Limits and Patterns
A day spent writing, watching Carl Sagan, reading theology and physics, and bopping back to Facebook now and then leaves me with a certain resignation. In the past months, I've hit many personal limits, making me reflect on limitation in general. Lately, I've thought about patterns and their organizing place in our chaotic lives. Both reflections have permeated my day, lending it a dreamy characteristic that culminates in a question: "What does it matter?"
We all like to be in control, or feel we're doing the right thing in a situation. Pointing at others and saying "I'm better than they are" makes us feel good. I know I've done it, almost unconsciously comparing myself and noting perceived superiorities. Or I get jealous. "Why does he have a loving, devoted girlfriend, when he's such an ass?" I say to myself.
Although one rarely finds answers or justification, comparison is incredibly human.
To me--and this is just my humble opinion--comparison expresses that driving human need to control. The more science delves into the fabric of the universe, the more scientists discover the universe's innate chaos and mystery. Many laws function as laws, but many key realities function based on probabilities. The location of electrons--as far as we know--comes down to chance. The fate of history, the speed of reaction, the qualities of a substance always have a measure of unpredictability.
Hume termed this uncertainty the scandel of induction: in an empircal-based method of understanding, we can never "know" something for certain. A rock may break a glass window 1,000 times, but it may not at the 1,001st time. As experience shows, exceptions often prove the rule.
Raised a Catholic, I was taught to think that God made the world and gave it to us. Catholic theology has a human bias. Bonaventure, a prime example, places humanity at the peak of God's creation: the unity between spiritual matter and physical matter that bridges the world of spiritual divinity and physical creation. I held that view for a long time. Humans were special.
My main conflict is this: the world is an incredibly indifferent, chaotic, and random system, yet humans desire ordered lives. So we structure them around patterns. We try to control them. Most animals do this. For example, primitive social orders form among primates, discriminating into hierarchies and tribes. Even wasps recognize patterns in a natural environment, using landmarks for navigation. But, despite the beauty and clarity these patterns impart, I cannot accept their ultimate reality. I see them as molds fit unto a chaotic reality to impart order, rendering it more livable. No one is truly "right" in a universal sense.
Humans cannot function in a world where chairs fly six feet in the air, yet there's a chance--however small--that this may happen if subatomic elements function a certain way. Moreover, with all its wonderful complexity, art, society, thought, evolution, life owe their existence to the simple functioning of basic laws among basic compounds: polarity and magnetism among subatomic particles, for example. Without electrons, we would have no America--at least as it is.
Somehow, life slipped into existence, and more than that, it evolved into countless life forms, one of which can has incredible intelligence. This conclusion has left me breathless with wonder and humility. Life subsists on such a frail foundation, yet it's all we have.
We order our existence out of necessity, yet the imperfection of this model is clear. We establish life-long emotional connections with people who change emotions, personality, and composition, decaying into simpler forms of matter, whether we're done loving them or not. Our society fractures around competing patterns. Some see the white race as the dominant organization. Others see God-fearing Christians. Others see any racial or religious ideology as dangerous and stick to science. But no matter the view, so long as it's used as a means of judgement or control, it imposes a superficial structure on a nature that functions beyond our control. Suffering and oppression results.
In our vanity, humanity thinks it has a privileged place in the universe simply because of our intelligence. And as individuals, we think we have a privileged place among humanity simply because we formed or copied a system and apply to others with a completely different system, seeing how they measure up. Whether that system is skin color or sexual orientation, the dangers of trying to impose order and uniformity on chaos and diversity is clear.
However, I'm not arguing for moral relativism or utter nihilism because our survival is independent of the universe. The universe will go on long after we perish, as individuals or as a species. Instead, I'm arguing for wonder, humility, respect, and cooperation, for these will perpetuate the species.
Let us wonder at the variety of perspectives, not fear their persistance. In our vast, terrifying world, any principle can be a comfort. Perhaps some need a God to make it through the pains of dead family members. Perhaps someone needs the illusion of true love. I for one am content to wonder and make this wonder my principle.
Wonder naturally turns to humility. Faced with the vastness and mystery of existence, one feels lost and insignificant. In particular, I feel my limitations: my inability to curb the natural flow of nature, even when it confronts my attachments and organizing principles. I have wants, like anyone, and many of those wants remain unfulfilled by chance. Who am I to argue with the fate of the universe?
Humility leads one to respect. Gandhi said, "To swim upon the bosom of the ocean of eternity one must reduce oneself to a zero." The more I realize my own limits and imperfections, the more patient, loving, and confident I become. I gain a deeper perspective and become less controlling and attached to my own views, instead respecting the views and limits of others.
Finally, biologists and psychologists recognize humans cannot be happy alone. We require some relationship to someone or something. Here, cooperation becomes key. If we ever hope to continue as a species--or if we ever hope to become happy as individuals--we need to cooperate. We need to grow up, realize we're not the center of things, realize we can't have everything we want, realize we can be wrong--and cooperate with those around us to build a better world for our decedents. In order for any coherent progress to continue, one must accept it may not be for them. Instead, we must look toward a wider goal.
