Amidst Simplicity is Hidden Complexity

I have for a long while now pondered and even questioned the idea where some have stated that the more they know the more they realize how much they do not know. It is that or something to that effect. Today, for the first time, I think that I am beginning to experience that.

I cannot remember when, but I had come to a conclusion at some point which is summarized in one short simple saying of mine - "Amidst simplicity is hidden complexity." It encapsulates several thoughts for me. On one level it points to the realization that things are not always what they seem. I am often in situations where the first account only holds a portion of the truth and it would be unwise to act on it without consulting several other sources. Life is full of moments and situations like that. On a similar, but different line of thought it points to the simplicity in which objects present themselves. Take any object in its entirety and it can seem rather simple.

All things hide their complexity. Computers, humans, a glass cup, water, a piece of paper, a picture, a snail, a red dot, a cake...anything you can think of can be viewed in simple understandable ways yet are made up of a high degree of complexity. Sub-atomic particles, atoms, molecules, elements, organs, systems, organisms, reproduction, intelligence, morality, choice, tribes, societies, cultures, countries, Earth, space, the Milky Way, universes, galaxies, black holes, nebulars, quantem mechanics, 4th dimensions, God...where does it end?

We have done ourselves a disservice in not appreciating the complexity and wonder in what appears to us in simplistic "shells". It would be unfair for me to say that I think all should strive to understand the complexity of life. We all have our gifts of intelligence where we focus on one part of the complexity over the other. But what I do think is fair is at the very least we could do a better job at appreciating it.

What has spurned this topic for me is some recent discussions concerning the debates over Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Evolution. All of these are highly complex arguments. The debates also are not what they appear to be on the surface. These arguements are as complex as the humans who are engaged in the direct debates. I do plan on tackling some of these issues myself in future blogs, but am right now feeling an intense realization that the more I know and experience in life I find that there is always more to know. It is because of this belief that I am annoyed at the simplistic posture some take towards theology and the Bible. This is a subject I covered in another blog concerning a Barna study. I believe it is that same posture that has lead us to lose our foothold in such areas as the sciences and government. It was not always so, but for many reasons which I will attempt to uncover later, it is where we are at now.

All Desire Good Unto Themselves (Part 1)

(This writing concerns a dialogue between Meno and Socrates. For reference click here.)

"So I say that virtue is to desire beautiful things and have the power to acquire them." 

(G.M.A. Grube, "Plato Five Dialogues," Hackett Publishing Company, INC. 1981. p. 66)  

This statement by Meno is where I will begin my examination on Socrates' claim that no one knowingly desires harm unto themselves through logical arguments of Socratic thinking.  My argument is rooted in the belief that, based in all actions, are a desire for benefit.  Where one perceives his benefits to be found is where you will find his true desire and ultimately what he believes his true source of benefit to be.  One always desires perceived benefits, no matter what the actual consequences may be, not harm.

The definition by Meno indicates the assumption that they who desire beautiful things also desire good things and there are some who then would desire bad things.  From this position, Socrates begins his inquiry.  Logically he starts with asking whether the man who desires beautiful things also desires good things (p. 66b).  If not all men are virtuous, and virtue is, according to Meno, the desire of beautiful things, and if a man desires beautiful things as well as good things (i.e. the beautiful things are good) then it would be reasonable to conclude that there are some who would desire bad things.  Bad things are equated with those that are harmful and so, along this line of reasoning, since not all are virtuous, there are some who desire what is harmful to them (p. 66b,c).  However, this still does not prove that there are those who desire harm unto themselves.  Is it possible that the person believes that by attaining the bad things that they will receive benefit from  them? (p. 66d,e).  If this were the case, then we would have to say that they did not desire harm unto themselves even if harm does come from bad things because they were seeking benefit for themselves, which is contrary to harm.  We are then left with this question: Do those who believe that they are receiving benefit from acquiring bad things not know that what they have obtained is bad, and so essentially harmful as well? (To be continued...)