I am presently reading a good book (for about the 10th time), the gist
of which insists that until and unless we use numerate analysis of
statements like those below, we don't have a prayer of solving "the
problem"
Proportions, rates, time scales can all be applied to ideas such as the
three quotes-without numbers they are correct only in a poetic sense.
"Living Within Limits," and "Filters Against Folly" both by Ecologist
Garrett Hardin. Worth reading, if the goal is to move beyond poetry to
the realm of ecologically coherent action.
It's a big problem because the world seems to be literally crawling with
people who are convinced that they cannot do math, even of an extremely
simple sort. I fuss over this quite a lot since I am in a teaching
position. I KNOW that most of my students are NOT too stupid to do
simple arithmetic, but many refuse to even try. There is a lot of
"learned helplessness" going on, and I spend a lot of time trying to
stimulate a wee bit of thinking.
Loren
jeff owens wrote:
>
> Here are three quotes that say the same
> thing:
>
> What you do to the earth, you do
> to yourself. -- Julia Butterfly Hill
>
> Everything is connected.
>
> Only by viewing people as special or
> godlike can we separate from the earth.
> This is how most cultures view the world
> and few people recognize it as fantasy.
>
> jeff
--
Loren Muldowney
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
