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TRIBUTARY
INSTITUTE
OUR VALUES & DIRECTIVE
Our Values are rooted in humanism, rationalism, and pragmatism. We are humanists insofar as we affirm that the condition of the world is, by and large, shaped by human hands; that each human ought to be treated with empathy and compassion; and that securing basic human needs ought to be a guiding light for those with power. We are rationalists insofar as we hold that the best actions are those taken under the influence of honest deliberation and reason, especially when concerning the wielding of large political powers, and that, to that end, the availability of knowledge and expertise is crucial to successful governance. We are pragmatists insofar as we judge that basing analysis on any ideology, however clever, is akin to arriving at the conclusion before the experiment, and as such, we seek to base our research, principles, and advocacy on the metrics of their merits.
Our Directive is to propagate information founded on rational thought, thorough research, and careful analysis of data. As an organisation, we hold to the principles of institutional economics -- that it is the structures that we build and maintain collectively, rather than people individually, that most heavily impact the well-being of our species. In recognising this and the fact that the TI does not govern any state or people, we seek to contribute the best we can to the public understanding and discourse with the resources available to us, and thereby point the actions of more powerful institutions than ours in a trajectory of greater human welfare.
OUR PROGRAMMES
Great Art Initiative: As an institution dedicated to the propagation of knowledge, we would be remiss to exclude one of the most important mediums through which we communicate. Consequently, in each of our papers, we feature an artwork connected to the subject-matter thereof
thereof and explore its maker, meaning, and place in art history. Likewise, each of our research categories is represented by a pertinent painting; more information about them can be found on the related category page. The painting of the Great Art Initiative is Van Gogh's Olive Trees in a Mountainous Landscape, circa 1889, one of a series of 15 works he produced about the eponymous trees during his stay at the Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The vigilant reader might observe the similarity between this painting and the legendary Starry Night, and that is no coincidence, as the pair were painted as a dual accompaniment. They both epitomise the vivid and emotive use of colour and shape that characterised Van Gogh's work so much so that it he is often counted as an Expressionist painter.
World Charities Initiative: In the realms of academia, journalism, and global analysis, it is an all-too-common practice to pontificate about the events of the day without providing a way, theoretic or pragmatic, to alleviate the predicaments at hand. Of course, providing a solution for each plight humanity faces is impossible, and any standard or metric must be applied within reason. Nevertheless, the Tributary Institute endeavours to provide to our readers the tools needed to help tackle the issues we cover, be they public or personal. As such, in any report where it is appropriate, we highlight respectable charities and organisations grappling firsthand with the problems described. In the spirit of logos as a means of persuasion, we point out that a comparatively inconsequential amount of money in a developed country can make a world of difference to those who wrestle with poverty, privation, and war. A stone dropped in a lake produces ripples that reach far. Likewise, a dollar, dinar, peso, or pound given to charity ripples out to better many human lives.
OUR SYMBOLS
Our seal, a hexagon -- split into a central golden prism and two, lateral green triangles -- containing a compass, is representative of three main concepts. The hexagon represents stability through society, both as associated with the collective efforts of bee colonies and as a geometric allegory; A plane of hexagons creates one of the strongest wholes from a sum of its parts. The compass represents measurement, examination, and the wider scientific method -- all key elements in our research, and more broadly relevant to the endeavour of leading an examined life. Lastly, the central golden prism and lateral green triangles tessellate in an effort to emulate a light from an overhead lamp; a testament to the value of learning and industriousness, and a representation of the expansion of knowledge to which the Tributary Institute strives to contribute.
The building found at the bottom of every page, and at the top of this one, is a visual homage to the University of Vienna. Both because of its architectural significance and because it represents the intellectual and cultural foundations upon which the much of the thought and work of the TI is built, we found it only fair to pay tribute to the six-century old centre of learning and social advancement at the heart of Europe. Please note that the TI maintains no formal partnerships or work relations with the University of Vienna.
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