'Myth-Reality-Myth' Syndrome, The

Around 1600 AD, Giornado Bruno was burnt alive on stakes on the charges of heresy because he had the 'temerity' to profess the ideas based on Coprenicus's view of the Universe, which at that point of time, appeared to be a 'myth'; the 'reality' of those times being that the Earth was the centre of the Universe and, therefore, stationary! And the Church of this time took upon itself the role of a prolocutor for any and every matter, including the astronomical and the scientific knowledge.

The trajectory of technological growth is cycle of myth-reality-myth.

But gradually, the 'myths' propounded by Copernicus and Galileo, advocating the existence of an open Universe, of which the Earth was but a small part, shattered the then prevalent 'truth' of a closed Universe created and maintained in motion by God! This is one classical example of a 'myth' shattering an established 'truth' and becoming a reality in due course of time.

It wasn 't long ago that the myths of telephone, radio, and television (originating mostly in science fictions) metamorphosed into realities.

However, a closer look at history of mankind and technological advancements (both are closely intertwined anyway) reveals that the two are mutually sustaining and that the growth trajectory of both is a cycle of myth-reality-myth. For example, it wasn't long that the myths of telephone, radio, and television (mostly originating in science fictions) metamorphosed into realities, but the latest advancements in the information technology are stark landmarks epitomising this never ending itinerary.

What we witness today in abundance is almost similar looking instruments called cellphones being used on a scale never observed before, thus annihilating time and space.

Many of us (and this includes the author too) may be recollecting the TV serial Startrack aired some 25 years ago wherein the characters carried 'phones' they could use anytime and anywhere. Although it appeared as a fictional myth at that time but what we witness today in abundance is almost similar looking instruments called cellphones being used on a scale never observed before, thus annihilating both: the time and space. And the human mind is the precursor and the ultimate impeller of this cycle of progress.

Human body is precious and it has the highest evolutionary value because of unique brain and spinal nerves.

But this is not to suggest that the human body has been a recluse in this journey. On the contrary, the human body is precious and it has the highest evolutionary value because of unique brain and spinal nerves; no other living form is so equipped. The mind is the wielder of muscles. As the force of a hammer depends on the energy applied, the power expressed by the human's bodily instrument depends upon his will and courage because the body is literally manufactured and sustained by mind and it is through this synergetic arrangement that the man has been able to conceive, design, and operate space and time annihilators.

Human body is the most flexible machine in existence on the earth till now

But the duo of human mind and the instrument of body is the ultimate primogenitor of all that is stated above. And it does not need much sagacity to appreciate that flexibility is the vehicle carrying all these, since the human body is the most flexible machine in existence on the Earth till now. all other shades of flexibility we witness in the management of systems, machines, organisations, practices, and technologies etc. are concomitant with the inherent flexibility in the human thoughts and actions.

But would this myth-reality-myth syndrome continue forever? Would there be a time when the human and technological evolution have conquered the highest peak? We have no answers.

O.P. Sharma

Deputy Editor

Copyright Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management (GIFT) Dec 2002
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