God, Nature, and Interpretation

Wayne Tyson

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Published: September 18, 2000

The noted psychologist Carl Jung said, "Do not follow me." He was suspicious of folks with "visions" (such as their interpretations of Jung's visions, warped to suit their own) who had no vision. His followers did not understand. Despite his quiet objection, a cult of "Jungians" followed, and followed each other--ad nauseam.

I have an instructor and a teacher where I play in clay--one gives me information, the other knowledge. One beats me down with corrections; the other watches me err--in silence.

Johan Huizinga (in Dutch) commanded, in his introduction to his book, "Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture," that any (English) translator be certain to use "in" and not "of." The English translator of the edition I read said that he had, even so, decided, instead, to "...employ the more euphonious ablative...." So the English edition's subtitle read: "A Study of the Play Element of Culture."

While on a visit to China many years ago, the virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern was treated to a recital by a Chinese girl of about twelve, one of perhaps a dozen identically dressed contemporaries. When she finished, the great teacher complimented her on her near-perfect technical performance. Then he said, "Now, hum it for me please." She did. "Fine," he said. "Now play it the way you hummed it!" The moment the bow hit the strings, all my body hair stood up. It was the only peak experience I have ever had through an electronic medium. He did not instruct. She did not follow. He did not give her vision. He shared her vision.

Let's hope this crucial distinction continues as the editorial guidestar for Conservation Ecology, a worm hole in the firmament of the mind through which "wonderful things" can be seen.

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Rogers, K., D. Roux, and H. Biggs. 2000. The value of visions and art of visionaries. Conservation Ecology 4(1): Response1. [online] URL: http://www.consecol.org/Journal/vol4/iss1/resp1