NUMENON |
PONDERING CORE ESSENCE
NUMENON |
I had selected Megunticook Lake near Camden, Maine for the day's explorations with A. My intel was limited, but this certainly seemed to be a promising bass lake, while also offering a potential seasonal fishery for trout. Early in the season and with water temperatures in the low-to-mid forties, we targeted trout by trolling the shoreline break. After a quick start in which A's tandem trolling fly got grabbed and dropped by a drive-by, the "action" slowed to a crawl as we expanded our range in this totally new-to-us lake. Other than the lack of productive fishing action, all had gone well for the day. Nothing had been lost or broken, and nobody had been hurt. But the southerly wind was picking up, I was starting to struggle with boat control (keeping our speed down), and I was paying close attention to my GPS mapping. I was on unfamiliar water, and this rocky lake had plenty of navigational hazards. All seemed to be marked, either on the surface with buoys or labelled on my electronic map. I was amused that the labelled hazard we were approaching also had a name. Everything else on my map simply appeared as "Hazard", but this one was "The Fang". In my amusement, I mentioned this to A, and this released her quiet insecurities. We were never within a hundred yards of The Fang, and I had no intention of exploring water in its vicinity. We were still on the break and had an island between us and The Fang. But A, quite vocally, wanted to get further away from this and any other hazards. I, on the other hand, wanted to fish where I felt both safe and confident. A moment later, I tangled lines as I tried to add a short lead-core line to our presentation. I was also struggling with boat control while acknowledging that our weather window might close unexpectedly early. I was hangry to boot, and these frustrations all came out in an expression of anger. The day had taken a sour turn, and we both knew it. I did what I could; we pulled lines and relocated to a lee shoreline to explore another part of the lake. We did so for an hour or so, and A even had another pull on her fly. But when we were approaching a structure-choked narrows as the sky darkened and a cold rain was clearly imminent, we called for a premature end to the day's fishing. The rest of the day was pretty much fine, but A and I are best friends, and any friction between us is uncomfortable. We talked the day through the next morning, and we realized we both suffered from the same affliction, but from different perspectives. Simply put, by the time we approached The Fang, neither was totally present. I was already fretting about our lack of fishing success. That displeasure was exacerbated by my realization of a likely early end to our effort. I'd waited a long time for my chance at this lake, and it wasn't going to pan out the way I wanted. In my mind, this was yet another opportunity lost, and I resented the time it was going to take to capitalize on a future chance. I was feeling my mortality more than the moment at hand, and I was missing out. I was focused on good things, but specifically on their absence. I was neglecting to enjoy what the lake and A's company currently offered. Meanwhile, A was more concerned with any bad things that might possibly happen, as opposed to the current reality. Our collective experience and equipment was trumped, in her mind, by the potential tragedies associated with The Fang and other hazards. She too was dealing with imaginary negative events instead of the secure present, and her future focus precluded her current enjoyment. Well, at least we talked it out. And I'm glad we are smart enough to recognize the source of our tension. We have at least a chance of recognizing this more contemporaneously in the future, and maybe with a little practice, we can each get better at staying in the moment. Because that's where happiness can be found. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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Almost exactly 11 years ago, we welcomed a puppy into our home. A mix of Shih Tzu and Japanese Chin breeds, Oliver was the original "Shitty Chin". He was overly territorial and stubborn, had a lot of warts, crooked teeth and bad hair days, and he certainly could be a pest underfoot. Of course, his schedule became our schedule. Despite the flaws, he ingratiated his way into our hearts, and most especially, mine. He lived to eat, sleep and walk. When awake, his primary adopted duty was to scavenge the outdoors for discarded food. He specialized in fast food, and he amazed me with his ability to (fairly consistently) find entire wild burgers and pizza slices in addition to the usual assortment of crusts and crumbs. Walk, we did. I was more than two years into my state of chronic back and leg pain, and almost a year post-surgery when he arrived. He needed to walk, and about all I could do was walk - and so we did. Thrice daily (becoming only twice a day in recent years, but for much longer, paced walks), regardless of weather; we walked. While he became King of his