Plate tectonics, science, and embracing the unknown ⛰️

I recently learned that continental drift and plate tectonics weren’t confirmed until the 1960s/70s—that’s only fifty years ago! Although the concept of atoms dates back to ancient Greek philosophers, it wasn’t widely accepted until the early 20th century—that’s a little over a century ago! This is one reason I try to stay humble, open, and embrace the unknown. Although we don’t keep track of how many untold ideas were proven false when plate tectonics was proven true (eg: its extremely unlikely that any given specific crackpot theory will turn out to be right), I will almost certainly see things from a perspective I’d never considered. Creativity will flow, and most of the joy in existing doesn’t come from being right.

A second point: We don’t know what’s up, despite thinking we do, so I try to remain humble as a species. We use the terms “dark matter” and “dark energy” as place holders to say “we don’t know what the f 96% of the universe even is!” (and that’s the known unknown). That doesn’t keep me from learning, building theories, and making predictions—it actually encourages me. I have a tendency to try to earn my existence through knowing things…. But remembering I’ll never know means I can be a lot more playful. And a lot more free: Knowing isn’t the goal, but neither is it a threat. I don’t have to make the mind wrong.

I can stop aiming for orange: “Must get it right,” dodge green’s, “There is no right,” and rest in the ever-evolving teal’s: “Let’s find good enough for this here, and this now.”

With love, Jordan