Potential

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The nature and extent of what’s possible

Reflecting on this single point of light emerging from the darkness, I think about the Big Bang or Big Breath and connect it to the notion that from nothingness the universe burst forth into “pure potential.”

To see what I might have on this subject, I went to my Vision For Television database. Not surprisingly there were many references to the word “potential,” among them the phrase containing the quote by physicist Amit Goswami that sparked further research.  He wrote “The universe is pure potential, waves of possibility. The elementary particles, the atoms, all the way up to the brain, are waves of possibility, not actuality. We, as observers, are required to choose (scientists use the term “collapse”) actuality from possibility.”

The significance of an observer determining what’s real derives from a paradoxical thought experiment by Erwin Schrodinger, who showed that a cat in a box with a capped vile of poison is both living and dead—until the box is opened and the cat is observed. The moment of observation collapses potential into a “reality,” such that only one of the possibilities becomes actualized. Quantum physicists are still exploring aspects of his experiment, but the notion that the universe is pure potential, waves of possibility until we choose what is actual, mysterious as it is, holds up. From my perspective it adds weight to the idea that consciousness is fundamental to the universe.

Dictionaries vary on the definition, but they share the general idea that a “potential” exists as a possibility that something can be actualized. Manifested. Michelangelo famously said that he cut away the parts of the block of Carrara marble that were not David. He actualized the potential he saw in the stone. Matter has potentials. The ones that realized are those in the mind of a beholder.

The more complex the object or system, the greater its potential. For instance, a computer has enormous potential compared to a typewriter. Their potentials are latent until someone uses them. Even in the case of artificial intelligence (AI) softwares, what is realized of their potentials is a function of the operator’s intention and action. The same tool can be used to build or  destroy.

Tools also differ in the nature and the extent of their potentials. A gun for instance, has a relatively limited range of potential; it’s primarily designed to threaten or kill (targets or living beings). An equally complex tool, a hand calculator has vastly more potential, including the exceptionally low possibility of it being used to kill.

To see how potentials are enhanced, imagine two houses on the same street where the families are exact duplicates of each other. The individuals in both families are equal in terms of their potentials for good and evil. When a gun is introduced into the system, say in “House A,” its mere presence enhances the potential for death or disaster by gunfire, irregardless of the gun’s attributes, secure location or condition. By nature, it’s a weapon.

Of course the potential for harm or death by a weapon exists in “House B” as well. Other objects, cooking knifes, poisons and heavy objects carry that potential as well. But the likelihood that someone in House B will be injured or killed by one of them is much closer to zero compared to the family in House A. Household items weren’t designed or intended to be used as weapons.

When it comes to human beings the potentials are unfathomable. It’s said that within all of us there resides the saint and the sinner. There’s a Native American story that speaks to this. A grandmother was teaching her grandson about life and the world. “A fight is going on inside me,’ she said to him. ‘It is a fight between two bears. One is angry, greedy and jealous. She complains about everything. She thinks she knows better than anyone and puffs herself up. The other bear is filled with joy. She is grateful for all that is given, accepting it as it is given. She is kind and generous. Her manner is humble and gentle. As you can imagine, the two bears are constantly fighting. It is a fight that is going on inside of you as well,’ the grandmother said. “It is going on inside all human beings.” The grandson asked, “Which bear wins?” His grandmother leaned close and said, “The one you feed, grandson.”

Indeed, the potentials we feed are the ones that become actualized in our lives and in the world. On the positive and constructive side, voices in many areas of human endeavor have addressed the subject of human potential. I let them speak for themselves.

Evolution then is the grand adventure of matter exploring its own innate potentials: from its first appearance after the big bang—from the first atom, molecule, and cell—to the magnificence and glory of the human brain. The greatest unfolding of evolution is literally the story the universe is telling to itself. 

Christian DeQuincy, Philosopher, cosmologist

Light is energy and it’s also information, content, form, and structure. It’s the potential of everything. 

David Bohm, Theoretical physicist

Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world. 

Maria Montessori , Physician and philosopher of education

That society is good which fosters the fullest development of human potentials, the fullest degree of humanness. 

Abraham Maslow, Psychologist

When driven into far-from-equilibrium conditions, systems do not just break down, they generate new structures that pull higher forms of order out of the surrounding chaos. It is as if nature reaches into herself and draws forth structures that reflect the inherent potential of the system for higher orders of self-organization. 

Duane Elgin, Author, system’s theorist

Our mass media are only a poor shadow of what they could be—not for lack of technology, but because of our imperfect understanding of their potential power. 