territory (wherever we happened to be), at least in his mind, I walked myself back into a reasonably good, functional state of health. And we continued to walk. I'll dare anybody to watch the short clip below without cracking a smile: Ollie greeted me enthusiastically every time I came home. He would remind me when it was time to walk or go to bed. He loved going out in the truck. He was just as happy to stay home and cuddle on the couch or sleep at my feet. He could be a real butt, but he could, on occasion, be adorably playful. He was really kind of unkempt and ugly, but somehow got by on his looks. He was seemingly always smiling, and that could make me truly smile. This past weekend was beautiful. It included perfect weather, unique family visits and boat rides, a concert and an actual date with A, and a comfortable and productive saltwater fishing excursion. Unfortunately, it suddenly and unexpectedly concluded with me having to choose to have Oliver euthanized. His period of pain was short; his life was long and comfortable. He was calm, and we were together, at the end. Thanks, Ollie. You really were a good boy! You did so much for me! Don't worry; I went for my walk this morning! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I began the New Year by completing my reading of "The Book of Eels; Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World" by Patrik Svensson. This was a thoughtful gift from my family. As an example of how truly strange 2020 was, this might have been the first book I've read to completion since 2019. Maybe my reading habits are finally back on track, and this was a prime vehicle to get me there. A combination of natural history, fish, biology and cultural lore, I was certain to find this work interesting. Add the generous splash of philosophy, an exploration of paternal relationships and a Swedish setting, and I was sure to find it unique. Add the layer of metaphysics and a discussion of meaning, and I was a perfect recipient for this thoughtful gift. Or perhaps a better way to put it; this was the perfect, thoughtful gift for this recipient. I'll be honest, I know enough about the natural history, life cycle and plight of catadromous Atlantic eels (North American and European) that I wasn't surprised about too much of the "mystery" attributed to them. On the other hand, I'll be doubly honest and admit that the drain of daily, workaday life has robbed me of the capacity to truly appreciate the wondrous mysteries of the eel. "Knowing" what I think I "know" about them had become enough for me. My curiosity here has been stunted. Perhaps this illustrates my intellectual limitations, or maybe it's simply a matter of available time and energy (both are limited resources, use of which needs to be prioritized) for consideration of such things. Regardless, this might be my first lesson from this reading; my lack of wonder shortchanges both the eel and my appreciation for the work of the giants, on whose effort and suffering my so-called "understanding" of the eel (natural history, biology, scientific investigations, etc.) rests. Despite my shortcomings, I am quite confident that this recent (2019) work is well complemented by another I read several years ago. My copy is packed away and unavailable for reference at this time, but as I recall, "Eels : An Exploration, from New Zealand to the Sargasso, of the World's Most Mysterious Fish" by James Prosek was similarly engrossing. The paternal exploration of Svensson was perhaps replaced here by a deeper treatment of the eel's impact on different cultures, and so maybe it is more about the eel than about the author; but then again, perhaps not. Svensson's work is clearly as much about human relations as about the eel itself; and as discussed below, perhaps simply tackling a subject like this automatically transforms that subject into something beyond its simple being. I tagged a few pages of the book while I was reading; something at each had caught my attention. Now, it's time to try to figure it out! "Metaphysics is... an attempt to describe the true nature of things, the whole of reality. It claims there's a difference between existence per se and the characteristics of that existence. It also claims that the two questions are separate. The eel is. Existence comes first. But what it is, is a completely different matter." (page 25) I would argue that this is what my entire blogging effort is about. Go ahead, check out the header, above. Heck, check out the block quote footer, below. Leopold was saying the same thing about his tired Wisconsin farm. My Lund is nothing but a machine, but what it represents is my ability to get out on the water and express myself. Fishing is most simply my chosen manner of enjoying time off, but what it represents for me is connection to the natural world. I do fish, but what that has helped me become is a man (occasionally) at peace with himself and his place. And so, eels are eels; somewhat unique fishes with a well-earned air of mystery. Because they've been variously important food sources, they've been on mankind's radar for