Might be an outside
That there might be an outside more cannot be proved.
:- Doug.
We appear, like cells in the body, as separate organisms, bounded by walls called skin. But we also, if we cock our head and squint just so, appear as if floating in a stream of culture and history, psychology and religion. We have stability and dynamic mutability.
:- Doug.
Then there is purpose in conversation—another fine mess to throw into play.
:- Doug.
We are part of the mass of the earth. When we die, the mass does not decrease. When we dissolve to earth and water and elements, the mass does not decrease. When we are born, the mass does not increase. We are of the earth.
:- Doug.
Dog kick involves then not only the dog’s own energy as Gregory Bateson told us. It I fostered also by, and reliant on, randomness. I am led to guess that randomness finds a home in emotion, for one place. We don’t need many wild cards in a deck to create a new game.
:- Doug.
Conversation finds, does not introduce, randomness in life. Randomness is necessary.
:- Doug.
It’s perhaps not the number of people in a conversation that makes it alive, leads to emergence. Rather it may be the quantity and weight of the ideas and the energy exchanged.
:- Doug.
Things have to be repeated and varied a number of times and then they become absorbed.
:- Doug.
How do two people combine and self organize to form a conversation? For the conversation is more surprising than two.
:- Doug.
I am thinking I need to do some interviews of people. With whom do I start? Who are my most fascinating people? Gladwell interviews to find out how the person’s mind works. That seems like a good starting place for me. Not what they know, or what they are, but how they move through the world. Someone who interviews? Someone who writes stories of interesting people? Someone who works with many interesting people? Ask anyone about a memorable person.
:- Doug.
An imperfect argument is human; more humanly it invites others to engage you. It may just keep you moving.
:- Doug.
We are finding out what it means to be, and to be human. We are finding out what it means to converse.
:- Doug.