Hazel Henderson, Economist, futurist

Every work of art that does not cause God to be felt misses the true potential of art. 

Alex Gray, Artist

Individual success depends on environments that trigger the fulfillment of our genetic potential. Environments that motivate through fear literally shut down the potential for growth. Those that motivate through vision, open us up to express unforeseen possibilities. 

Bruce Lipton, Biologist

With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.

Dalai Lama

We’re all equally divine, but we’re all at different stages of actualizing our divine potential. The fullest expression of our divine potential is to be someone who helps others actualize their potential. 

Gordon Davidson, Leadership and social investment consultant

The City

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The consequence of collective, enduring and respectful attention and collaboration

Dictionaries tend to define a “city” as an inhabited place of greater size, population or importance than a town or village. While size is a factor, social scientists emphasize that a city represents the collective consciousness—beliefs, values, aspirations and visions—of the people who live and work in a center of commerce and culture. Reflecting on this image of the Cincinnati skyline, I see the city upside-down and observe that it evolved from the Ohio River up, so to speak.

Since the mid-forties I have witnessed both top-down and bottom-up development—wealthy individuals initiating major projects (building skyscrapers and three sports stadiums) and major progress being made by small group initiatives (tree planting, waterway cleanup, downtown mural arts program). Across time and diverse cultures, monumental structures came into being as a result of charismatic and wealthy visionaries—pharaohs, kings and queens, religious leaders, captains of industry, philanthropists and business executives. Those at the top of the social pyramid provided livelihood, incentive and opportunities for those below.

City skyscrapers may be monuments to commerce that reflect the dreams and aspirations of those at the top, but those buildings and the city streets below would be empty and would crumble were it not for the simpler and more fundamental values and aspirations of the everyday workers who built and sustain them. We know the names of corporations (Apple, Chrysler), philanthropists (Bill Gates, Warren Buffett) and businesspeople (JP Morgan, Rockefeller Plaza) associated with grand structures but it’s important to remember that without the legions of laborers, craftsperson, artisans and professionals who struggled to feed their families and advance through education and hard work, these buildings would never have been built.

When I see the downtown areas of cities in crisis—abandoned office towers and stores, dilapidated housing, broken sidewalks and impoverished neighborhoods I remind myself that cities are dynamic living systems where people congregate, largely because they catch the spirit of the place. Something’s happening there and they want to be part of it—or they don’t want to be part of it and they leave.

When that spirit is gone, the buildings become empty shells. Revitalization initiatives often fail or fall short because the substantive challenge—beyond window dressing, attracting businesses and government loans—is the more difficult task of generating and vitalizing a new and fresh spirit, one that gives people a reason to care enough to want to work or live  there.

The world around, ancient indigenous peoples vitalized a place by ensouling it with guardian spirits, and by continuously enacting rituals that brought people together. Respectful attention is how “sacred sites” came into being and were sustained. I’m reminded of an early morning when I watched man sweep the dirt in front of his little shop in Taxco, Mexico. That small act demonstrated respect for himself, his family, the shop and those who  would come to browse. It makes me wonder what American town centers and neighborhoods would be like if more people and businesses cared for the property they own, manage or rent.

Continuous and respectful attention to a place, indoors and out, keeps its spirit alive. As a photographer, I observe that the slightest tasks such as cleaning a lens, editing images, signing prints, cutting mattes and entering metadata are acts of respect. They demonstrate caring for the whole by attending to the parts—subsystems, that constitute and determine the quality of one’s experience and that of others.

Systemically, by attending to the integrity of the parts, the functionality of the whole is maintained and the dark shadow of entropy is averted. At least for a time. Conversely, the way to eliminate something, to hand it over to the forces of entropic dissipation and decay, is simply to deprive it of attention. “Give it no energy,” as the saying goes—neither positive nor negative thoughts or deeds. A prominent example in the political sphere was when The Late Show With Steven Colbert instituted a policy of never mentioning the name of a former President.

From this perspective the reflected Cincinnati skyline prompts me to see the city’s populous, our interaction and commerce as a consequence of collective, enduring and respectful attention payed to specific values, dreams and aspirations. And they help to define us. Personally, it encourages me to pay attention and offer respect to the aspects of city life—the people, places, institutions and events—that I find uplifting, educational, inspiring and empowering.

The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents. It is a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of the body and the demands of commerce but the desire for beauty and the hunger for community. It is a place where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals than the quantity of their goods.

Lyndon B. Johnson, Former President of the United States

Flowers, Evolution and Humanity

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Can they provide a model and direction for human evolution?

Red Hibiscus

Color texture and geometry combine here to elicit an immediate visceral response—a Wow!— whether from a potential pollinator or a human observer. It’s the energy of attraction. But from where does it originate? From the flower itself? From the image of the flower? From the colors and the arrangement of elements? Likely all of these, but my mind wants to dig a little deeper. As I write this, I feel like there is something more going on here, but I don’t know what it might be. What is it exactly, that attracts? Exploring, unfolding the implicate order of possibilities, is one of the joys of contemplation, each a spontaneous experience. So I proceed.

First things first: Flowers, more specifically “blossoms,” evolved their appearances and fragrances as a way to reproduce. For human beings the combination of color, form and odor exerts a pull. We want to come closer. Attraction to flowers is basic and obvious.

Then there’s the image of the flower—which is not the flower—yet it too, perhaps even more so for some, exerts a pull. In this instance, a two-dimensional substrate such as paper or a computer screen represents the subject, not as it is but as someone chooses to see it according to and enhancing the qualities that appeal to that person’s aesthetic sensibilities.

The quality of image reproduction is so good these days, the mind tends to believe that the image of an object is an accurate, one-to-one representation of it. It’s not. Never is. For instance, the above image does not very well represent the hibiscus blossom that I saw when I photographed it. According to my preferences, I manipulated the image by intensifying the color saturation and sharpness, darkening the outer petals and cropping it overall so the pistil would occupy the center of the frame. The photographer’s consciousness has entered in, manipulating the subject in order to increase the appeal. I used to tell my television production students, “No matter the format, everything you see on the screen is a reflection of the consciousness of those who produced it.”

In thinking about the influence of color, form and geometry I’m reminded that when we look at a flower, it’s the complex of wavelengths, lines, edges, contrasts, textures and other parameters that stimulate the retina, which in turn generates electrical impulses that travel to the brain. There, they are combined and compared to past experiences of objects with similar qualities, and the result is the experience of a blossom. There is no picture in the brain; It’s the mind that sees—experiences.

This is too simplistic, of course, but the general outline suggests that the aesthetic dimensions of wavelength, line, texture and so on trigger something more than the word or experience of a blossom. They combine to elicit the subjective experience of such things as radiant being, beauty, peace and vitality—qualities that touch and feed the soul. We can and do make more of what is actually there in front of us.

What then are the qualities of a person’s being and expression, beyond window dressing and personality? What are the authentic and subjective qualities that have long-term survival value for human beings? Might they include radiant being, beauty, peace and tranquility? Of course, responses to these questions will be different for everyone.

I look at the images of flowers in my collection and observe that they are the result of billions of years of evolution, and that flowers provide both a model and a direction for our own evolution—personally, socially and globally. Radiance. Beauty. Peace. Vitality. Just a few of the qualities that contribute to health and have long-term survival value.

One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that.

Joseph Campbell

 

The Individual

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The “individual” is an expression of a whole. Depending who’s looking and how, a singularity can appear as a fractal, a hologram or simply an object or person. The blossom above and the stone below, seen in isolation, reflect the “wholes” of which they are a part—a geranium plant and a mountain respectively. If someone were to hold out these objects for us to examine, our inclination would be to name label them. Well and good. But they’re just symbols that we use to talk about them. But by isolating and photographing an object, it becomes special as well as representative of the whole.

As a whole, the plant and the mountain are visually complex, perhaps even commonplace. They’re beautiful, we stand in awe of them—or pass them by. By isolating the individual representatives, the beauty is retained. The magnitude and presence of the whole is missing certainly, but what’s added through it’s stark presence is the sensibility of its “beingness.”

We might say, “Wow!” to the plant or mountain; they can be dramatic experiences. Here, the isolation and simple framing of blossom and stone makes them feel precious and deserving of deeper consideration. For instance, although they represent their respective wholes, they are unique expressions of them. No two blossoms on the plant are identical; neither are any of the other stones on the mountain. Individuals are identical in substance, different in expression.

I think of other whole systems in this regard—cell to human being, person to corporation and nation—and cosmos. Because lower order beings unite to form higher order beings—atoms join together to form molecules, molecules unite to form cells, cells unite to form… there is a natural, “inherited” relationship all the way up the line. The blossom is the tree individuated. The stone is the mountain individuated. Perhaps one of the core challenges of our era is to see the individual as an expression of the whole.