millennia. Because of their hidden life cycle, we've had the opportunity to wonder about them. Because they've been slow to reveal the secrets of their true nature, the depth of that wonder is amplified. We are interested in eels in ways that we are not, for instance, in deepwater gulpers, anglers, or chimaera. We know less about these fish than we do about the eel; and yet, somehow, there's been an Eel Question since at least Aristotle. Which leads me to this; with respect to maintaining an active eel-fishing enterprise in Sweden, it might not make dollars or sense. But, without maintaining the centuries-old ways and humble seashore property rights: "The interest in the eel, and thus the eel itself, will be lost. This is the great paradox... in order to understand the eel, we have to have an interest in it, and to have an interest in it we have to continue to hunt, kill and eat it... An eel is never allowed to simply be an eel. It's never allowed just to be. Thus it has also become a symbol of our complex relationship with all the other forms of life on this planet" (page 95) I do not fish for food, and so I've minimized the killing and eating, but my interest in knowing about my quarry, their habits and habitats, my interest in having them available, protected (or at least regulated) and in robust populations in healthy environments, is my way of making these fish matter. And not just my quarry, but their natural prey and predators, too. And perhaps not just them, but myself, too. My interest helps to influence public access, fisheries policies, innovation within boating and tackle industries, support for environmental protection programs, and more. If we collectively just let the striper (or tuna, or bonefish, or shark or trout...) be, if we weren't interested enough in them to recognize their ecological roles, uniqueness or plights, we'd never be able to argue or act on their collective behalf. I've no interest in drowning, but simply treading water is both so tiring and unsatisfactory. I want my efforts (whether at work, play or relationships) to contribute to continuous improvement. Which is why this last quote caught my eye: "Utopian deadlock... the measures put in place to protect... are not only insufficient, they also risk becoming a form of placating misdirection. As long as we cling to what we think we know, what we believe to be right, the... situation will never improve, but instead worsen. And while the problem continues to be debate, time passes" (page 219) Our one true limiting resource is time. With a bit of luck, one can accumulate some extra wealth and possibly influence, but we all have limited time in which to make our mark. We all need to be efficient with our time and efforts. So we've metaphysically progressed from questions of is/be? to what? to now, why? For starters, Why not? simply seems to be an unacceptable answer. Why? Because we are fortunate enough to be aware of our existence; we want to make something of ourselves. I want that something to have left behind a better situation than I originally fell into. I want to be involved with interesting, meaningful things. I want to use my available time to develop an understanding of my place. I want to be able to ask, Why? And I even want to have some sense of how to answer, Why? The Eel Question stumped Aristotle, perhaps the last (Western) human to be in a position to know everything worth knowing at the time. It's going to take a lot less of a mystery to stump me. But, I am glad enough to be in a position to ponder, and to know that I am in good company when I struggle with the value of my efforts to make sense of things, or wonder why it's so important to me to understand my next fish. (I do recognize that this might be incomprehensible and/or worthless. My apologies if you find that to be the case.) Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I recently gave my first "Ice Breaker" talk at my Toastmasters' International club. Here's a synopsis of what I hope I said! Good afternoon! Thank you (MC, members and guests.) I'd especially like to thank S, who introduced me to this club. This is my Ice Breaker talk, and so I'd like you to come away with a sense of what motivates me, but I also hope you find this to be somewhat engaging. And, I really hope to spark some thought. Now I know that I really am no more than a civil servant, my wife's life-long partner and the father of two adult daughters who are turning out to be delightfully bright, productive citizens. But today I m going to be a bit selfish and focus on what motivates me and perhaps makes me a bit unique. My youth was full of baseball, hockey, fishing and the outdoors. Age and injuries have made sports less alluring to me, but fishing has grown into a life-long endeavor and vehicle for personal growth. Here's a picture from a couple of years ago. It's a decent pic of a very nice bass, but why this snapshot resonates with me is this: it EXACTLY captures a dream of mine at the age of 9 or 10. From that dream, I vividly recall holding and admiring a fine bucket mouth bass, and the surging pride of