Beautiful peice on reclaiming embodied intelligence. The Polynesian navigator example is particullarly striking because it shows how quickly entire knowledge systems can vanish when we decide they're 'unscientific'. I've been thinking alot about how modern urban enviroments further this disconnect, we're basically navigating by phone now which means we outsource not just wayfinding but spatial memory entirely. The stuff about shamanism + astrology reuniting feels right though I dunno if most people are ready for that leap.
Great point that we are outsourcing not just wayfinding but spatial memory entirely through GPS. Could it be that having to move at the speed of available technology, and not using our basic human capacities (spatial navigation, math, language translation, etc.), is slowly atrophying vital aspects of the human being? I often hear the argument that no, greater tech capacity will free up humans to be more creative. I certainly hope so. But to your point, we are at yet another juncture where we have choices to make, and I am hoping we don't make the same mistake of devaluing our own unique, life-sustaining human capacities.
Beautiful peice on reclaiming embodied intelligence. The Polynesian navigator example is particullarly striking because it shows how quickly entire knowledge systems can vanish when we decide they're 'unscientific'. I've been thinking alot about how modern urban enviroments further this disconnect, we're basically navigating by phone now which means we outsource not just wayfinding but spatial memory entirely. The stuff about shamanism + astrology reuniting feels right though I dunno if most people are ready for that leap.
Great point that we are outsourcing not just wayfinding but spatial memory entirely through GPS. Could it be that having to move at the speed of available technology, and not using our basic human capacities (spatial navigation, math, language translation, etc.), is slowly atrophying vital aspects of the human being? I often hear the argument that no, greater tech capacity will free up humans to be more creative. I certainly hope so. But to your point, we are at yet another juncture where we have choices to make, and I am hoping we don't make the same mistake of devaluing our own unique, life-sustaining human capacities.