Do we create the world, or does the world create us?
07th April 2016
7th April
Do we create the world or does the world create us?
This macro versus micro is a tantalising question for many social scientists and those trying to understand themselves and the world around them. Does the function of society result in stylising and culturalising our behaviour (to ensure harmony, cohesion and progress) or is it our 'small group' and individual interactions, with our need to advance socially that dictates how we approach and operate in our world. Which one of these 'forces' is influencing what we do, how we express ourselves and react - who we are?
Having now immersed myself into a rural landscape; one that is defined by its geology, I sense a wider perspective to this question is required as it seems the nature of our environment has a significant influence.
As an illustration, I live in a landscape where villages, the movement of people, the abilities of modern technology are all dictated by the shape and size of the land. The geology of the landscape even dictates, in an immobile, profound manner, the very directiion and gravity of the motion of people.
If you live in Coniston your children will likely go to school in Ulverston, a slow 15 mile journey along a narrow road, whereas the closer Lakes School is only 10 miles away. The difference is the Coniston valley points towards Ulverston. The walls created by the mountains, the streams, the great expanse of lake that is Coniston Water all flow southwards towards Greenodd Sands and Morecombe Bay, so the human flow follows. To head towards Windermere would require driving steeply up and out of the valley and falling into Langdale, where the landscape is typified by the layers of steep sided Fells and tight, twisting valleys. You enter a different and in contrast an almost alien realm.
I once walked from Muker, a small hamlet tucked in the folds of the Yorkshire Dales, over the intervening moorland of Birkdale Common, to arrive in the Cumbrian town of Kirkby Stephen. The journey is arduous as the moorland is boggy, bare and wild. However the distance between these two habitations is only 14 miles (by road). Almost the same distance between Guildford and Farnham. However, there is next to no human habitation between each as the geological definition of the land creates a separation. This separation results in two distinct ascents - the land impacting on how we speak, and therefore how people describe and interpret their world.
If you travel from Cornwall to Cumbria or Surrey to Sutherland, the changes and character of the countryside affects the way we 'use' the land, which in turn defines our language as we create word for aspects of the countryside and our activities within it. It seems the Geology is defining the way people live an understand an area. each valley, the rocks, flat and wet lands, the sea beats against each shoreline all strongly influence how we interact with our world. So, it could be argued, the landscape dictates a way of doing things, therefore forming culture as the landscape is directly effecting our understanding of the surrounding world.
"Systems create culture" C. Handy
Furthermore, we should consider how the landscape effects weather and climate (from seas to mountain tops) and how these forces then have dominion over the type of flora and fauna. Therefore, the geology of the land directs the ways in which the land can be used to produce food.
The wild upland, full of either tractor sinking bog, or riddled with a minefield of rocks and boulders, cannot be ploughed to grow energy full cereals. Whilst the rich soil of the flat lands of Anglia can, but the land has to be drained, with management of watercourses essential.
The way we use the land is governed by the physical features of the landscape, which in turn effects our way of understanding and describing the immediate world. The land stimulates words, legends and myths, it forms meaning that is shared by all that live in the same area, but may differ from that of other parts of the country (be it just the next valley over) We may, due to this 'geosociological' process, have different words and values for exactly the same thing, or have words that describe something another 'group' do not even know.
My grandfather, born in the early 1900's was a farmer of the, soil rich, rolling hills of the south of England. A very physical man, who was formed by his job. He understood livestock and new where to poach a trout or pheasant. Often a rabbit was hanging in the larder. He was aman of the land, with his own words to describe his life and activities. He knew nothing of the upland hill farmer, or the trawlerman as he had his own unique view of his world, shared by his colleagues and those who lived in the same area. THey all did everything the same, described things in their own language, as the land had formed their understanding, value and meaning of both themselves and each other.
Therefore, (going out on a limb now) perhaps these mini, 'geologically formed' cultures have created the early tribal groups that made up ancient human society(?) This, in turn, became the basis for power politics, as we would want to defend our land and lifestyles. Our understanding of the world, formed by the crags and streams around us, was the the force that determined, ultimately, who we were. This, in turn, would require us to either defend our land/values/culture or spread the message by absorbing and conquering our neighbours land, so lifestyle.
However, we would soon need to parley, make truces or allegiances, to protect our way of living. Defending the land that shaped our understanding we had suddenly had politics, diplomacy and ideology. The macro and the micro coming together to form who we 'are'.
However, it all started by the indomitable nature of the land we inhabited
Every rock, it's colour and texture, every hedge, why a tree is where it is (as we chose to leave it) reflect our vision and understanding of the land - the land ultimately effects us and how society develops.
The original question, "do we create the world or does the world create us?" is obviously, but entirely, framing a human perspective where, be it a large society, or the small human interactions, have created the way we behave, understand and interact with the world. However, this seems to disregard the subtle, though powerful influence the landscape has on dictating our species development. Be it the god like heights of distant hills or the crashing seas, they all have had and continue to have a profound influence that models us at the very foundation.
