The Co-Creation of Thought and Form

In this extremely fast paced society that is becoming more and more dependent on technological advances, it is hard to know what came first - the fast pace or the technologies. This argument over the - chicken or the egg theory - is very prevalent within contemporary anthropology and psychology. The materialists see humans as slaves to the objects that they create, in other words, form creates thought. On the other side of the theoretical coin, the ideologists see the objects that humans create as symbols of thought, in other words, thought creates form. One does not have to look very far from one's own life to see manifestations of both of these theories.

So what is the mechanism behind this societal phenomenon? Why does it have to be either materialistic perspective or idealistic perspective, can it not be both?

I no longer view any aspect of society as being a result of single causation. Human behavior is extremely complex and cannot be reduced to a single theory of explanation. There is a process of co-creation that is behind the world that we all experience. We are products of our environment and our environment is a product of us. Maybe one reason that debates like materialistic versus idealistic rage on within our society is that the "Western" mind does not sit well with paradoxes. Or maybe our competitive nature has gotten the best of us. Are we more concerned about being right than being truthful? Are we pursuing the truth or do we obtain the truth?

The Amish are known for their conservative views and simplistic ways of life. I will cautiously put forth a generalization about the Amish for an example of the influence of technology on society. Some of the Amish farming communities choose not to use rubber tires on their farming equipment. One of the implicit reasons for this societal decision is to not let their way of life get moving too fast. Literally, rubber tires allow for a much faster paced life, both on and off the farm. I am fascinated with such rich symbolism within such a mundane piece of our lives. What novel object in your life is co-creating the pace and quality of your life?

I hope some of the questions that I am raising here help provoke new thoughts and deeper questions within all of us. May we all become more aware of the continuous loop of cause and effect that our choices within life, create.