Theatre for Living

David Diamond & Fritjof Capra

3 annotations • data

First annotation on Jun 12th, 2025.

Another important advance in the scientific understanding of life has been the realization that creativity is inherent in all living systems. Although they generally remain in a stable state, every now and then such systems will encounter a point of instability where there is either a breakdown or, more frequently, a spontaneous emergence of new forms of order. This spontaneous emergence of order at critical points of instability, which is often referred to simply as "emergence", is one of the hallmarks of life. It has been recognized as the dynamic origin of development, learning and evolution. In other words, creativity-the generation of new forms-is a key property of all living systems.
"There is no such thing as a neutral educational process. Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity to it, or it becomes 'the practice of freedom, ' the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world. In other words, education either helps reinforce the status quo, or it helps break the rules."
Point and turn is a game I use to introduce the idea that the work we are about to do together involves breaking rules:9 Everyone find a place to stand in the room where you can swing your arms and not hit anyone. Now with your eyes open, stand in neutral (arms by your sides) and lift your right arm, point in front of you and then twist around as far as you can without straining. Remember where you got to and return to neutral. Now close your eyes. Just in your mind-do not use your body-see yourself raise your arm, point, and then twist around, going further than you did before. Return to neutral. Again, just in your mind, see yourself raise your arm, point, twist even further than before, return to neutral. One last time, just in your mind, raise your arm, point, and then twist 180 degrees around-go nuts, do the impossible. See it! And return to neutral. Now open your eyes. Using your body, raise your arm, point, and then twist. What happens?