Unmixing the Steel: The Arithmetic of Decolonisation

Language philosopher Bry Willis explores the complexities of decolonisation, using a mathematical "toy model" to challenge the popular idea that colonial influences can be easily extracted from a society. The author argues that the metaphor of purification is flawed; instead of being like salt that can be removed from water, colonial and indigenous elements act like an alloy, forming a new compound that cannot be separated into its original parts. Through an arithmetic simulation, the source demonstrates that joint or hybrid practices quickly become the dominant force in any polity, making it impossible to isolate specific traits by their origin. Consequently, the essay suggests that the provenance-based approach to dismantling colonial structures is logically and mathematically unsound. Instead, the author advocates for a functional rule that evaluates whether a practice currently maintains harmful power imbalances, rather than simply looking at where it came from. This perspective aligns with serious decolonial thinkers who reject restorationist fantasies in favour of more practical, forward-looking transformations. 👉 ⁠https://philosophics.blog