Dreams, intuition, and poetry -for the theoretician

[teo]

...The theoretician codifies these experimental measurements in an equation corresponding to the hyperbolic curve; but he also shows, in lengthy analyses, that it could not have been otherwise. When more precise measurements have made it possible for him to more accurately draw his graph (which now looks far more like the graph of a completely different formula), he will codify the phenomenon with infinite precision, using a new equation. He will then prove, by more painstaking analysis, that this was foreseeable from the start.

The theoretician believes in logic and believes that he despises dreams, intuition, and poetry. He does not recognize that these three fairies have only disguised themselves in order to dazzle him like a love-sick fifteen-year-old. He does not know that he owes his greatest discoveries to them. They introduced themselves in the guise of "working hypotheses," "arbitrary conditions," and "analogies"; how could he, the theoretician, have guessed that he was deceiving austere logic, and that in listening to them he was listening to the Muses' song...

-From the journal: "Document," August 1, 1939, concerning test pilots, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (author of "The Little Prince")

 

[lindsay]

Teo, I looked over your website Givnology a little, and it looks very interesting. Many people here think a lot about the same kind of things. I wonder if you could tell us a little about yourself and what you are doing?

As for St. Euxpery, he was a fascinating fellow, but the question of reconciling theoreticians with poets and intuitives is a problem this board has struggled with from time to time. The I Ching has its share of dogmatism. Most of our theoreticians get pretty annoyed at the general lack of rigor and consistency in this forum; few here care much for ideology. But we usually learn a lot from banging against each other.

I don't know if theoreticians unknowingly come from the same place or source as dreamers. I suppose the workings of creativity is equally a mystery to all of us, but I feel a need to control in the theoreticians that is not present in gentler souls. What do you think?

 

[candid]

I speculate that theory is mind-searching while art is soul-searching. To be proficient in one is to deny the other, at least till such times as extremes dissipate. Craft alchemizes reason with art, logic with intuition, hypothesis with melodic musing. Therefore is the craftsman a magician.

 

[lindsay]

Sometimes I think too much is made of this right brain/left brain split. A lot of people think reason is incompatible with art, logic with beauty, argument with intuition. I'm not so sure. I would like to see different modes of thought brought together more often.

When it comes to theory -- interlocking chains of argument that purportedly explain everything -- well, I've never been a big fan of it. Why do we need theories to explain everything? Sometimes I think about what would happen if such a thing were found, a theory of everything. Then what would intellectuals do? They would be out of a job.

I agree with Candid that craft combines theory with art, poetry with practicality, intuition with purpose. That is pretty much all I ever wanted from the Yi, to learn the craft. I'm not sure what that involves. How do you become a good Yi craftsperson? As opposed to a Yi theoretician or artist?

I just read something interesting - did you know that chocolate is toxic to ferrets?

 

[candid]

Lindsay, as a cellist you learn music theory, and then you practice for many hours, days, months, years. But when it is time to play a favorite piece, you forget all about theory and become the song. Without the theory and developed fine motor skills, your song may still be art, at least to you, but it wouldn?t be a craft. If you played the song as though it is theory, it would not be art, therefore also not a craft.

With Yi too there is theory and art. I?ve said before, I think too much credit goes to intuition. Being too much in intuition becomes like lofty thoughts floating in air with no grounding. Being a complete theorist - utilizing all the historical records, translations, cultural considerations and other miscellaneous facts ? is devoid of art, being all theory. Where I think the credit belongs is not in intuition or in theory, but in the cognitive alchemy of the craftsman.

 

[megabbobby]

Candid

ok that's it!!


where do we get the album??!

 

[martin]

A craftsman is precise. I think that is something that good science and good art (and good spirituality) have in common, precision, accuracy, fine tuning.
The beauty of precision is that is has the power to open up vast spaces in the mind and the soul.
But it easily degenerates into control freakishness. So wherever you go you meet tight *sses that refuse to get off the pot ..

 

[candid]

Bobby, funny you should mention that. (but I think they call them CDs today?) Still in the r&d stage, with one prototype reading near competition, pending packaging. It's inclusive of a dream series and Yi reading, as a singular interpretation. It wasn't my idea, which somehow makes it all the more interesting to pursue. More of a 19.2 type thing. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks

 

[candid]

Martin, I agree that precision, or at least the ability to be precise, is important. Laying abalone into rosewood, for example, would not have a desirable effect if it was done loosely. But what of the Zen-master's brush: As though accident and precision meet in one reckless stroke!

 

[martin]

 

[candid]

LOL you're crazy man.. omg

 

[candid]

Check this Martin out, Martin Granted, not something to take on a camping trip to play by the fire, or even play at all. The detail can?t really be appreciated unless seen close up. But you get the idea.

 

[martin]

That's a beauty, Candid.
I have a sitar here but I never learned to play. I don't even know how to tune it. 18 strings, probably not easy.
But it's nice to look at.