The universe presents itself to us as a system composed of parts-within-wholes, of systems within systems, organized through time and evolution as interdependent levels of complexity. Each part, including you and me, is integral to the whole; and, in some holographic sense, each part is a microcosm of the greater macrocosm. Each part contains within itself the seed or template of the whole.

Christian de Quincey

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Stewardship

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Personally taking responsibility for the whole

Birds On Wires

I always enjoy seeing how birds space themselves along a wire. How do they know when close is too close? I’ve watched them land in a space that seems wide enough to maintain a proper distance between them and their neighbors, but if it isn’t enough they’ll adjust. And then there’s the individual, seen here, who prefers to be alone. Or is he just waiting for a spot?

In this image, the additional elements of sky and jet trail evoke in me a sense of how the earth is filling up. Is there space enough for everyone? Will there be in the future, considering the trend in population growth? We’re definitely crowding out wildlife. “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” Considering the increasing loss of habitat, where can the birds and animals go? Where can we go to avoid traffic, street noise, apocalyptic movies and television hype?

Some folks say the planet is finite and fear that, if we keep multiplying, the quality of life for everyone will deteriorate until the earth becomes uninhabitable. My preferred perspective has two parts: that expansion is the norm at all levels, from atoms to universe, and life makes more of itself while matter transforms to accommodate increasing complexity. As we know from the tumultuous geologic past and the history of civilizations, evolution does not favor individuals. Rather, it favors expansion—now most noticeably from a human perspective in the form of increased complexity and consciousness. So I tend to view the increasing human use of space on earth and everything that’s expanding within it, as life’s way of providing the pressure we need in order to learn effective and responsible planetary management. Stewardship. It can be uncomfortable and chaotic, even tragic, but sometimes that’s how we learn.

Like those birds on the wire, we are all watching and seeking in our own way, relating and adjusting to life as it becomes more complex. Intolerance, the clash of ideologies, environmental irresponsibility and climate change are some of the predominant and long-term forces that are providing the impetus for humanity to learn and implement appropriate and responsible management systems and processes that are life affirming and sustainable—at every level and in the long term. Evolution favors the big picture. It brought forth life and intelligence. Now it’s up to us to care of its parts, the members that have the capacity to envision and co-create. As the song goes, “We have the whole world in our hands.” Is there enough space for everyone? Will the apocalyptic movies and television programs contributing to a self-fulfilling prophecy? Or will we build a world that works for everyone, in harmony with nature? No doubt, one way for some of us to learn, is to see what we don’t want.

From a whole-systems evolutionary perspective, individual integrity and species survival have less to do with fitness, wealth, governance or who has the most or “badder” weapons of mass destruction. It has far more to do with how we perceive and think about ourselves, each other and the world. Breakdowns such as war, crime, corruption and even domestic violence and incivility are telling us current modes of thinking are not working. They’re leading us down a more divisive and destructive path.

Viewed constructively, the established paradigms of separation and fear are forces that are pressuring us to adopt a shift toward unity and love., from “subdue the earth; me first, last and always,” to “respect the earth; we will prosper together or perish together.” Beyond sentimentality and wishful thinking, love, compassion and collaboration are the practical and realistic forces that encourage us to respond more appropriately to change. They transcend narrow and limited, short term, winners and loosers thinking. Crisis precedes transformation, it doesn’t block it. The pressures we’re experiencing may be nature’s way of showing us how we’ve been creating, prompting us to change course so we can build a world that works for everyone including the lions and tigers and bears. And birds. Oh yes!

Stewardship is the willingness to be accountable for the well-being of a larger organization by operating in service, rather than in control, of those around us.

Peter Block, American author, consultant, and speaker in the areas of organization development, community building, and civic engagement.
 

 

Whole Systems Management

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Introduction

This begins a series of posts on the subject of whole systems thinking. After the topic is introduced, I’ll offer a contemplation that relates to the headline photograph and text.

Historically, patterns observed in nature were discussed and documented in China five thousand years ago, before they were articulated by Lao Tzu (Gia-fu Feng, 1968) in the 6th Century B.C.E. In 1968, Ludwig von Bertalanffy, regarded as the father of systems science, published General Systems Science, which quickly came to the attention of engineers and physical scientists.

      A decade later, James Grier Miller (1978) elaborated Bertalanffy’s principles and applied them to living systems in his seminal book entitled Living Systems. Since then, scholars, scientists, engineers, information theorists, artists and philosophers have drawn on these sources and created a gestalt, a way of thinking about complex whole systems from the wristwatch to the universe, in order to better understand, appreciate and especially manage part-whole relationships. The story is told that, after President Kennedy committed the nation to the moon mission, NASA scientists drew heavily upon general systems science as a guiding principle to ensure a successful outcome.

