status. Critics note that it blends modeling with determinism and may raise ethical questions about manipulating imagined societies. In different works, its methods and goals vary widely.

See also: Systems theory, cybernetics, scenario planning, resilience.