"Men have become tools of their tools" ..H.D. Thoreau
Do we create the world or does the world create us?
This macro versus micro is a tantalising question for many social scientists and those trying to understand themselves and the world around them. Does the function of society result in stylising and culturalising our behaviour (to ensure harmony, cohesion and progress) or is it our 'small group' and individual interactions, with our need to advance socially that dictates how we approach and operate in our world. Which one of these 'forces' is influencing what we do, how we express ourselves and react - who we are?
Having now immersed myself into a rural landscape; one that is defined by its geology, I sense a wider perspective to this question is required as it seems the nature of our environment has a significant influence.
As an illustration, I live in a landscape where villages, the movement of people, the abilities of modern technology are all dictated by the shape and size of the land. The geology of the landscape even dictates, in an immobile, profound manner, the very directiion and gravity of the motion of people.
If you live in Coniston your children will likely go to school in Ulverston, a slow 15 mile journey along a narrow road, whereas the closer Lakes School is only 10 miles away. The difference is the Coniston valley points towards Ulverston. The walls created by the mountains, the streams, the great expanse of lake that is Coniston Water all flow southwards towards Greenodd Sands and Morecombe Bay, so the human flow follows. To head towards Windermere would require driving steeply up and out of the valley and falling into Langdale, where the landscape is typified by the layers of steep sided Fells and tight, twisting valleys. You enter a different and in contrast an almost alien realm.
I once walked from Muker, a small hamlet tucked in the folds of the Yorkshire Dales, over the intervening moorland of Birkdale Common, to arrive in the Cumbrian town of Kirkby Stephen. The journey is arduous as the moorland is boggy, bare and wild. However the distance between these two habitations is only 14 miles (by road). Almost the same distance between Guildford and Farnham. However, there is next to no human habitation between each as the geological definition of the land creates a separation. This separation results in two distinct ascents - the land impacting on how we speak, and therefore how people describe and interpret their world.
If you travel from Cornwall to Cumbria or Surrey to Sutherland, the changes and character of the countryside affects the way we 'use' the land, which in turn defines our language as we create word for aspects of the countryside and our activities within it. It seems the Geology is defining the way people live an understand an area. each valley, the rocks, flat and wet lands, the sea beats against each shoreline all strongly influence how we interact with our world. So, it could be argued, the landscape dictates a way of doing things, therefore forming culture as the landscape is directly effecting our understanding of the surrounding world.
"Systems create culture" C. Handy
Furthermore, we should consider how the landscape effects weather and climate (from seas to mountain tops) and how these forces then have dominion over the type of flora and fauna. Therefore, the geology of the land directs the ways in which the land can be used to produce food.
The wild upland, full of either tractor sinking bog, or riddled with a minefield of rocks and boulders, cannot be ploughed to grow energy full cereals. Whilst the rich soil of the flat lands of Anglia can, but the land has to be drained, with management of watercourses essential.
The way we use the land is governed by the physical features of the landscape, which in turn effects our way of understanding and describing the immediate world. The land stimulates words, legends and myths, it forms meaning that is shared by all that live in the same area, but may differ from that of other parts of the country (be it just the next valley over) We may, due to this 'geosociological' process, have different words and values for exactly the same thing, or have words that describe something another 'group' do not even know.
My grandfather, born in the early 1900's was a farmer of the, soil rich, rolling hills of the south of England. A very physical man, who was formed by his job. He understood livestock and new where to poach a trout or pheasant. Often a rabbit was hanging in the larder. He was aman of the land, with his own words to describe his life and activities. He knew nothing of the upland hill farmer, or the trawlerman as he had his own unique view of his world, shared by his colleagues and those who lived in the same area. THey all did everything the same, described things in their own language, as the land had formed their understanding, value and meaning of both themselves and each other.
Therefore, (going out on a limb now) perhaps these mini, 'geologically formed' cultures have created the early tribal groups that made up ancient human society(?) This, in turn, became the basis for power politics, as we would want to defend our land and lifestyles. Our understanding of the world, formed by the crags and streams around us, was the the force that determined, ultimately, who we were. This, in turn, would require us to either defend our land/values/culture or spread the message by absorbing and conquering our neighbours land, so lifestyle.
However, we would soon need to parley, make truces or allegiances, to protect our way of living. Defending the land that shaped our understanding we had suddenly had politics, diplomacy and ideology. The macro and the micro coming together to form who we 'are'.
However, it all started by the indomitable nature of the land we inhabited
Every rock, it's colour and texture, every hedge, why a tree is where it is (as we chose to leave it) reflect our vision and understanding of the land - the land ultimately effects us and how society develops.
The original question, "do we create the world or does the world create us?" is obviously, but entirely, framing a human perspective where, be it a large society, or the small human interactions, have created the way we behave, understand and interact with the world. However, this seems to disregard the subtle, though powerful influence the landscape has on dictating our species development. Be it the god like heights of distant hills or the crashing seas, they all have had and continue to have a profound influence that models us at the very foundation.
"Men have become tools of their tools" ..H.D. Thoreau