Learning from our Elders

I was recently talking to a friend about our shared consternation that Climate phenomena, even that with meaningful evidence, is too slowly affecting the behaviors of institutions and individuals.  Knowing about "what" by some does not rapidly lead to "and therefore we must..." for the rest of us. 

I was reminded of a passage in Frances Bacon’s Novum Organum: Aphorisms concerning The Interpretation of Nature and the Kingdom of Man. (please forgive him for his period acceptable gender biased language) Published in 1620 I believe it is very relevant to the problems we face today. 

In Aphorism XLIX he tells us:

“The human understanding is no dry light, but receives an infusion from the will and affections; whence proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride, lest his mind should seem to be occupied with things mean and transitory; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections colour and infect the understanding.”

He was right then and is still right.  We think of ourselves as reasonable and often assume that those who don't agree are evil, stupid or both.  This makes it hard to get anything done.  We need build coalitions where the strength of bonds and effectiveness  is found in the intellectual tensions of differences creating compromises that optimize conditions for human development over time. 

There is no winning the climate debates.  There are only those series of compromises upon which we build to ensure the broad survival of our species.