One more ‘in theory, in practice’ idea that I didn’t quite fit into my original post…
In theory… your environment is a dynamic, ever-changing presence.
In practice… what existed when you grew up is the environment.
The thought above relates to technology. For most people, environment means the tools and gadgets that existed as they grew up. Technology means every new thing that comes as they get older. In general, most people feel pretty good about this process and encourage the advancement of the new and improved.
However… it would be nice if some things could stay the same, right?
The longing for returning to a home that always is just as it was seems like one of the strongest human instincts. I think this feeling is reflected in the broadest way when we talk about global warming. The conversation has always had two sides – one side demanding immediate course correction to prevent ongoing human induced climate change while the other contends that things aren’t so bad and maybe the science needs further review.
Notably absent is a third side – the one saying that it is OK to change the environment. For whatever reason, this point of view is a non-starter. The debate is about whether it is happening or not – both sides accept the idea that humans causing climate change is a bad outcome.