      Simply put, whole systems theory involves the consideration and management of part-whole relationships as a way to better understand and manage complexity. It’s about getting relationships right and sustaining them. As a thought process, this way of thinking is not a panacea, but it has tremendous practical value when it comes to keeping things going, particularly in the areas of human-machine interfaces, team building, organizational development, business protocols, political and social cohesion and creative endeavors.

      The benefits are many, not the least of which is understanding the interrelations of mechanical and living systems, including the observation that living systems are constituted of smaller sub-systems and at the same time nested within larger whole systems, all of which are interconnected and interdependent. It’s this observation that is detailed in the books “Web Of Life” and “The Systems View of Life.” I highly recommend both publications. In scientific and technical circles, this framework is referred to as “General Systems Science.” In other settings, it’s simply spoken of as “Systems Thinking.” Because it has nearly universal application, and because I have been a long term student, practitioner and frequent beneficiary of systems thinking, I wanted to share it with you. I hope you’ll find this series both interesting and useful.

What Is A System?

According to Bertalanffy: “A system can be defined as a set of elements standing in interrelation among themselves and with the environment.”

Closed and Open

In “closed” systems, no material enters or leaves. All mechanical systems—watches, vehicles, electronic devices and appliances—are closed systems.

“Open” systems exchange matter with their environment, inputting and outputting, building-up and breaking-down its material components. All living systems are open. They evolve. Bertalanffy says: “Life is not comfortable setting down in pre-ordained grooves of being; at its best, it is élan vital, inexorably driven towards higher forms of existence.” Mechanical systems perform a function according to their design, and that’s all they can do—the movie “Transformers” to the contrary. The function of living systems, on the other hand, is to stay alive and continually make itself more, thereby contribute to the development of higher orders of complexity in an evolutionary process.

Simple And Complex

Within open and closed systems, we can discriminate between simple-systems that have few parts and complex-systems that have many. The more parts an assemblage has, the more complex the relations between them. And the more complex the relations, the greater the need for management in order to overcome a systems worst nightmare—entropy.

A relatively simple system.

A much more complex system, requiring significant management, constant maintenance and upgrading.

Entropy

According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, matter dissipates. Given time, it diffuses and eventually reverts back to heat energy. It’s in a constant state of disintegration. Dust to dust.  Iron rusts; bones break; computers fail; noise disrupts communication; relationships and businesses fail; nations and civilizations come to an end. Nothing material, at any scale, endures forever. But there is a counterbalance to the forces of entropy.

Syntropy

Any energy, work, force or action that retards deterioration or disintegration is considered “syntropic.” Oiling a metallic surface prevents it from rusting. Putting fresh batteries in an electronic device keeps it running. Good dental hygiene prevents gum disease and promotes overall health. Feeding, complementing and rewarding a work crew encourages continued performance. Frequent communication improves relationships. Higher values and shared vision enhance social coherence and growth.

Contributors to Syntropy

  • Information: The more and the higher the quality of information input, the more entropy is overcome.
  • Order: Acts of ordering within living systems contribute to their survival and growth because they maintain the parts (members) in right relationship. We may need an electron microscope to see the infinitesimal order in atoms and space-based telescopes to it in the cosmos, but what we find at both extremes is exquisite order. Biologists understand that it’s the arrangement of atoms, molecules and cells that determine morphology, what a living expresses—is.
  • Communication: More and better communication promotes knowledge, understanding and the desire to do what’s necessary to keep a living system alive and functioning. “Desire” to move, interrelate and express is innate in lower order systems, such as atoms and cells. In humans, it dominates consciousness.
  • Positive or Constructive Fields. Calm, life-enhancing environments promotes cooperation, collaboration and intelligent creativity, realizing potentials that will contribute rather than retard growth.
  • Affinity. When there is a connection between individuals or entities that is beneficial, respectful and harmonious they are in “right relationship.” In living systems it promotes sustainability and growth.
Contemplating Our Political System

Our political systems are in crisis because we citizens have inherited and sustain dysfunctional thinking. “Polarization,” for example, is not the problem. It’s a consequence of the erroneous perception that human beings are separate from each other, nature and the planet. This assumption, combined with capitalism which says, in effect, that you are free to own property, start businesses and make economic decisions without excessive government control has resulted in mass self-centeredness where many citizens feel free to disadvantage their neighbor, lie, cheat or steal to get what they want. It breaks down trust, which leads to increased separation and division into ethnic and ideological camps.