accomplishment. The morning after that dream, I asked my Dad to take me fishing. He did, the very next day; and my lifelong pursuit was launched. I cannot see this picture without thinking fondly about my Dad or any of the fine experiences that were spawned by our first trip together. Now, the thing about fishing is that it leaves you alone with your thoughts for extended periods of time. That's fine with me, because I consider myself to be thoughtful and introspective. In 2003, I purchased a new fishing boat, and I wanted to name her both suitably and meaningfully. I vaguely recalled an intriguing concept from one of my first reading assignments in College. So, more than 20 years later, I found myself re-reading Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac". Mr. Leopold was an early conservationist, resource manager, philosopher and founder of The Wilderness Society. His "Almanac" is an unassuming diary of his thoughts regarding his onligatory stewardship of his Wisconsin farmland. The concept in question is that of Numenon; I'll self-define it here as "the core essence of a balanced and harmonious system; if something cannot be removed or changed without affecting or compromising the system within which that entity resides... that is the system's unique, distilled essence, its Numenon." So, the Brook Trout in a cold Appalachian Stream; a Ruffed Grouse gracing a Wisconsin Pine Barrens farm with its mating drumming and dance; and my particular, multi-species boat; these are all defining entities. Surely there are plenty of other streams, farms and fishermen; but as surely, these are more complete, interesting and valuable with their respective Numena present. And so my boat was named; but what I didn't expect was this: Re-reading the "Almanac" had re-kindled my interest in philosophy and deeper thought. Numenon (the boat) provided lots of solitary time to help me develop these. I've adopted an eye for recognizing "core essence" and extracting beneficial meaning from everyday occurences. My concept of Numenon has provided a lense and focus for self-reflection, often while aboard Numenon herself. I am fortunate to say that I am convinced that I am happier, more buoyant, calm and productive because of these synergistic activities. Plus, I've generated some good fishing tales along the way, too! And so there I am; I like to fish, and I like to ponder. I've discovered a beneficial synergy between these activities, and I am fully invested in both. Finally, I am a better and more complete person for it. Thank you; I simply encourage you to enjoy a day on the water! But, I also encourage all to find their appropriate vehicle for personal growth, peace of mind and sense of individual meaning. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Prepping for my ToastMasters' debut; cleaning out our collection of decades-old textbooks; and the current general situation (i.e., The COVID-19 Pandemic) all have me thinking about meaning and purpose. I intend for my ToastMasters' Icebreaker talk to be centered around this Blog; I think I could keep somebody engaged for the requisite short period, I believe it could even be interesting to some, and I can speak fairly naturally and comfortably about the subjects I've pursued here. Plus, it embodies much of importance to me, and perhaps distinguishes me as an individual voice. I am no philosopher; but rummaging through my old texts has reminded me that the few philosophy courses I took as an undergrad were formative in the long run. I am by nature an organized, logical and critical thinker. At the very least, I can be skeptical, and I've developed a few different approaches to successfully analyze problems. Mostly, I like to think, and maybe that's really all it takes to develop at least a nascent appreciation for the thoughts and methods of others. Right now, there's a lot to think about! The pace of change has recently accelerated exponentially with this season's pandemic. Work; home; leisure; all have been affected. There's no reason to think that this flux will settle down any time soon; and there's potential darkness on our collective horizon. I am in a good position to withstand change for the worse in many ways, and so I know that I am very fortunate. Still, it's difficult to maintain too sunny of an outlook for the future at this moment. So, I've recent been quietly thinking (in my own, stunted fashion) philosophically, frequently. Recall, the header to my original blog joked "Kant, Leopold, Lachance... some of the West's Great Thinkers have pondered the question of core essence, and the true meaning of our existence." Go ahead, check out any of the original Numenon posts via the "Original Blogging" link atop this page. I include myself as a joke, but as an important joke; thoughtful consideration of circumstances and what they might mean is important to me! Kant's "Noumenon" was the unknowable "thing-in-itself"; that which it really is, as opposed to how it might be perceived to be. Leopold's "Numenon" was shaped by Kant's "Noumenon", that much is clear. I've perhaps conflated Leopold's "core essence" of his Numenon with some sort of understanding of value and/or meaning. But my supposed understanding and subsequent embrace of central issues has, perhaps, enabled me to occasionally assign or distill some meaning or purpose to my environment and circumstances. I might very well be incorrect in any particular case; but, at least I can occasionally glimpse central themes and help maintain some bearing for myself. That is especially valuable, especially in difficult or uncertain scenarios. As part of his March 23, 2020 Press Conference calling for Massachusetts citizens to embrace his stay-at-home advisory, Governor Charlie Baker stated: "Purpose is what drives us, purpose is what fills our souls," he said. "Many feel lost, and I can see why. But here's the truth: we all have a role. We all have purpose as we battle this disease. Protecting one another from the spread of COVID-19 by limiting physical and social contact and staying at home is profoundly purposeful. Every single act of distance has purpose." Thank you, Governor Baker, for this calm reminder in a difficult time. Each of us is an important participant, each of us has an effect on the outcome. This is currently a noble calling, and recognizing this, it should be easier to swallow the bitter pills we've been handed. Let's hope that others can maintain this focus and keep their eyes on the meaningful prizes. In the meantime, I will quietly telecommute, care for those I love and am responsible for, maintain my social distance and prepare myself to do my best with any future circumstances. That's enough purpose for me right now, and I don't need to concern myself too much with what that future might hold. I can do that later, once these immediate matters have been handled. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I recently took a work-lunch walk on a brisk, sunny day to scout a potential Boston Harbor shore-fishing spot. It took me about 15 minutes to get from my desk to Fan Pier Park. This looks like it might have some potential to hold fish, but might not be too friendly to fishing efforts. My biggest issue was simply that the land is built too high above the harbor to make catching or landing. fish enjoyable. But it is a trendy and hip spot to watch the day or evening go by, so I am glad I found it, regardless. Just around the corner I found the Fan Pier Marina. This would be a super cool place to dock amybaby22 seasonally, but based on their web page (and the diminutive size of my skiff), I am quite certain that I am not exactly their targeted demographic. Still, I'll check it out later this season when the docks are in place and some of the resident boats are in the water. Hoofing it back to work, I walked beside the Moakley federal courthouse. Its exterior walls were decorated with engraved insets. These included The Constitution's Preamble, each of the amendments, and a variety of historical quotes. Although I was in a lather to get back to work, I stopped in my tracks when I noticed the JFK quote, below. At this moment, his words simply resonated with me. Having slowed down, I then couldn't help but notice that nearby insets spoke to me, too. The walk hadn't necessarily paid off in terms of future fishing potential, but it was still timely. It provided a small, but desperately needed moment of hope and recognition that the foundations of our democracy rest on the broad shoulders of Intellectual and well-meaning Giants. These foundations will not be toppled easily. And, I will return! To fish, to picnic, to view the harbor or simply relax; but also, to check out the rest of this building, and to reflect on my good fortune! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I have generally been treated well by my experiences in New Hampshire. Starting with summer vacations as a kid and catching my first brookie and brown trout as I learned to fish; choosing my college destination largely based on a sense of place; tons of fish and memories from the Connecticut River and its tributaries; a couple of lunker smallmouths and the largest green bass I've ever hooked; hiking, floating and camping; to say nothing of meeting my best friend and getting married there. I'd recently enjoyed the day amiably touristing with A, visiting some old, familiar places but finding some new ones, too. But it was the apparently complete silence of the night on February 15, 2020 that reminded me why I've got the Granite of New Hampshire deep within me. It was a simple walk to relieve the dog; but the utter stillness of the setting grabbed me. This was a different place than Boston or Lansing or even Casco Bay, and I need such a place in my life. What a pleasure to have been reminded of this. What a gift to recognize (and to be able to act upon) this need. I'm pretty sure that my annual, non-resident fishing license will be an investment in my well-being. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I'd called the day's fishing plans off due to strong northerly winds; so the day got off to a leisurely start. I was pleased to see "our" fox in the backyard. Instead of hunting or traveling, she was sitting, as if on guard. After a few moments of watching, her two kits emerged. As A and I watched them play, my caffeine-deficit headache temporarily dissipated. Thoughts of work, the missed day of fishing and my aches and pains all faded to the background. Our current "home" makes no logical sense. It's way too big, expensive to heat, etc. But we both know, our backyard and this neighborhood are our sanctuary. Whether it's our frequent sighting of foxes, turkeys and deer, or our easy access to simple, quiet peacefulness, living here does make restorative, spiritual sense. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways A nice day stretched before me; it would include a half day of work, sunny skies with temperatures getting into the mid- or high-30s, and a planned ice session with a good friend on a quiet lake. But first, it was time for Ollie's morning walk! With a leisurely schedule for the day, we were 45 minutes or so behind our regular schedule. The sun had already risen and conditions were bright. Songbirds were evident and actively singing! A couple of hundred yards from the house, I heard it for the first time in 2019; a tom turkey was gobbling! His mind was on Spring; he was feeling it! Later that afternoon, I reasonably chose to wear sunglasses while I drove to McEwen Lake. And the roads were dry! And while the fishing was not so hot, it was a pleasure to be outside without gloves or knit hats. And I did score a pretty decent crappie, so I can't complain about the fishing. The Groundhog had declared six more weeks of Winter on February 2. I'll give him that; three more weeks to go. In my mind, I choose to believe that February 22, 2019 was the Tipping Point where Winter started ceding to Spring. I welcome this progression. I hope I am not too misguided in these thoughts. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways I am likely neither Thinker nor Writer enough to do this justice, but hey, this is for fun and exploration, and I might be the only person who would pull these lines of thought together. So here goes... 1) A decade before the publication of Stephen J. Gould's Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin (1996; see www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674061613 ), I was in graduate school studying population and community ecology. It wasn't quite the right time or place for me, and I'd really have been better off in an applied fisheries setting with tangible work products and meaning; or seriously tackling the ultimate, unifying thread of all biology, evolution by means of natural selection. At the time, Mr. Gould was on my reading list, in my thoughts and a frequent topic of discussion. His views of stochastic leaps in biological change (based in large part on the geological record) contrasted with more mainstream ideas of gradual change through accrual of small divergences. The rigorous, experimental demonstration of real change within a population on an ecological scale seemed elusive at the time, regardless. I also seemed unwilling or unable to hitch my reins to some folks who would ultimately become full-fledged, academic evolutionists. I ended up trading my academic pursuits for raising a family, making a living and chasing fish. But, I am still a biologist at heart, and I'm a pretty ardent reader. This past Christmas, I was gifted the above-referenced book, which I recently completed. The initial bonus of this book is that the author uses baseball statistics to illustrate the points of his arguments. Not only am I a fan of baseball and (mild versions of) sabremetrics, but these examples reminded me of the barriers to normal distributions of data. Many folks understand that many (most?) data sets representing a specific population "norm" are NOT distributed normally, but overlook the effect these skewed distributions have on certain summary statistics for the population. Specifically, the "mean" or "average" can be greatly affected by the intensity of skewness and the length of the distribution tail. Unfortunately, our typical way of assessing a trait is typically the "average" value, and maybe not thinking about it too much after that quick assessment. The real value of this book its that it emphasizes the importance of variation of a trait within the population. (Duh; The Spread referred to in the title?) Of course, this variation is requisite to any change through natural selection; but by emphasizing the power, directionality and limits of trait distribution within populations, a fuller appreciation of biological evolution (and especially a view more in line with the author's) can be achieved. On page 229 of my Three Rivers Press-published book, Gould summarizes that this "model does teach us to treasure variety for its own sake - ... and not from a lamentable failure of thought that accepts all beliefs on the absurd rational that disagreement must imply disrespect. Excellence is a range of differences, not a spot." Up to this point of my read, I'd enjoyed the book; but in my post-academic existence, I'd not really embraced it as having something especially meaningful to offer. But here it was clear, this is not just about biology (or sabremetrics!) This was offering a timely and importance set of messages:
