Genealogy, Evaluation, and Engineering

Abstract Against those who identify genealogy with reductive genealogical debunking or deny it evaluative significance, I argue, first, that while genealogies tend to trace the higher lower, they need not reduce but can elucidate their relation and help us think more realistically about both relata; second, if we conceive of in terms a triadic model including addressee, becomes intelligible how tracing lower facilitate an evaluation higher, how, where is some important practical rather than sinister motive, even be vindicatory; third, vindicatory offer positive guidance on engineer better concepts.