In a democracy, differing points of view are normal. As political systems grow and become more complex, the challenge for its members is to quantify and analyze growth within the system in the context of its changing environment. The “me, my, mine” perspectives of the past, when maintained, lead to increasingly severe breakdowns and dysfunction. The healing of a nation, which is a conscious living system, requires its citizens to adjust their thinking about how they relate to one another and the whole. Systems thinking helps them do this. I’ll elaborate on the “how-to’s” of managing personal, social and national complexity in postings to come.

Looking back, blaming and criticizing is a waste of time and energy. What’s needed is widespread education at all levels, directed to the realization that, although we see ourselves as separate individuals, we are interrelated and interdependent co-creators of the whole system, and that the nation is also an interdependent sub-system of a greater whole—humanity, which is a subsystem of the planet. And so on. Running parallel to this is the need to understand that the actions of each citizen, positive and negative, ripple a complex of influences into the environment and the whole within which they are a part.

Small changes in one part of the system can have profound implications for all else in the system… When we make choices about how we live our lives, we are having an impact far beyond our own immediate circumstances. Those impacts can extend not only to the rest of the planet but also to future generations.

                                    John Donne, co-editor: Ecology, Ethics, and Interdependence)

It bears repeating: human beings are interconnected and interdependent. I am responsible for myself and the integrity of the wholes within which I participate as a member. The deep understanding of how living systems work should come from parents and educators at all levels. It can and should also come from television and advertisers, business mission statements and directives and churches.

A shift in thinking at the bottom of the social pyramid is the way to co-create positive change. A rapid shift, the kind that climate scientists are urging, requires it—and responsible action at the political level in every nation. Because citizens in a democracy suffer the consciousness of their elected leaders, it’s important to elect individuals who understand and appreciate the dynamic of whole systems thinking. Climate scientists from all nations have sent the message loud and clear: either we learn the hard way, through trial and error, or shift our thinking from “me first,” to “planet first.”

A human being is part of the Whole… He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest… a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is, in itself, a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

               Albert Einstein

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True Dialogue

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Thinking together to learn and make sound judgments on behalf of a whole system

The Free Dictionary defines dialogue as “An exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially with a view to reaching an amicable agreement.” In the image of these spheres, diverse in size, tonality and texture I can imagine the exchange of electrochemical information that resulted in harmonious interaction within this dynamic system where drops of oil sought to maintain their integrity within a vessel of water.

The order and pattern of the spheres provides evidence that, although the water and oil molecules are diametrically opposed to one another, they continuously strive for, and in this instant, reached an “amicable agreement” where the whole system, enhanced by diversity, contains more information and complexity. Aesthetically speaking, there’s balance and harmony among opposites. It’s a picture of individual elements engaging each other in the context of a common purpose within a shared environment—”culture” we might say.

Individual integrity (read dignity as well) is maintained, and from our point of view the system displays stability and organization. The molecules of oil didn’t ask to be deposited in the vessel of water, but once together the interaction and exchange of information within the system became more of dance than a battle. Accommodation rather than destruction. Indeed, true dialogue is a kind of discursive dance.

Human dialogue is unique. It involves discussion, but “discussion” is just an exchange that tries to sort things out. The emphasis is on back and forth inquiry and analysis where there may be many points of view. Discussions can be amicable or heated. Either way, participants generally aim to win an argument, score points or have their viewpoint prevail. “Debate” is another kind of discourse. Here, the individuals do battle with one another by offering proofs and counter arguments so their points of view will win. The context is purposefully polarized so there’s a winner and a loser. Having been on a college debate team, I can attest to the occasional glory of winning and the more frequent agony of defeat.

“True dialogue” on the other hand is a process that flows from a base of commonalities and allows conflicting views to court each other so a fuller perspective can emerge from spirited and respectful interaction. It occurs when the participants follow their hearts and souls, when they are allowed to have their full say, are heard and taken seriously—within an atmosphere of trust and discovery—where there is open mindedness, respect and a mutual desire for achieving a common goal. Finding the best way forward or discovering the truth. Simply put, dialogue is how we think things through together so we can individually learn and make sound judgements on behalf of a whole system.

One of the primary purposes of dialogue is to affect a transformation in collective consciousness… it asks us to suspend our attachments to a particular point of view (opinion) so that deeper levels of listening, synthesis and meaning can evolve within a group.

Glenna Gerard & Linda Teurfs, Business and organizational consultants

Whether in a small informal group or a large formal setting, the practice of dialogue is not easy. First, it requires a clear and commonly held picture of the whole, its fundamental purpose and goal—what the system needs in order to function and evolve. With a goal agreed upon, points of agreement need to be identified before differences in perspectives and approach are specified and argued.

