What were the circumstances that led us, me and all my selves, to embark upon our lonely quest to discover the underlying patterns of behavior? Article Summary.
Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolution
Had a profound influence upon my life’s course,
Although only just read it recently.
How?
Decided to become an Outsider – Left academia
To make my contribution – to effect ‘a paradigm shift’ –
Igniting a scientific revolution.
Become great (famous or acclaimed?)
Neither, in the slightest.
Initially thought I’d failed – perhaps taken the wrong course –
Primarily just a waiter, in the grand scheme of things.
But in the following weeks it hit me –
Actually succeeded beyond my wildest imaginings.
Great in the sense of self-actualized or actualizing
With this humble attempt to make my small contribution
To the vast mountain of science –
Sense that my Scientist has somehow revealed some patterns –
Unbeknownst to any but myself –
A unique and powerful way of thinking –
Some Keys to Unlock the Door to move outside the current Box
Where Outsiders reside.
“So big man. That’s a big statement, Mr. Waiter –
Bachelor’s in Psychology – undistinguished in any way –
Only a Sophomore’s level in Math and Physics.
& You think that you have discovered something important –
That no one else has thought of. A mighty claim.
How did this, could this happen?
How did you discover your Paradigm Shift?
Speak up. I’m listening.”
“Opened myself up to Providence – the Holy Ghost – whatever,
Following my instincts – Just like my art –
Untrained – wherever my innate instincts led me –
No matter how silly – No matter how impossible –
No matter how incomprehensible – No matter how little recognition –
No matter how little understanding.
Pursuing the impenetrable wall with just a pencil and the essential computer.
(Am of the modern times after all –
When in Greece – didn’t have this kind of tool.)
Stumbling into the unknown
With no idea where I was going
Or even where I wanted to go.
But something – some direction – an internal compass
Must have existed somewhere for …
When just a junior in college at UCLA – majoring in Psychology
Remember telling someone – perhaps more than one of my friends –
As many of us lived together in a drug infested house –
That I was interested in “mathematical psychology”.
Queried further he responded,
“To discover the equations that regulate human behavior.”
A mighty task, they thought.
The youth, named don, was just bull-shitting.
No such thing – Just blabbing – perhaps attempting to impress them –
With his quest.
But he had no idea, no inkling,
No hint of the Path that he was going to take.
Certainly nothing like that at UCLA.
Actually shifted totally out of Psychology after his junior year –
A mind numbing experience – academically, physically, socially
And even romantically.
But had to do it.
The only way out of the home environment – too comfortable.
Wouldn’t (couldn’t) change it for the world.
Although an emotional bottom
– an invaluable growth experience, as well.”
This casual comment – made at the tender age of 21-22 –
To impress his friends –
Miraculously revealed his life’s course in the scientific realm.
Another prophesy fulfilled – a sense of destiny.
Does this imply Providence?
My 20 year old was incredibly prescient in terms of his future –
This, the Daimonic paper, and his astrological curse.
Just factoids – which I will refrain from exploring –
Except to suggest
That a somewhat accurate sense of future events in the past
Reveals time’s inner connectivity
(As with the discoveries of quantum electrodynamics –
Where photons somehow move in all directions
Of the space-time continuum at the same time.)
However this insight doesn’t give up the soul to predestination –
As these are only probabilities that can be reversed or realized –
Only by Stealing A March in Heaven – in the middle of the night –
From a direction they least expect –
Pushing a little harder, but not too hard –
Extending to the edge of the cliff – maybe even falling over –
Hopefully flexible enough to survive the Fall.
And then up and at it again –
Never stalling – never forgetting –
Maybe just a little rest – and a few diversions – here and there.
Such as raising children – no regrets –
Has provided a new dimension to my life.
Serena, my eldest, is here with her Kurt – doing good things for the world –
Infinitely more than I’ve ever done or will ever do.
Just not my calling.
Have other things to do.
For more biographical background check out a brief history of the discovery of the Cell Function and her Family of decaying central measures.