An Impossible Delight

Thomas Aquinas was grateful he never read a page he didn't understand. I can't say the same. I was reading a scientific article recently about the pharmacology of synaptic transmission in the brain. It was like reading in a language I've forgotten most of.

Down through Darwin it was possible for a bright person to know most of what there was to know. They would have to work to do so, but such a goal would have been reasonable. No longer.

Does this mean we can never be Renaissance men and women? No, it means we can't be experts in a spectrum of specialized areas. Stephen Hawking's ideas about genetics aren't worth much more than yours, mine, or the folks who write Star Trek.

We can, though, seek a broad acquaintance with big ideas. We can expect to be stretched and enriched in the process. We can hope that when we encompass the biggest ideas we become more understanding of others. It is the conservative mind afraid of new ideas that births fanaticism in both the First World and the Third.

The publisher of this site—Richmond Mayo Smith—is an old friend. After a distinguished career in education spanning three continents, he's good at setting challenges. His challenge to me was this: “ Write short essays on the two dozen or so most important ideas in the world. Make them the ideas that would open a person's mind. Let's see how people react.”

Quite a challenge. Every couple of weeks or so there will be a new piece on a big idea. I'm not an expert in all the fields I'll write about. No one person is. I am instead a passionate amateur eager to learn and to share. We are all feeling our way through a wonderful world we need to picture clearly if we are to survive.

I invite you to come with me on my explorations. Perhaps you will be stirred to write in the forum, explore the links, offer to write an opinion piece or book review. I hope so. We all have so much to learn and do together.

James K. Thornton