Throughout, broader truths, those relating to the well-being and development of the whole system must be allowed to emerge. According to Habermas’s Theory of Communicative Action, the goal of dialogue is to allow us “To comprehend each other well enough so that common goals and understanding is possible.” True dialogue builds and maintains good relations among the participants as it builds consensus among them regarding the good of the whole system.

Psychologists observe that, as individuals, we tend to think we know what’s best for ourselves and the larger systems within which we participate. We believe our perspectives are not only right, they’re better; others just don’t understand or know what we know. And so there’s a strong tendency to champion our perspectives and methods above all. But where there’s an openness to discover what is actually in the best interest of the whole system, that tendency can be tempered by structuring interaction as a formal (true) dialogue, and making sure that everyone knows the Multicultural Ground Rules For Dialogue beforehand.

I have observed evidence of true dialogue in families, special interest groups, religious organizations, universities, corporations and non-profit entities. That we humans have evolved the capacity to rationally and respectfully think through and transcend our differences while safeguarding our relationships and seeking the common good is reason to hope.

Dialogue is the art of thinking together. It involves listening and thinking beyond my position for something that goes beyond you and me.

 William Isaacs, Founder, Dialogos consulting firm, Cambridge, Massachusetts

None of us knows the truth, but together we can come closer to it.

Anonymous

Intelligence requires that you don’t defend an assumption. The proper structure of an assumption or of an opinion is that it is open to evidence that it may not be right.

David Bohm, Physicist

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My other sites:

David L. Smith Photography Portfolio.com

Ancient Maya Cultural Traits.com: Weekly blog featuring the traits that made this civilization unique

Spiritual Visionaries.com: Access to 81 free videos on YouTube featuring thought leaders and events of the 1980s.

Entropy And Syntropy

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Consciously or not, every day we choose between breakdown and transformation

Rust Running From Stairway

Because the rust is so prominent in this image, giving the appearance of a “bleeding” or disintegrating stairway, I see it as an excellent illustration of entropy—matter in the process of dissipation, reverting back to heat energy. According to the Third Law of Thermodynamics, matter disintegrates. Everything transforms. Dust to dust. Iron rusts, computers fail, bones break, noise disrupts communication, relationships fail, businesses reach the end of their lifecycle and civilizations collapse. Without exception, all forms of matter eventually return to their component elements and energies.

I observed to my video production students, “The natural tendency is for cameras and production crews not to work. Parts, relationships and communication break down. So if you want things to work, every element needs attention—maintenance. Constantly. Periodically. Metal needs to be oiled. Connections need to be maintained. People need to be on the same page, fairly compensated and encouraged.” From a human perspective, the forces of entropy are put off for a time by caring, maintenance and increased information.

This stairway would not have been bleeding had it been properly cared for, perhaps with periodic painting or applying a retardant at the first sign of rust. Without maintenance, entropy speeds up and culminates in dis-integration. The steps break and need to be replaced. One of life’s principle lessons for me is that in every domain, maintaining a system is better in the long run than shoring up the consequences of entropy.

In this image I also find it metaphorically suggestive that “steps” are disintegrating. In the course of our lives we take the steps we believe are necessary to reach our goals. We start out feeling secure because the steps have a proven track record of stability and success for other people. But with experience we sometimes find those steps to be unreliable in our situation.

Even when we feel we’re on the right stairway, we may not care enough or give proper attention to certain steps and we falter. Minimally, security and trust are at risk, particularly when someone else’s course of action doesn’t resonate with our temperament, values or beliefs. Worse, is continuing to follow a path that has already been shown to be entropic. Instead of bemoaning breakdowns, the more appropriate response is adaptation by analyzing the situation objectively, paying close attention to the location of the breakdown, and if warranted, taking appropriate action to retard the forces of disintegration.

Consider this in terms of a social system that are experiencing breakdowns. Where are the points of disintegration? Where is entropy in evidence? What can I do about it—personally, within the context of my family, friends and colleagues? What can we do together? Syntropic acts, those that reduce entropy, can be as simple as a smile, saying “yes” to good ideas and doing the right thing. Then too, realistically it can take some time, effort and possibly some expense to keep our personal and professional “steps”—desires, projects, businesses— from disintegrating. Entropy is a dragon that cannot be tamed. But it can be managed effectively.

