Flows of knowledge

What is witchcraft today may become science tomorrow

What is science today may become witchcraft tomorrow

What does that tell us?

1. Just because something is not proven through science does not make it less valuable fodder for our thinking processes

2. Just because something is proven through science does not mean that it will not be regarded as less valuable or even pseudo science tomorrow

After the middle ages [dark ages] through renaissance and modern era much has changed in the scientific method. This means that there should be less of a chance of viewing old science as pseudo science but rather just less ‘progressive’. Trouble is that the methods change also, not just the layers of knowledge we build upon. This leads to potential dismissal of earlier scientific findings.

What then is the moral of this story? We do need to think things through and not just take them as given. Some proof is always needed, at times though it has a lot to do with experiential and intuitive proof rather than scientific research. Often research starts when there is enough experiential noise to be noticed. Keep an open mind my friend

At times we have cycles: alchemy good, alchemy bad to alchemy in fact is what we do a lot, just not with turning everything into gold.

I am fascinated by the number of examples in philosophy where – through thinking things through without the help of a microscope or neuroscience – philosophers have been able to discuss humanity’s essence.

Foresight Identities – a journey of transformation

Just like we are different people to different people Foresight Identities are different approaches for different needs…

I gave a talk on Foresight Identities and my journey through them at the ‘Futures Hot House’ at AMP building in Sydney last week, thank you Janine and thank you audience for the wonderful questions.

The NINE different ‘Foresight Identities’ respond to different foresight needs. Their drivers are different and so are the ways in which the foresight pulls us in, transforms us or the groups or societies where the foresight is applied.

I will start with Intuited Foresight.

Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink” eloquently describes how intuition works and how we use it all the time.

The need to measure and the idea that better decisions are ‘rational’ decisions have led to decision-making being equated to 1/ load me with facts 2/ show the many research studies to prove it 3/ show me where it worked before.

All of these are fine qualities for those who make decisions based what others do. As we have to make decisions with less historical facts, then we need to go with what it is that our gut is telling us about the situation. Is it aligned with what and who we are or want to be? Does it feel right? Does it look right? Can we hear the cheers? Is this what we want our future to be?

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Future and Sci-Fi

What is the role of the science fiction writer in our future?

….my view is that science fiction writers imagine the future – which the scientists and business people then go and make happen – sometimes it takes a long time – but I don’t think that they ‘predict the future’ as someone said in an article lately [the link no longer works...] – no they imagine the future….

Science fiction is art just like a painting. Both require the specific knowledge and foundations of the craft. In science fiction it is knowledge of technology and human interests.Some science fiction is better than others on the latter part. It inspires. It makes you see how something in Sci-Fi might be made possible.

It then takes many participants, co-creators to make the vision happen. Science fiction has the benefit of engaging with a good story, as against the way in which corporate vision is told. That communication ability is what inspires. If a novel idea has no context, is not shared in an engaging manner what hope does it have to rise above the NOISE?

It is one of the best proofs that vision is important.

Helas it [vision or science fiction as a source] is still not well embraced by most businesses. Too busy to go kick another few sets of tires, which in turn leads nowhere….

The Secret

I watched yesterday a documentary movie called ‘The Secret’ .

It discusses the power of our minds and thoughts to bring about the realities we truly want. It is simple enough, if you want something very much, be it happiness, wealth, even health and you occupy your thoughts in a meaningful around the way in which you’d like to see things pan out, you eventually make it happen.

Some aspects of the documovie were slightly annoying, e.g. too much focus on making money as the example used, but it is well worth a look into. It is along the lines of a few other movies like ‘What the bleep do we know’ and ‘down the rabbit hole we go’. Some of the same people were interviewed in all three movies. I might add that the people interviewed come from all walks of sciences et al.

The premise is scientific in that it brings together fields of quantum physics, physics, and also psychology, philosophy and so on to discuss how our own energy interacts with the universe’s energies.