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The final portion, addressing the "point of crisis," was omitted:
“The real problem of humanity is the following: we have Paleolithic
emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology. And it is
terrifically dangerous, *and it is now approaching a point of crisis
overall*.”
E.O. Wilson's phrase "terrifically dangerous" stood out to me as carrying a
dual valence—both positive and negative—reminiscent of the often-cited
Chinese term for crisis, 危机 (wēijī), which combines "danger" (危) with
"opportunity" (机) which I think is close to the idea of "critical point" in
complexity,.
Here are some Chinese phrases using *机* (pronounced "jī") in the context of
criticality, critical points, or critical moments:
1.
*危机* (wēi jī) – *Crisis* or *critical situation*
- This term combines *危* (wēi, danger) and *机* (jī, opportunity or
crucial moment), referring to a situation where danger and opportunity
coexist. It is often used to describe moments of great risk or critical
turning points, where swift decisions are necessary.
2.
*契机* (qì jī) – *Opportunity* or *critical juncture*
- Refers to a crucial or decisive moment when a significant change or
opportunity arises. Often used to describe turning points in events or
decisions that can lead to a favorable outcome.
3.
*时机* (shí jī) – *Timing* or *critical timing*
- Refers to the opportune moment or perfect timing for taking action. It
emphasizes the importance of acting at the right moment in a critical
situation.
4.
*转机* (zhuǎn jī) – *Turning point*
- Refers to a critical moment or event that leads to a positive change
or reversal of fortune, often in situations where things seemed bleak or
difficult.
5.
*机遇* (jī yù) – *Opportunity* or *critical opportunity*
- Refers to a critical or rare chance for success. It conveys the idea
of seizing the moment when a crucial opportunity presents itself.
6.
*机缘* (jī yuán) – *Fateful moment* or *critical chance*
- This term carries a more philosophical or fateful connotation,
suggesting a critical moment of chance that can shape one’s destiny.
These phrases emphasize the interplay of critical moments, timing, and
opportunity, reflecting how "机" can represent a crucial or pivotal aspect
in decision-making and events.
Also, 机理 (jīlǐ) is often used to describe the underlying principles or
mechanisms driving a system's behavior to critical points / phase
transitions.
- 复杂系统的机理 (fùzá xìtǒng de jīlǐ): the underlying mechanisms of complex
systems
- 自组织临界的机理 (zìzǔzhī línjiè de jīlǐ): the mechanisms of self-organized
criticality
_________________________________________________________________
Stephen Guerin
CEO, Founder
https://simtable.com
stephen.gue...@simtable.com
stephengue...@fas.harvard.edu
Harvard Visualization Research and Teaching Lab
<https://hwpi.harvard.edu/eps-visualization-research-laboratory/home>
mobile: (505)577-5828
On Fri, Oct 4, 2024 at 12:16 PM Prof David West <profw...@fastmail.fm>
wrote:
> *"The real problem of humanity is the following: we have Paleolithic
> emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology. And it is
> terrifically dangerous."* Edward O. Wilson.
>
> davew
>
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