Each of these bullets is a post or a blogging site or a career in themselves. Here, I'll leave them as simple fodder for future thought. Shortly thereafter, Gould concludes that it's a mistake to simplify and to "impose uniform mediocrity upon a former richness of excellence ... an understanding and defense of full ranges of natural reality might help us to stem the tide and preserve the rich raw material of any evolving system: variation itself." While he might be talking in a biological and conservation sense, this also applies to the continued, thriving existence of local eateries and small business (in the face of chains, giants and conglomerates.) It certainly applies to a healthy, functional workplace and bodies of governance, too. I'd argue that this is the spice to enjoying my fishing success, too. I cherish each fish and place for what it has offered, and by cross-pollenating ideas and techniques, sometimes I can enjoy quantum leaps in improvement my fishing and enjoyment of my time on the water. So, at the very least, "Cheers!" to the variation amongst us. More importantly, this variation provides the basis for potential future change and excellence. The importance of variation should not be overlooked. 2) As I was reading and mulling the topics above, I ran across this article in the New York Times, dated, 11/9/18 by guest author Greg Weiner: "Nancy Pelosi's First Order of Business Should be to Reclaim the Power of the House" www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/opinion/sunday/nancy-pelosi-congress-midterms.html The accompanying byline - This is about much more than Trump - caught my eye. The ideas of disagreements and the slim possibilities of civil discourse surrounding these were at the forefront of my thoughts. The current, persistent violation of Bullet Three, above, bothers me a lot! Weiner argues, "Congress should be judged not by the volume of its output but by its representation of the public’s views and its defense of its institutional authority." My point of inclusion here is that the public's view is so much more than binary; and if folks are not in agreement, nobody is necessarily (totally) wrong. By stopping at the conclusions of right/wrong, in power/in opposition, righteous/unworthy, the discussion is over; and real action towards any solution(s) is unlikely. The range of excellence is ignored; and the available resources are not utilized. He continues: "The challenge now is for House Democrats to seize the reins of governance not because they are Democrats but because they are members of Congress — a branch of government that is more contemplative, less impulsive and more subtly reflective of the broad range (my emphasis) of perspectives in American politics than a presidency with which one either agrees or disagrees." His bottom line; "Congressional government is also better suited to overcoming our polarized politics because it better accommodates a range (again, my emphasis) of views." The purpose of his piece might be to remind Congress, as representing the varied will of the people, to stand up to the single-minded stances of any president. My goal would be at least to foster an environment where attractive alternatives can at least be discussed and vetted. 3) Meanwhile, a friend shared this TED Talk: The moral roots of liberals and conservatives - by Jonathan Haidt (and available at www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind ). I think Mr. Haidt's talk on cultural evolution and the development (and variety) of human morality is based on the twin, noble underpinnings of respect for the truth and a desire for a better future. In discussing how we got "here" and the ongoing tension between liberal and conservative beliefs, Haidt explains how a basic difference in general (innate?) tolerance to "openness to experience" can generate a spectrum of righteous, moral codes of thought when applied against his Five Universal Foundations of Human Morality:
Thirty thousand or more surveys from across the globe have made it clear that self-identified "liberal" thinkers value the Harm/Care and Fairness and Reciprocity concepts more highly than "conservative"-minded folks. Moreover, these same conservatives are more strongly influenced by the last three foundations. They prefer loyalty, order and predictability, even if at the cost of individual rights. Such a statement is not likely to sit well with a true liberal. These differences in values pose a real conflict! Each believes in his own "team's" line of thinking; each, righteously claims correctness. Either version of a team mentality will shut down continued thought or discussion. And yet we all probably recognize, to at least some degree, that the best paths forward to better futures involve all five foundations. Loyalty and authority can keep social entropy at bay, especially if acted upon with justice, fairness and respect. Care for others and allowing