Posted by
Phil Henshaw-2 on
Dec 25, 2006; 12:24am
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/north-v-south-tp523194p523197.html
Well, after thinking it over I think it could also be a case where the
'maximization principle' does not operaterate the same way in northern
and southern waters. In all the cases I know of that people offer to
demonstrate that the limits of growth occur when an organism maximizes
their creativity in taking resources from their competitors I find it's
also a good example of the limit of their creativity in making use of
uncontested resources. Those are two dimensions of growth limits in
every case anyway, both having to do with creativity (the ultimate
'internality' in utilizing 'externalities'). When you look at the
multiplicity of ecosystems and species in a place like South Florida
it's pretty clear they're each living right on top of each other, but
largely each using stuff no one else wants, making creative use of the
gaps between other user's resource niches, and developing much more
intricate designs of life for it. When systems compete to exclude each
other from a resource you may get larger systems but certainly less
variety.
I've also been reading a suspiciously insightful bit of pop-psychology
on the trip, that came highly recommended by an old friend. The book,
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, is sometimes a little sloppy in its natural
systems theory, and not all his explanations match the penetrating
clarity and accuracy of some of his observations. Still, he attempts
to describe the profound flaws in the dominant human frame of thought
that threaten the planet and does so with considerable success I think.
I can name more than one critical issue he mixes up a little, but this
is a great jumping off point for any rational person intersted in the
core problem of man's role on earth. Perhaps the above thoughts about
the kinds of competition that swell volume and multiply loosers vs.
those that produce remarkable harmony and variety were somewhat
suggested by Quin ponting out the global main stream denial of that
difference is a significant issue at this time of deep environmental
crisis and choice for the earth...
Phil Henshaw ????.?? ? `?.????
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680 Ft. Washington Ave
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e-mail: pfh at synapse9.com
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: friam-bounces at redfish.com
> [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf Of Phil Henshaw
> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 7:29 PM
> To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] north v. south
>
>
> Well, from what I can see walking around there's another factor that
> may be either symptom or explantion down here. There are a lot more
> complete self-sufficient eco-systems in a given area than up north.
> Of course the Everglades is quite special in that way, with the
> boundaries between the integrated climax communities of
> unique species
> changing in a matter of a few feet some times. It's extraordinary.
> Something similar can be said for the underwater ecologies
> here. Very
> small changes in elevation or currents often means a wholesale shift
> in the species that inhabit it.
>
> In the case of the Everglades it sometimes seems to be the difference
> between 2" of standing water and 4". Up north, where I'm more
> familiar with things, that doesn't happen, you need hundreds of miles
> and hundreds of feet in elevation. So something down here causes
> smaller differences in physical environment to produce larger
> differences in unique communities of species it seems. I'm
> wondering
> if maybe it means that fewer experimental designs are squashed by
> competitition or something, that the intensity of competition
> is lower
> and experimentation with new form more tollerated?
>
> Today we ended the day with feeding 4 and 5 ft tarpon at a dock where
> they've been coming to receive their treats from the tourists for 30
> years. The tarpon party also attracts a lot of gulls, egrets, and
> pellicans, all of various kinds. Well, gulls are gluls, but
> it struck
> me how much fun it was to also swat away all the egrets and pelicans
> trying to horn in!
>