Nature’s balance is a wonderful enigma. Intricate, inspiring, amazing, and perplexing, the presence of balance among so many moving parts has inspired naturalists and befuddled ecologists from the beginning. Human society, which is all those things and more (complex, dynamic, emergent, confusing), may seek to emulate some aspects of nature in order to be more stable… and avoid chaotic instability. We have much to learn.
1) Think about a local system (e.g., some aspect of your household, your bank account, the city coffers, your backyard, your compost pile, a nearby stream, etc.) and draw a diagram that will help you describe it as a dynamic system, with inputs and outputs, storage, and controls and feedbacks on each part. Then use words to describe the stability or instability in the system and how it works, and where it will be at some future point in time.
2) Reflect on controls that may operate to govern human stability on the planet.
Monika’s kitchen system:
Ian’s eating system:
Matt’s career system: