Newton's three laws and me
How I understand these laws is thinking about a mountain. It just stays there without moving until the snow stars flying. As the snow accumulates to such a depth that it starts an avalache of snow cascading down the mountain only stopping when it has dispersed all the excess - so there is no more friction left (first law). Second law again the avalache's acceleration is proportional to the weight of the snow and also by the depth of it's mass. Whatever is in the path of the avalache is hit by the force of its pressure and the pressure of an object in its way exerts it's force. Picturing a volcano works about the same way.
Our energy efficient culture
Our native culture certainly understood the value of consequences that affected 7 generations past them and would ponder those consequences before making changes. We haven't as a culture embraced that value, but as the pinch of energy costs and consequences hit us in the face, we are beginning to welcome more efficient sources for fuel, housing, transportation, etc. It seems that we just starting running with a completely different mentality for centuries, but are not waking up to the benefits that are available by being more energy efficient.
Descartes influence
Well for sure his theories helped spawn the industrial revolution and all that came as a consequence of that, but that seems to be our process. We think the world is flat - go with that theory until we are proven wrong. I'm sure all the technology to come out of the industrial revolution has been profoundly useful, but it came with such a solid belief system that kept people in concrete walls of scientific technology that it didn't leave room for other belief systems that challenged the prevailing one. Ah similar to George and his belief systems. Lots of damage happens around that rigid of a system that we are just beginning to get a sense of the lost connections.
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3 comments:
Hi Carol, nice to see you on here. Yes I agree, out slow attempts at saving energy are long overdue. However, at least we've done what we've done so far and aren't as over the top as we used to be. Progess and change takes time and hope...and pressure always helps too so seems we should full, yet efficient, steam ahead any day now.
hey carol- i appreciated your likening of newton's 3 laws to an avalanche. i think that is a very poetic, as well as applicable, way of looking at it, and i enjoyed the imagery as well.
also, i liked that you tied in the the piece about seven generations into your posting on energy efficiency; an interesting perspective, huh?!
I liked the poetry of your description of Newton's laws as well. Sweet and simple.
Thanks you for reminding me of the native Americans' consideration of the seven generations. The "theys" say we are actually now borrowing resources for our energy consumption now from future generations. Yea, what kind of world ARE we leaving our children?
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