Syntropic management involves a process of “remaking.” Businesses and other organizations, including nations, characteristically follow the standard bell curve: birth, growth, peak experience, decline and death. It’s the lifecycle of all systems, living and inanimate. When a system recognizes that it’s facing decline there’s a choice to me made. Do nothing, that is, continue doing what it’s doing. Or create a new identity, purpose, mission and vision based on the new, currently threatening circumstances.

Die a slow death? Or engage in a process of rebirth by shifting to an identity, purpose, mission and vision that functions well, even thrives in the new environment. Living systems are what they are today because at some level the organisms or organizations chose to change themselves, to adapt. The scientific term for this process is “evolution.”

Entropy is the occasion less for cosmic pessimism than for hope that the universe is always open to new creation.

John Haught

 

Presence and the Present Moment

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Being in the “Now” evokes an appreciation of “Being” itself

Footprints & Tire Tracks in Sand

In this image I observe and celebrate impermanence and the aesthetic of the present moment, happenings that are will never be seen again. Capturing them is one of the unique features of photography. In this instance, the patterns and textures lasted perhaps a day at most before being lost to the incoming tide. Impermanence is the story of risings and fallings, comings and goings, syntropy and entropy, processes that urge us to appreciate what’s given as it was given. What is.

As a document, there’s an abundance of information in this image. It tells a story of two-footed creatures who’ve evolved sufficiently to create a highly patterned, well organized mechanism capable of making a linear imprint in sand. Geologists could derive information about the planet and the time the photograph was made, just from the material, the pattern and the shadows. We can imagine the significance of this image by considering our response if it came from another planet.

Aesthetically, the elements of patterned light and shadow evoke in me a sense of beingness. A person walked or stood there long enough to make an impression in the sand. And a vehicle came along, leaving its imprint as well. Although this is obvious, it’s not the information that moved me to make the photograph. It was an attraction to the quality of light that interrupted my walk on the beach—how it was creating textures and illuminating the pattern of the tire juxtaposed with the footprints. Human and machine. Animate and inanimate. It was only later, when I spent time thinking about the image, that I began to catch the sensibility of being— the wonder of presence and the fleeting precious moment.

And an enigma— the foot impressions don’t conform to a normal human being. How could they have been made? One foot faces the opposite direction of the other.

By letting go of our conceptual beliefs and judgments, by letting go of rules and just being present in the moment, we perhaps gain our true humanity. We see.

George DeWolfe, Fine art photographer

 

Order And Coherence

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Forces that characterize the universe from the beginning

Sphere 754

Initially, this image evoked in me an appreciation of the organizing principles that underlie manifested reality, from sub-atomic particles to the universe. The consistent spherical shapes, irrespective of size, and the way the light raked across them suggesting mass and texture, and that led to considerations of order. Upon further reflection, my appreciation widened to include the forces of coherence that are displayed between and among the spheres.

I tend to think of ordering as the arrangement of parts within a system, and coherence the adhering property of those parts. Combined, the result is a balanced dynamic, a whole system that functions according to its design. Here, I observe subtle forces, a dance of pushing and pulling that maintains the shape and integrity of each sphere of oil as it seeks a comfortable place on the surface of a hostile environment—a graduate filled with water. This image captured a moment of adaptation in a turbulent situation. In a sense, the cells (oil drops) are “learning” about their identity and place, how to “live” in relation to the other cells given the repulsive environment.

Coherence in us means health: the optimum functioning of the body. When the body is coherent, its immune system is strong and resistant to disease. Everything we do either promotes or counters coherence and thus our and our environment’s evolution and development; it is either healthy or unhealthy, and is either constructive or destructive.

Ervin Laszlo, Systems scientist

Perhaps because the larger sphere in the center of the image contains texture, I’m reminded of the processes of ordering and coherence that took place when the Earth was forming, struggling to  take shape and establish coherence at a time in the planet’s history that was so violent we can barely imagine it. I marvel at the improbability of that happening. And yet, out of the chaos came order and coherence, the combination allowing the development of higher organisms and intelligent life.

The probability of life evolving through random genetic variation is about the same as the probability of a hurricane blowing through a scrap yard assembling a working airplane.

  Fred Hoyle, Astronomer

For atoms to bounce together haphazardly to form a single molecule of amino acid would require more time than has existed since the beginning, even a hundred times more than 13.7 billion years.

Mary Coelho, Author, “Awakening Universe.”

The chance that a livable universe like ours would be created is less than the chance of randomly picking a particular single atom out of all the atoms in the universe.

Bruce Rosenblum & Fred Kuttner, Authors, “Quantum Enigma