M.I. Lastman's Blog, page 9
May 30, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Infinitely complex human language compels us to augment complexity through technological, and societal growth. 
This is a blog that likely cannot be proven. Certainly an aphorism and a few pictures will not do the job. Yet, we sense the premise to be true. Without our infinitely language we would not have created any of the structures pictured here. No other species replicates its own biological complexity. Nature evolves toward complexity. No other species copies that fact in its extra-corporeal engineering. This is a frightening concept. Can the biosphere tolerate the breathtaking rush of the evolution of human technological complexity?
This is a blog that likely cannot be proven. Certainly an aphorism and a few pictures will not do the job. Yet, we sense the premise to be true. Without our infinitely language we would not have created any of the structures pictured here. No other species replicates its own biological complexity. Nature evolves toward complexity. No other species copies that fact in its extra-corporeal engineering. This is a frightening concept. Can the biosphere tolerate the breathtaking rush of the evolution of human technological complexity?
May 29, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
We humans hate that there is no stasis in nature.We frantically search for artificial stasis: the elixir of youth. 
The fact that there is no stasis in nature is the root cause of most of the terrible things we have done as residents of the biosphere. We cannot accept that our tenure on earth is no more than a brief ripple on the ever-flexible river of life.
The fact that there is no stasis in nature is the root cause of most of the terrible things we have done as residents of the biosphere. We cannot accept that our tenure on earth is no more than a brief ripple on the ever-flexible river of life.
May 28, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Intolerance is a function of intelligence.Only humans practice it. 
Left to themselves natural environments tolerate more and more diversity. The human environment seeks to exclude as much as possible. Homo sapiens, non sapiens uses its intelligence to exclude as much natural variety as it can.
Left to themselves natural environments tolerate more and more diversity. The human environment seeks to exclude as much as possible. Homo sapiens, non sapiens uses its intelligence to exclude as much natural variety as it can.
May 27, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Stupidity, credulity, prolonged violence are unique to humans; we share love with many species. 
This is a very tricky point to make. How do these pictures relate to the human emotions associated with love? We will perhaps never know with complete confidence. However, it is suggestive that the appearance of love is so widespread. Love seems to be a very useful tool for survival.
This is a very tricky point to make. How do these pictures relate to the human emotions associated with love? We will perhaps never know with complete confidence. However, it is suggestive that the appearance of love is so widespread. Love seems to be a very useful tool for survival.
May 26, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Prolonged violence is a function of intelligence. Only humans have made an art of death. 
The salmon and the prairie dog met sudden violent death in the interest of the survival of their predators. The victims of Vlad the Impaler are said to have taken as long as three days to die while being gradually impaled on a sharp stake by their own weight. Who knows about the victims of Nazi scorched earth destruction in northern Norway?
The inevitable violence of nature is not an adequate excuse for the premeditated and gratuitous horrors perpetrated by us humans.
The salmon and the prairie dog met sudden violent death in the interest of the survival of their predators. The victims of Vlad the Impaler are said to have taken as long as three days to die while being gradually impaled on a sharp stake by their own weight. Who knows about the victims of Nazi scorched earth destruction in northern Norway?The inevitable violence of nature is not an adequate excuse for the premeditated and gratuitous horrors perpetrated by us humans.
May 25, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
What should we do? Voltaire said: “Cultivate your garden.” Let’s start a movement: Voltaire for restoration. 
"Il faut cultiver notre jardin" is a powerful metaphor. Voltaire must have meant it to be applied much more widely than to gardening alone. However, paying attention to, restoring, and even augmenting the beauty we have been born into would be a good starting point on the road back to a fully healthy biosphere.
"Il faut cultiver notre jardin" is a powerful metaphor. Voltaire must have meant it to be applied much more widely than to gardening alone. However, paying attention to, restoring, and even augmenting the beauty we have been born into would be a good starting point on the road back to a fully healthy biosphere.
May 24, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
What should we do? Vote for compassion. Best of the morning to you, Ireland. http://news.yahoo.com/yes-side-joyous-count-starts-irish-gay-marriage-090519559.html 
And the rest of the world to you.
And the rest of the world to you.
May 23, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Beware the dreams of Pollyanna science.
http://goo.gl/zEsA4H
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The ecomodernist manifesto seems like the answer to our prayers. However, the framers, without exception passionate believers in the mighty power of science and technology as the way forward, base their arguments on assumptions that are at best open to question and at worst very dangerous. They assume that our technology will grow more and more complex. The risks of unattended technological complexity are not considered. They think that we will be able to feed more and more of us, while doing less and less harm to the rest of nature, but they offer no proofs other than Pollyanna wishful thinking. Worst of all, they unthinkingly divide the biosphere into two realms: the realm of MAN ad the realm of nature and they leave no doubt that they assume that the first is the important one. To my mind, the ecomodernist manifesto is profoundly unethical.
The ecomodernist manifesto seems like the answer to our prayers. However, the framers, without exception passionate believers in the mighty power of science and technology as the way forward, base their arguments on assumptions that are at best open to question and at worst very dangerous. They assume that our technology will grow more and more complex. The risks of unattended technological complexity are not considered. They think that we will be able to feed more and more of us, while doing less and less harm to the rest of nature, but they offer no proofs other than Pollyanna wishful thinking. Worst of all, they unthinkingly divide the biosphere into two realms: the realm of MAN ad the realm of nature and they leave no doubt that they assume that the first is the important one. To my mind, the ecomodernist manifesto is profoundly unethical.May 22, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
We and millions of other species have evolved to respond to beauty; we should keep it safe.umans aHH
I would suppose that the concept of beauty is unique to humans as a function of intelligence. However, it exists in nature in part as a multitude of evolved strategies of other species. The "beautiful" scent of the lilac attracts the butterfly to the work of pollination. The lively colours of the butterfly may have many evolved uses. They attract mates, but they also advertise to potential predators that the butterfly is unpalatable. We humans see and smell the beauty. It is an important part of our role in nature to preserve it. Great beauty is almost always fragile to the testosterone storm, although it may otherwise be robust for survival.
I would suppose that the concept of beauty is unique to humans as a function of intelligence. However, it exists in nature in part as a multitude of evolved strategies of other species. The "beautiful" scent of the lilac attracts the butterfly to the work of pollination. The lively colours of the butterfly may have many evolved uses. They attract mates, but they also advertise to potential predators that the butterfly is unpalatable. We humans see and smell the beauty. It is an important part of our role in nature to preserve it. Great beauty is almost always fragile to the testosterone storm, although it may otherwise be robust for survival.
May 21, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
In the long story of the biosphere, homo sapiens, non sapiens is probably the only universal predator. 
The first three pictures barely scratch the surface of the range of our predation. Consider that the savannah animals in the last picture subsist on grass alone.
The first three pictures barely scratch the surface of the range of our predation. Consider that the savannah animals in the last picture subsist on grass alone.
