Daily Archives: 05/01/2006

What is your dangerous idea?

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Got to say that I really don’t have any dangerous ideas for life, the universe and everything – but it looks like some people may well have:

“Something radically new is in the air: new ways of understanding physical systems, new ways of thinking about thinking that call into question many of our basic assumptions.  A realistic biology of the mind, advances in evolutionary biology, physics, information technology, genetics, neurobiology, psychology, engineering, the chemistry of materials: all are questions of critical importance with respect to what it means to be human. For the first time, we have the tools and the will to undertake the scientific study of human nature.

“What you will find emerging out of the 119 original essays in the 75,000 word document written in response to the 2006 Edge Question — “What is your dangerous idea?” — are indications of a new natural philosophy, founded on the realization of the import of complexity, of evolution. Very complex systems — whether organisms, brains, the biosphere, or the universe itself — were not constructed by design; all have evolved. There is a new set of metaphors to describe ourselves, our minds, the universe, and all of the things we know in it.

“Welcome to Edge. Welcome to “dangerous ideas”. Happy New Year.”


Life and Limbing It

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Just been reading the fascinating book ‘Life and Limb’ written by Jamie Andrew. There’s a very dry humored section after the account of the mountaineering accident when he’s getting used to life as an amputee and getting used to people’s attitudes:

“I particularly remember one unfortunate, kindly stranger who noticed me, in my wheelchair, having difficulty reaching something in a shop. The guy came up to me and ever so politely said, ‘Excuse me, can I give you a hand?’ He then looked at my arms, realised what he’d said, and immediately flushed bright crimson. ‘Oh my God!’ he continued. ‘I’m so sorry. I’ve really gone and put my foot in it!’ He stopped, looked down at my bandaged legs, and this time just melted into the floor. ‘It’s OK,’ I said, grinning at the distraught man. ‘Don’t feel cut up about it.’