Thank you Bruce for sharing poignant memories, and a heartfelt, comprehensible description of a very important conundrum that is constantly lurking and festering in public health, and also in whatever is underpinning priorities.
This strategy is alive and growing in Canada, from narrowing the toxicity of tar sands to "naphthenic acids" while leaving aside most of the mass including toxic metals and sulphur-containing compounds, to "flooding the zone" with dozens of "PFASticides" ... This deceit is the only way we can increase extraction of fossil fuels, the use of synthetic pesticides on our food (yes, diversity, potency and quantities of pesticides are increasing, although strong evidence points to the need to concentrate on agro-ecology and organic solutions), and countless other narrow programs.
When I set out to do graduate work I was warned that doing a PhD you can learn more and more, about less and less, until you know all there is to know about absolutely nothing.
Today, I suppose the important outcome is that humility and wisdom bloom to encompass broader aspects of the environment and society. Thanks again.
Thanks for your insightful comments, Meg, especially "doing a PhD you can learn more and more, about less and less, until you know all there is to know about absolutely nothing." and " the important outcome is that humility and wisdom bloom to encompass broader aspects of the environment and society."
I love the way you integrate your personal life with the larger picture, the way you see the world. And, you’ve provided an image of “caregiving” that brings life, thoughtfulness and connection to one whose life is nearing completion. Thank you for those moments. ❤️
Yes - acknowledging and acting together as the interconnected "We." beyond the individualized and segmented "I's" simply coming together. Recognizing that there is an underlying sameness in individuals, segments, regions, institutions, divisions -- a common purpose, a common goal, defining problems, and solving them. Intereconnected ways of recognizing, approaching, and taking action. Spending time on differences and not enough on similarities, commonalities which bring us closer to "we". Thanks Bruce for expanding our views and insight.
There are so many excerpts I'd like to highlight here that it's hard to choose just one. Here is one:
"What matters is not whether we organize around identity or around specific problems, but whether those identities narrow our vision or expand it—whether they divide us into competing camps or remind us that we are, in many ways, playing roles within a larger whole."
To those giving clear-eyed attention to certain well-known problems, this is clearly quite relevant.
Thank you Bruce for inspiring us all to think more deeply. Those lessons, buried in stories, that pass first through the heart, and then to the head....are unforgettable .
I loved this Bruce. First, what a thoughtful practice you had with your father. So much care. Second, you approached the discussion of identity politics with so much empathy. Your likening it got the fragmentation we see in our fields of study underscored the importance of addressing things holistically. And pointed out the odd competition that exists when academic fragmentation occurs. I really enjoyed this one!
This is a wonderful and heartfelt synopsis explaining how science has advanced exponentially in molecular biology while our society's health as a whole continues to decline. Science is indeed as fragmented as our society. Thank you, Bruce
Your posts are, simply, excellent. Talk about thought provoking. Thank you.
Thank you Bruce for sharing poignant memories, and a heartfelt, comprehensible description of a very important conundrum that is constantly lurking and festering in public health, and also in whatever is underpinning priorities.
This strategy is alive and growing in Canada, from narrowing the toxicity of tar sands to "naphthenic acids" while leaving aside most of the mass including toxic metals and sulphur-containing compounds, to "flooding the zone" with dozens of "PFASticides" ... This deceit is the only way we can increase extraction of fossil fuels, the use of synthetic pesticides on our food (yes, diversity, potency and quantities of pesticides are increasing, although strong evidence points to the need to concentrate on agro-ecology and organic solutions), and countless other narrow programs.
When I set out to do graduate work I was warned that doing a PhD you can learn more and more, about less and less, until you know all there is to know about absolutely nothing.
Today, I suppose the important outcome is that humility and wisdom bloom to encompass broader aspects of the environment and society. Thanks again.
Thanks for your insightful comments, Meg, especially "doing a PhD you can learn more and more, about less and less, until you know all there is to know about absolutely nothing." and " the important outcome is that humility and wisdom bloom to encompass broader aspects of the environment and society."
Bruce,
I love the way you integrate your personal life with the larger picture, the way you see the world. And, you’ve provided an image of “caregiving” that brings life, thoughtfulness and connection to one whose life is nearing completion. Thank you for those moments. ❤️
Love you ,
Mom
Fragmentation. Bruce. You express your thoughts so well and stimulate mine.
By necessity we must isolate each variable when considering an issue. However, a global view of the issue is also essential.
Divide and conquer?Collaborate and grow?
Yes - acknowledging and acting together as the interconnected "We." beyond the individualized and segmented "I's" simply coming together. Recognizing that there is an underlying sameness in individuals, segments, regions, institutions, divisions -- a common purpose, a common goal, defining problems, and solving them. Intereconnected ways of recognizing, approaching, and taking action. Spending time on differences and not enough on similarities, commonalities which bring us closer to "we". Thanks Bruce for expanding our views and insight.
Great essay, thank you!
There are so many excerpts I'd like to highlight here that it's hard to choose just one. Here is one:
"What matters is not whether we organize around identity or around specific problems, but whether those identities narrow our vision or expand it—whether they divide us into competing camps or remind us that we are, in many ways, playing roles within a larger whole."
To those giving clear-eyed attention to certain well-known problems, this is clearly quite relevant.
Thank you Bruce for inspiring us all to think more deeply. Those lessons, buried in stories, that pass first through the heart, and then to the head....are unforgettable .
Excellent and important writing Bruce.
I loved this Bruce. First, what a thoughtful practice you had with your father. So much care. Second, you approached the discussion of identity politics with so much empathy. Your likening it got the fragmentation we see in our fields of study underscored the importance of addressing things holistically. And pointed out the odd competition that exists when academic fragmentation occurs. I really enjoyed this one!
This is a wonderful and heartfelt synopsis explaining how science has advanced exponentially in molecular biology while our society's health as a whole continues to decline. Science is indeed as fragmented as our society. Thank you, Bruce
You inspire me, Bruce!
https://poisoningchildren.substack.com/p/seeing-the-whole?r=3id6x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Seeing the Whole
Lanphear and Kimmerer and Collins: To Meld Three Marvelous Minds….
Thank you Jean-Marie! Delighted to be included in the same essay as Robin Wall Kimmerer and Terry Collins.