Dunamis

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Within each of us is the seed of potential to produce something vastly greater than ourselves.

The tree on which these acorns were growing was laden with the seeds of a hundred new oak trees.

Aristotle spoke of potentiality in his philosophical musings; he believed that within everything in nature there was the possibility, given the correct conditions, that it would produce what it was intended to produce. Birds reproduce after their kind as do all creatures and fauna; but that is only half the story. He also postulated about actuality; this is the idea that above and beyond that which is naturally occurring there are the greater possibilities of what can be achieved when other forces are brought to bear upon something.

Charles Darwin spent many hours studying the animal world and came to the conclusion that they evolved to the point where they were in his day. It is obvious to see that some creatures do adapt to their surroundings while others of the same species simply don’t. This was taken as proof to the esteemed Mr Darwin of the process of natural selection, whereas Aristotle took it as two distinct paths.

Obviously this is a greatly over simplified condensing of his thoughts but the idea remains that we each have within us an enormous deposit; some will tap into it and others won’t.

As Aristotle theorised, the non-accidental possibilities were vast; at some point in history someone looked at rock and discovered within it not just somewhere to live but a deposit of gold, silver, tin, iron ore, diamonds and countless other raw materials. At another point someone looked at each of these materials in turn and at various times they have been used for a massive range of purposes.

Trees grow unaided on their own, but add the bee population and from one variety of apples comes the cross pollination to produce the thousands of apples we have today. From firewood to paper and maple syrup, on to every variety of furniture and house building we see the two principles of potentiality and actuality in action everywhere.

Sadly the majority of suburban humankind have settled for accidental form of existence.

In most houses and garages, gardens and workplaces we see the hints of what individuals are capable of. There are as many decorating styles and garage innovations as there are people, we go to workplaces which have standardised and legislated the every minutest detail to ensure that every burger and coffee is identical in every way. Cars are made by robots to guarantee a standard of sameness that humans just don’t want to adhere to.

And we like it that way.

Those who have their own style are given nicknames; the ‘creepy’ ‘hipster’ ‘goth’ people who don’t want to fit in. If we want a freshly brewed non standard coffee we need to go up a back Street to a shop that may not be there the next time I visit because the large chains are choking non standard.

I am grateful for the rise in discontent with ‘regular’ who are you to call it regular, I like non regular. I like the those who do it differently.

Unlock the padlock on your creativity and be what it is you were born to be, there no such thing as regular people, only regular restrictions!

 

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9 thoughts on “Dunamis

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