The underlying thread seems to be the extent to which we are part of a fluid and the extent to which that fluid's phenomena are distinct from those phenomena generated by the individual parts, the humans. Individualist ⇔ socialist spectrum, the ontological status of groups (including whether your animals are mere slaves or full members of your group), cyborg or healthy organelle, etc.
It reminds me of the quote I think highlights the individualist's arrogance: "I don't know why we're here. But I'm pretty sure it's not to enjoy ourselves." (attributed to Wittgenstein) Why do we think we should ever "feel recharged", "be happy", "be healthy", etc? I look at the way my cats behave, compare their lives to that of the stray we fed (and who bled all over our patio every time he ate, who when we took him to the Feral Cat Society, killed him right off the bat because he had so many diseases) and I can't help but wonder *why* individuals are so entitled to think they deserve anything at all other than the opportunity to exist ... if even that. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
