30th June 2011, 01:21 PM
*Hand up*
I like theory.
Although, I'd say current theories have little place on site. They apply more to post-ex, analysis and interpretation.
But past theory shapes current on-site techniques.............and current on-site discoveries shapes future theory.
Its a 'positive feedback loop' for you electronic engineers out there.
And, anyone who thinks a natural system is driven by one or two variables (or factors) is foolish, everything is interconnected. So in terms of evolution (I'm guessing thats equivalent to environmental determinism) vs 'people decide'. Its both.
I always fall onto the side of environmental determinism (survival of the fittest) in any discussion. As the least fit loose and die.
However, the factors that decide what constitutes 'the fittest' vary from situation to situation, especially in the modern world (but in the ancient too). These factors can often be decided by people, e.g. ethnic cleansing, voting, joining a religion, rebellion etc. etc. But some are not 'decided' but are products of an interconnected mass of past decisions and true environmental factors (climate, water, food etc.). For instance, in the modern world, where you are born is a massive factor dictating whether you 'survive' to reproduce.
The same can be applied to ideas, techniques (for instance manufacturing), ideology, social systems etc. etc. its just in each case the 'environmental' pressures are different in each case.
One day someone (else) will understand the importance of cultural diversity in the same way Bio-diversity is important. How else will humans survive if something major changes and we've all forgotten how to light a fire!
I like theory.
Although, I'd say current theories have little place on site. They apply more to post-ex, analysis and interpretation.
But past theory shapes current on-site techniques.............and current on-site discoveries shapes future theory.
Its a 'positive feedback loop' for you electronic engineers out there.
And, anyone who thinks a natural system is driven by one or two variables (or factors) is foolish, everything is interconnected. So in terms of evolution (I'm guessing thats equivalent to environmental determinism) vs 'people decide'. Its both.
I always fall onto the side of environmental determinism (survival of the fittest) in any discussion. As the least fit loose and die.
However, the factors that decide what constitutes 'the fittest' vary from situation to situation, especially in the modern world (but in the ancient too). These factors can often be decided by people, e.g. ethnic cleansing, voting, joining a religion, rebellion etc. etc. But some are not 'decided' but are products of an interconnected mass of past decisions and true environmental factors (climate, water, food etc.). For instance, in the modern world, where you are born is a massive factor dictating whether you 'survive' to reproduce.
The same can be applied to ideas, techniques (for instance manufacturing), ideology, social systems etc. etc. its just in each case the 'environmental' pressures are different in each case.
One day someone (else) will understand the importance of cultural diversity in the same way Bio-diversity is important. How else will humans survive if something major changes and we've all forgotten how to light a fire!