[FRIAM] are we how we behave?

[Steven A Smith]

Marcus -

I don't mean to dismiss the true value of diversity and the phenomena of
"punctuated equilibrium".   What I think we are describing AS culture
would be the equilibrium-of-the-moment/millenia and it would seem
natural/inevitable that punctuation will occur.

I think you are advocating for more punctuation more often, or perhaps,
just getting a comma, semi-colon, or even full-stop and/or !Bang in
sooner rather than later?  

Deferring/Referring over to Glen's (re)characterization of my
maunderings on "search spaces" and the question/answer duality as a
complex evolving foamscape:   I suppose I agree with *both* of you (even
though you might disagree) on the implied topic.   You seem to be more
leery of the space inside an individual "bubble" in the foam and seek to
see it burst or collapse (if it is too big/long-lived?).   I feel the
same way about such foam-pocket bubbles when they are large/robust
compared to my own personal scale and perspective... that is when they
become onerous/limiting, though I prefer to develop enough perspective
to *recognize* the bubble (subculture?) I am operating in and develop
the energy/skills to transcend it... to find a higher-dimension to slip
over into another (more interesting to me?) part of the foam?

Glen points out that social welfare/justice "systems" are merely "yet
more" of the human-built environment which are therefore just another
set of dimensions/scaling of the "natural" environment.  I generally
agree with (accept?) this, and only called it out as something specific
because of the *presumption* that we are creating more freedom through
these institutions when in fact it seems to be trading "some" for
"other".  Having a place to live out of the elements and healthy food to
eat increase the dignity of the individual and subsequently of the
context in which they live, but standing in line to fill out forms and
swear on affidavits to obtain a minimal "welfare check" or to fumble out
"food stamp coupons" in line at the grocery somewhat undermines those
dignities.  Of course, I realize both images are somewhat archaic... I
was happy when I noticed that food stamp coupons were replaced by EBT
cards and I *trust*, maintaining welfare or disability or job-retraining
status within the system is less onerous/undignified than it once was.   

For these reasons, I'm *for* ideas like medicare for all and guaranteed
minimum incomes.  I suspect there are some (other) unintended
consequence to be acknowledged/dealt-with/discovered,  but my
progressive side wants to see those experiments embarked on as
graciously as reasonable. 

Recasting this topic as "foamscape", I think my point is that some of
the "foam we don't know yet" has features in dimensions we may not have
considered while clinging to the "foam we know".   It might be relevant
to reflect on the ideas that:  "Constraint provides form", "form
leads/follows function".   Termite mounds and Social Justice systems
exist in response to functional needs in the land(foam)scape that they
themselves are part of?

Mumble,

 - Steve

> Steve writes:
>
> <   Taking my best guess, I think my answer would be that culture (whatever
>     that is) as encoded/presented in natural language is a kind of fascia
>     that does in fact connect people thoroughly and deeply.   It might be
>     arguable what/when/how that is "useful" but the fact that it (rich,
>     shared natural language, with lots of embedded knowledge about relevant
>     humans/nature) seems to exist across many (all?) cultures and a great
>     deal of time (thousands of years minimum?)  suggests it is adaptive to
>     *something*, like living/working/(playing) in large groups while
>     navigating/negotiating/exploiting novel/harsh environments. >
>
> My view is that progress occurs in spite of culture and not because of it.
> The fascia is too restrictive, and the need for it has passed.  What we now need are tools to collectively function in a large dense, but well-resourced population.   Telecommunication, mass transit, health care, fair access to jobs and credit.
>
> A culture is just one of a huge set of local minima in a high dimensional space.   The more one culture becomes dominant, the more minorities are subjugated and the more today is just like yesterday.    The formation of culture proceeds as a sort of energy minimization.  Once the system gets cold enough, it no longer is possible to find a lower (better) energy state.   Multi-culturalism is a metaphorical heat source.
> Ideally each milieu would constantly be destroying and reforming itself.   A preference for sovereignty is a preference to lower the temperature.   
>
> What are billions of people for, if not to explore high-dimensional spaces?   Why cluster around the same fire?
>
> Marcus
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
> archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove