This perspective was most strongly punctuated for me by the film Amadeus in which the brilliant creator of sublime music was portrayed, at the same time, as an utterly immature and unlikeable character with few redeeming personal qualities.
Yes. I teach Biology - and write about it - and Life's complexity is such a clear theme. And, we are living organisms, so of course we are complex beings.
I do wish to throw in one little observation. We also tend to place white hats on ourselves, then we go to great lengths to hide (or literally burn) away any evidence of our other side.
We all do it. From individuals to tribes and empires.
Maybe, the day we can be honest about our own complexity is when we can face the complexity of others.
Mostly agree. But I can't yet see Donald Trump as a complex character worthy of an occasional white hat. Not sure I ever will. I daresay his strongest supporters can't see him wearing even the occasional black hat. We fear what might happen next. Therefore we see the world as black hats vs. white hats.
we classify germs as either good or bad all the way to complex animals; we fight invasive species by any means possible. As we read Goethe’s Faust in high-school ...”ich bin die Kraft die stets das Böse will und stets das Gute schafft.....”
This perspective was most strongly punctuated for me by the film Amadeus in which the brilliant creator of sublime music was portrayed, at the same time, as an utterly immature and unlikeable character with few redeeming personal qualities.
Hah! Thanks for reminding me of another wonderful illustration of the impulse to put coloured hats on people: It seems Margaret Thatcher said it was "inconceivable" that a musical genius could be so, um, earthy. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/11/rude-awakening-how-mozarts-filthy-mind-shocked-maggie
Yes. I teach Biology - and write about it - and Life's complexity is such a clear theme. And, we are living organisms, so of course we are complex beings.
I do wish to throw in one little observation. We also tend to place white hats on ourselves, then we go to great lengths to hide (or literally burn) away any evidence of our other side.
We all do it. From individuals to tribes and empires.
Maybe, the day we can be honest about our own complexity is when we can face the complexity of others.
Mostly agree. But I can't yet see Donald Trump as a complex character worthy of an occasional white hat. Not sure I ever will. I daresay his strongest supporters can't see him wearing even the occasional black hat. We fear what might happen next. Therefore we see the world as black hats vs. white hats.
we classify germs as either good or bad all the way to complex animals; we fight invasive species by any means possible. As we read Goethe’s Faust in high-school ...”ich bin die Kraft die stets das Böse will und stets das Gute schafft.....”
Masterful.
Solid read for a Sunday morning, thanks!!