"Christoph J.W. Schmees" wrote:
> Michael, > > I could not agree more! > > Because if you take your first sentences very serius, you claim that the > process will always reach its *global* optimum, the best of all possible > solutions. This definitely isn't guaranteed. christoph, if this what i said, i'm not sure i meant this. i was trying to say that the law says nothing about what's desirable, only what's most likely in the midst of unknowable mysteries. inserting desirability implies passion, which demands responsibility. so we've moved from principles about mystery to the law about responsibility. so we must DO something about our passion... even though we might not get the result we want. and so the cycle is born. one act, many possible reactions, one ultimate result, many possible next acts, one act chosen... still, i do think we agree... <smile> > The process may reach, if it > runs well and conditions are right, a *local* optimum. That is a state > where small variations deteriorate the result. Perhaps a better optimum > could not be reached only because the necessary catalyst was missing. > > (This again is a transfer of concepts from physics and chemistry to social > systems. I like these analogies because they help me lighten up things. > Continued:) > > The above is still, say, 'linear thinking'. Taking chaos ideas into account > one gets: The system may have 'stable' and 'unstable' states. The latter > not meaning that the system is likely to collapse soon, but meaning that > the smallest variation of conditions may lead to a totally different > result. The famous butterfly in China who may affect your local wheather - > if the clima system is susceptible to it. In a 'stable' state the system is > not susceptible to small variations of the conditions. This is where your > first sentences may hold true. But if you add accidentalness or > fortuitousness to the recipe, you end up with 'kismet' (fate), don't you? > > Christoph > At 19:08 10.1.2001 -0600, you wrote: > >... > >i think that 'whatever happens is the only thing that could have' is > >necessarily absolutely true. if there was anything else more likely, > >more possible, it would have happened. this does not mean that it is > >most desirable. does not mean that it should be repeated. and, > >especially does not mean that we understand all of the conditions that > >made it the most likely outcome (most likely in that it did in fact beat > >out all other happenings that might otherwise have happened in that > >moment). that we don't understand all of those conditions is, i think, > >the little bit of mystery that this particular principle points to. > >indeed, i thnk that's what the principles are for... pointing to the > >mystery, the surprise, the unknown. > > > >now, that said, i think there is an extended version of this principle > >that may answer your concerns... (maybe this extension one one of the > >early things not to do? <grin>). so try this: whatever happens is the > >only thing that could have, GIVEN CURRENT CONDITIONS... which would > >include current participants, current skills, knowledge, clarity/accuity > >of vision, etc, etc, etc, AND personal passion AND willingness/ability > >to take responsibility. > > -- Michael Herman 300 West North Avenue #1105 Chicago IL 60610 312-280-7838 voice 312-280-7837 fax **PLEASE NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS/RESOURCES** http://www.michaelherman.com -evolution at work - a book about open space -michael herman associates - consulting -globalchicago.net - online open space -websites worth visiting - community -michael's open notebook - journal mailto:mher...@globalchicago.net * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed
