Open to change

New Internationalist, June, 2007 by Michael Bell

Jay Griffiths' 'Mountains and Freedom' (Essay, NI 399) was thought-provoking. Abstract nouns are illusions and freedom is one of them. Not only is it a concept which resides solely in the brain of Homo sapiens, but it takes a different form and meaning within each member of the species. Jay Griffiths says: 'Politicians and abstract nouns don't mix. They shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them.'

It is, in fact, much worse than that. Abstract nouns are philosophical concepts and should be treated as such; which, translated, means future philosophers and members of the human species are freely able to amend the concepts according to circumstances. They are not set in stone. Much conflict has been caused since the invention of language and thence concepts, which, being independent in thought and mind, have no inherent relationship, one to the other.

For example, religions are essentially philosophies having no relationship with the concept of fundamental truth, but the assumption that they do has caused the death of millions. The treatment of concepts as having permanency explains why Homo sapiens is as incapable of dealing with climate change as it has been with conflict past and present.

Michael Bell Mullumbimby, Australia