|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
the drive to explore
John Ordover claims that, "Exploration is only done for a profit
motive." What planet is Mr. Ordover from, anyway? I must hail from some other universe! All my life, I've enjoyed exploration for exploration's sake. To explore appeals to my deep sense of wonder; no financial profit is necessary (even if it can be nice). Perhaps Mr. Ordover is a troll; he certainly comes across like one. But he is far from the only person to make such statements. If only. There is indeed a tendency among many to pretend that only *profit* motivates anyone to do anything. Joseph Wang writes that "none of the early European explorers or the governments that financed them were really interested in abstract knowledge or for a sense of adventure. They were in it to get filthy rich from the spice trade." Steve Stirling concurs: "Exploration for its own sake was a later development -- after generations of unbelievable success had taught Europeans that finding things out about remote places was always a Very Good Thing." So let me get this straight. Before modern Europeans decided that exploration was a Very Good Thing, nobody ever explored for exploration's sake? No one ever thought to wander through the woods out of sheer wonder? No one ever went on a boat ride just to see what was out there, and have fun while they were at it? No one ever explored a cave, or a creek, or a mountain, or a jungle, out of their sense of adventure? Please! That has got to be garbage. As a kid, I explored everything -- and not for extra allowance money! There was no extra profit to be made; I thrived on the thrill, the wonder, the adventure, the knowledge to be gained. And I still thrive on it. The profit-obsessed would have me believe that I'm the only human who has ever existed to feel this way. (If they first admit that I exist at all!) But that is laughable. Money can be a useful device, but not the be-all and end-all of human existence. Profit is *not* the only motive for exploration or anything else. Far from it. Craig Neumeier claims that "Exploration for its own sake is quite rare in history, and the Romans didn't do it." No Roman ever explored without getting paid for it? No Roman child ever snuck outside after bed to stalk the night for strange discoveries? No Roman centurion ever found fulfillment or adventure in his expeditions, but cared only for his paycheck? This is economic determinism at its worst. Anytime a discussion comes up regarding space exploration, someone is bound to ask, "What's the point? There's no economic justification that I can see." Or something along those lines. It apparently never occurred to such people that space is fun and fulfilling and fascinating in its own right. In 'Mission Worth It?', Stanley Kurtz writes, "Space lovers, in contrast, are a hopeful lot. They seek to conquer space for sheer glory's sake. And space-o-philes don't just crave evidence of life; they intend the colonization of space to remake human society. Space lovers even expect to save the world - by giving humans a new home in case a stray asteroid, or ecological disaster, threaten Earth. Dreams like this keep the space lovers going." Notice that Mr. Kurtz *never* even mentions exploration for its own wondrous sake. Apparently the thought just never came to his mind. It's difficult for me to find common ground with people like Kurtz. We almost seem to come from different species. Perhaps that's yet another good reason for me to get off this planet and explore what's out there. Catherine Hampton says it best: "It's as if an art lover had to explain his love for Michangelo's David to someone who saw sculpture as nothing but shaped rocks." One poster to rasf writes, "Curiosity, like gravity, is a weak force - it does its work slowly. But like gravity, it is a force which cannot be denied." I cannot deny my curiosity. Yet my curiosity is anything but weak. It is powerful enough to rank right next to my need for food, water, and life itself. Perhaps my drive to explore makes me rare. I am willing to consider that possibility (though I seriously question it). But I refuse to consider that people like me do not exist. That is simply absurd on its face. Unfortunately, it is also an article of faith for extreme materialists. Paul Dietz writes that "Explorers are a tiny, abberant microminority of any society." Christopher Jones echoes that belief, albeit with a qualifier: "Exploration is, indeed, a rather exceptional human behavior, but it is nevertheless a human behavior. And one which is so ingrained in the nature of humanity that it has been a constant, continuing, and quite important part of the entirety of human history and pre-history." But are explorers truly so rare among humans? I am certain that they are not rare among children. Growing up, I rarely met a fellow child who was *not* an explorer. Somehow I doubt that most adults simply "grow out" of this urge to explore. Shawn Dawson puts it this way: "It is true that most individuals have not explored, but that is not because they lacked the urge. I believe that they have not explored for other reasons. Among them, are 1) How do you support your family while you explore. 2) Political restrictions (crossing national borders can cause problems) 3) Similar to 1), but even if you don't have a family, how do you even sustain yourself while exploring. Surely many, many people would, if given the choice, rather explore (and perhaps settle) some newly discovered island, or sail the seas in a boat than push a pen at work. The reason we don't is not lack of desire, but one of the above issues (or others). To call explorers a 'tiny, aberrant microminority of any society' is a totally unfounded statement." Based upon my observations in life, I am inclined to agree with Mr. Dawson. Are explorers truly rare among people? And if so, how rare are they? It seems that lots of people are explorers. Even people who are bogged down in the 'normal' life often explore vicariously (through RPGs, for example). Are some people simply more genetically inclined to explore than others? Why are some people so intent on denying humans' drive to explore? ObWI: WI the belief that profit is the main motive throughout human history never gains widespread currency (pardon the pun)? WI it were far more fashionable to attribute human behavior chiefly to spiritual beliefs, cultural orientations, or sexual habits, for a few examples? Granted, this should put many major philosophies out of commission; certainly, economic determinism would be a fringe phenomenon... |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Celestron Celestar C8 Dec Drive Motor / Hand Controller | dean | UK Astronomy | 3 | January 15th 05 12:27 AM |
Mars Exploration Rover Update - November 8, 2004 | Ron | Astronomy Misc | 0 | November 9th 04 05:13 PM |
Getting a Edmund 6 newt clock drive to work | robertebeary | Amateur Astronomy | 0 | June 23rd 04 05:07 AM |
Problems with Celestron 11" Ultima clock drive | Charles Burgess | Amateur Astronomy | 0 | June 20th 04 11:51 PM |
Spirit Ready to Drive Onto Mars Surface | Ron | Astronomy Misc | 0 | January 15th 04 04:09 PM |