individuals to respectfully express their best traits can create a positive-sum outcome. There's no doubt that these five foundations coexist because they complement each other and allow for the expression of a variety of lifestyles and opportunity. All of these aspects are simultaneously necessary to achieve a high degree of human fulfillment, which should be our most demanding, shared endeavor. So there is no "right" and "wrong" way of thinking (within boundaries) about social issues, and we probably shouldn't be demanding a single (preferred) outcome unless we've really considered the alternatives. There are likely many productive approaches to a given problem; these should at least be subject to discussion. The "best" solutions are probably not at either end of the spectrum, but somewhere in the middle, ready to be negotiated. Haidt concludes with a Buddhist quote along the lines of this: "For" and "Against" are the mind's worst diseases. Strict adherence to these simple phrases paralyzes further thought. Paralyzed thought can foster these positions. There should be limits to how hard we pursue our ideals, and we should be open to the possibilities that others aren't necessarily wrong. They just have a different perspective; adopting their best could sometimes be useful! And their opposition adds value to our best ideas, if we can articulate them! 4) A lot of this came about while I was in Scandinavia for the first time. That trip (to Sweden and Denmark) gave me a lot of time to think, exposed me to new places and ways of doing things, and was, simply, better in every way (food, comfort, ease, interest, beauty) than I had expected. So, I appreciate the relaxed time to have done this reading and to have started these thoughts; but these are rich, successful countries that are doing things ... let's just say, differently. Congratulations to them; may we (at least try to) learn from them and the best of their ways; and it was an honor to visit and see for myself! 5) Back at work, I am tasked with estimating emissions of air pollutants. Sometimes this is easy and straightforward. Occasionally, it's even based on actual measurement! Quite often actual measurements are not available, but there are many other ways to estimate these emissions. Sometimes these methods of estimation are direct, sometimes they are parametric, and sometimes they are tangential, at best. These provide a wide variety of estimates; I know the reality is somewhere within the range they present. My job is to evaluate, learn, and hopefully improve the data set; policy decisions are (should be?) informed by such things. It can be a relief to embrace the concept that there are acceptable ranges, and that there is not necessarily a single, representative truth. It helps move the work along, and it provides a basis for reacting to a possible variety of outcomes. It enables meaningful conversation, it allows for the participation of others, and it lets lots of folks provide meaningful input. There's no one person/section/agency that can provide better information; these are truly collaborative efforts. Ultimately, the potential utility of the work is not based on any particular value (whether it signifies a troublesome trend, a threat or an improvement to be celebrated), but rather on the ranges of outcomes and their relative likelihood. Moreover, having evaluated options, processes and techniques, we likely have a fuller understanding of what the data might be telling us. That is the meaningful basis for subsequent conversation, planning and management. ![]() If not gratuitous, then perhaps, simply pointless. This morning on Yellowstone Lake stands out in my memory, and not because it was average or typical; but rather, because it was different from all other mornings. It was a single experience, within the range of all that I will experience. I'm glad I did not overlook this opportunity. I am not overly political, and I'd rather think, talk and write about fishing and fun. But I am a citizen and a father, and I aspire to a better future. That future should not necessarily be at the expense of others. That future should not be decided by only a few participants. In the meantime, I'll appreciate the variety and range of the fish I encounter and the experiences I collect. I'll try to recognize and appreciate the individual qualities of each. Furthermore, I'll try not to restrict these ways of thinking to my fish. I'll accept the help of anybody who can add value to my endeavors or help me make sense out of certain things! By the way, Gould's book ends beautifully. On page 230 he defers to Darwin, quoted from the Origin of Species. In honoring the simple variety of life and in contrasting it to the one-solution predictability of Newtonian physics or chemistry, Darwin admits; "There is grandeur in this view of life." I certainly agree! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways |
Steve LachanceVia Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Michigan and now, back to New England! Archives
June 2024
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