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%CATASTROPHES 760928
Catastrophes almost always involve sudden change: A
rope breaks, a roof falls in, cars crash, a giant
corporation goes bankrupt, war breaks out, a tornado
strikes, hail falls, etc. In each instance preceding
circumstances lead up to the sudden change, as when a
person approaches a cliff's edge and falls to the bottom
of the cliff. The French mathematician Thomm has
developed what is called "catastrophe theory" and some of
its features are summarized in a particular issue of
Scientific American. The theory is rather complex and is
a branch of topology. Few people are likely to show much
interest in the full theory.
It does not take a mathematician's understanding to
perceive situations in which circumstances create the
possibility/likelihood of a catastrophe. Catastrophe
theory presents a mathematical model, a picture in
quantitative terms, of an aspect of various abrupt
changes. The insights thereby gained may be helpful to the
technically oriented. Non-technically oriented people may
perceive the ways in which traditional social attitudes,
assumptions, and behaviors create the contexts which
occasion common personal catastrophes. Effective
communication between the people of diverse orientations
might facilitate the identification of social changes
which, if accomplished, would mitigate the contexts for
many personal catastrophes.
Consider the following kinds of personal
catastrophes: Murder, rape, divorce, depression, fits of
anger, robbery, kidnapping, cheating, broken friendships,
academic failure, professional failure, bankruptcy. Often
blame is focused upon those most intimately involved in
the catastrophe. It may be more helpful to examine the
total structure of the situation to see what context
engendered the catastrophic behavior. It is difficult to
do this while maintaining the necessary sense of personal
responsibility. That difficulty should not be the excuse
for failing to mitigate the occasions for catastrophes.
A very common factor in many catastrophes is a break-
down in personal communication--occasioned by social
values which undervalue the importance of a profound
dedication to openness, honesty, trust, vulnerability, and
risk in meeting others in intimate relationships.
(c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in
www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
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