Whatever that goal is, let it bring about peace, joy, and justice among us. Such things allow the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Imagine a world devoid of freedom and happiness, yet this is the world many would require to impose their rigid views. Frankly, I'd rather have chaos.
The universe doesn't care about us, but I do. And I think you do too.
We all like to be in control, or feel we're doing the right thing in a situation. Pointing at others and saying "I'm better than they are" makes us feel good. I know I've done it, almost unconsciously comparing myself and noting perceived superiorities. Or I get jealous. "Why does he have a loving, devoted girlfriend, when he's such an ass?" I say to myself.
Although one rarely finds answers or justification, comparison is incredibly human.
To me--and this is just my humble opinion--comparison expresses that driving human need to control. The more science delves into the fabric of the universe, the more scientists discover the universe's innate chaos and mystery. Many laws function as laws, but many key realities function based on probabilities. The location of electrons--as far as we know--comes down to chance. The fate of history, the speed of reaction, the qualities of a substance always have a measure of unpredictability.
Hume termed this uncertainty the scandel of induction: in an empircal-based method of understanding, we can never "know" something for certain. A rock may break a glass window 1,000 times, but it may not at the 1,001st time. As experience shows, exceptions often prove the rule.
Raised a Catholic, I was taught to think that God made the world and gave it to us. Catholic theology has a human bias. Bonaventure, a prime example, places humanity at the peak of God's creation: the unity between spiritual matter and physical matter that bridges the world of spiritual divinity and physical creation. I held that view for a long time. Humans were special.
My main conflict is this: the world is an incredibly indifferent, chaotic, and random system, yet humans desire ordered lives. So we structure them around patterns. We try to control them. Most animals do this. For example, primitive social orders form among primates, discriminating into hierarchies and tribes. Even wasps recognize patterns in a natural environment, using landmarks for navigation. But, despite the beauty and clarity these patterns impart, I cannot accept their ultimate reality. I see them as molds fit unto a chaotic reality to impart order, rendering it more livable. No one is truly "right" in a universal sense.
Humans cannot function in a world where chairs fly six feet in the air, yet there's a chance--however small--that this may happen if subatomic elements function a certain way. Moreover, with all its wonderful complexity, art, society, thought, evolution, life owe their existence to the simple functioning of basic laws among basic compounds: polarity and magnetism among subatomic particles, for example. Without electrons, we would have no America--at least as it is.
Somehow, life slipped into existence, and more than that, it evolved into countless life forms, one of which can has incredible intelligence. This conclusion has left me breathless with wonder and humility. Life subsists on such a frail foundation, yet it's all we have.
We order our existence out of necessity, yet the imperfection of this model is clear. We establish life-long emotional connections with people who change emotions, personality, and composition, decaying into simpler forms of matter, whether we're done loving them or not. Our society fractures around competing patterns. Some see the white race as the dominant organization. Others see God-fearing Christians. Others see any racial or religious ideology as dangerous and stick to science. But no matter the view, so long as it's used as a means of judgement or control, it imposes a superficial structure on a nature that functions beyond our control. Suffering and oppression results.
In our vanity, humanity thinks it has a privileged place in the universe simply because of our intelligence. And as individuals, we think we have a privileged place among humanity simply because we formed or copied a system and apply to others with a completely different system, seeing how they measure up. Whether that system is skin color or sexual orientation, the dangers of trying to impose order and uniformity on chaos and diversity is clear.
However, I'm not arguing for moral relativism or utter nihilism because our survival is independent of the universe. The universe will go on long after we perish, as individuals or as a species. Instead, I'm arguing for wonder, humility, respect, and cooperation, for these will perpetuate the species.
Let us wonder at the variety of perspectives, not fear their persistance. In our vast, terrifying world, any principle can be a comfort. Perhaps some need a God to make it through the pains of dead family members. Perhaps someone needs the illusion of true love. I for one am content to wonder and make this wonder my principle.
Wonder naturally turns to humility. Faced with the vastness and mystery of existence, one feels lost and insignificant. In particular, I feel my limitations: my inability to curb the natural flow of nature, even when it confronts my attachments and organizing principles. I have wants, like anyone, and many of those wants remain unfulfilled by chance. Who am I to argue with the fate of the universe?
Humility leads one to respect. Gandhi said, "To swim upon the bosom of the ocean of eternity one must reduce oneself to a zero." The more I realize my own limits and imperfections, the more patient, loving, and confident I become. I gain a deeper perspective and become less controlling and attached to my own views, instead respecting the views and limits of others.
Finally, biologists and psychologists recognize humans cannot be happy alone. We require some relationship to someone or something. Here, cooperation becomes key. If we ever hope to continue as a species--or if we ever hope to become happy as individuals--we need to cooperate. We need to grow up, realize we're not the center of things, realize we can't have everything we want, realize we can be wrong--and cooperate with those around us to build a better world for our decedents. In order for any coherent progress to continue, one must accept it may not be for them. Instead, we must look toward a wider goal.
Whatever that goal is, let it bring about peace, joy, and justice among us. Such things allow the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Imagine a world devoid of freedom and happiness, yet this is the world many would require to impose their rigid views. Frankly, I'd rather have chaos.
The universe doesn't care about us, but I do. And I think you do too.