> Eva wrote:
>
> > we should recognize
> >that we are a part of a greater entity which we cannot control or
> >understand in its entirety (since we can only see and control our own part
> >of it directly). If I've phrased this effectively, it ought to be clear
> >how it's different from standard forms of monotheism. Let me know.
>
> There's a problem with complex systems theory. I can see how things which
> seem meaningless in and of themselves make up a more meaningful pattern.
> For instance, when practicing something through repetition, each repetition
> means very little compared to the more meaningful pattern stored in the
> mind from many thousands of repetitions. But, when you practice something
> you can measure the pattern--the rate of improvement, or level of skill.
> You can measure the effect of things you can control (each repetition) on
> the pattern which emerges. But how do you measure this complex system
> which you as an individual are part of--how do you measure your effect on
> it, and how it affects you?
You mean, "How can I tell that anything I'm doing makes a difference to
the rest of the world?" and "How can I tell how I'm affected by the rest
of the world?" Well, I don't see how seeing oneself as part of a system
makes those questions any harder. I know ways in which I have affected
those around me, who have affected others in turn. I can't know exactly
how much of a difference I made, since I don't have a control universe (in
which I didn't do whatever I did) to compare with. But I can often see
fairly clear cause and effect, and the rest of the time I get hints. As
far as knowing how one is affected by the rest of the world, that's harder
than the reverse, because we are each made up of so many tiny pieces of
the rest of the world, and we can't see *ourselves* in our entirety
either. But people can usually name some major influences on their lives
when asked, and notice when someone says or does something that changes
the way they think in an important way.
Eva,
who thinks the most important thing she has done in her life so far was
probably reading to a little girl for a year.
PS: (song lyrics)
"Where your eyes don't go a filthy scarecrow waves its broomstick arms and
does a parody of each unconscious thing you do.
When you turn around to look it's gone behind you on its face it's wearing
your confused expression where your eyes don't go.
Where your eyes don't go a part of you is hovering
It's a nightmare that you'll never be discovering
You're free to come and go
Or talk like Curtis Blow
But there's a pair of eyes in back of your head
Every jumbled pile of person's got a thinking part that wonders what the
part that isn't thinking isn't thinking of.
Should you worry when the skullhead is in front of you or is worse because
it's always waiting where your eyes don't go?
Where your eyes don't go a part of you is hovering
It's a nightmare that you'll never be discovering
You're free to come and go
Or talk like Curtis Blow
But there's a pair of eyes in back of your head"
--They Might Be Giants