Heroes Not Zombies

This is the view from the end of my street. The countryside around here is very different from the one in Scotland where I grew up.

The two biggest differences are the vineyards here, and the mountains there.

We’re only about 100 metres above sea level here but this is the highest point around….as you can see.

When I stand somewhere with a perspective like this I always think of the phrase “the view from on high”. It’s not just a physical description but a classical philosophical teaching.

When we take a “view from on high” we do two things – take an overview, seeing the whole, rather than just the parts – and we see the contexts or environments in which whatever we’re looking at exists.

Both of those actions enable us to see connections and so to understand.

The trouble with reductionism is that it ignores this perspective and while that might be useful when studying a part in detail, it always needs to be complemented with an exploration of the connections.

One way we humans do that is to tell stories. Stories tell us about the time and place where something exists or occurs. Stories can weave together the threads and paths which have led to what we’re considering.

Stories and taking “the view from on high” can help us to understand.