Cartoon World

If you observe intently;

If you think deeply;

If you learn, study, and grow passionately;

You are likely to come to an inevitable conclusion:

The world in which we live, the people who dwell here, the concepts that shape us, and the God who rules it all are incredibly complex.

…I find myself being forced to come to the humble realization that I still understand very little of it all.

I remember as a child watching funny videos of Tom and Jerry or Roadrunner and Coyote. I loved the animators' creativity and always felt a particular fascination for the simple world portrayed in these cartoons.

In these cartoon worlds, a wall could be repaired by patching it. No specific material was needed; there was no method to the madness. The wall was just patched in a very simple manner.

In these cartoon worlds, concepts like flight were easy. One needed only to strap two wings to the arms and flap them. Within seconds, anyone could be airborne.

As a child, I liked the idea of a world like that – a world where things were simple.

But we do not live in a cartoon world. Our reality is extremely complex – so complex, in fact, that after thousands of years of civilization, we still have innumerable questions to ask and discoveries to make.

There are obvious fields of complexity, like Inorganic Chemistry, Galactic Astronomy, and Quantum Physics.

However, even more day-to-day topics are riddled with complexity: communication, physical training, interpersonal relationships, and child rearing.

Even the most arbitrary ‘simple’ topic I could think of is actually complex: Tables – yes, tables, as in … the furniture on which we eat.

Thank you for reading Chisel&Feather!

Four legs and a surface - does it get any more simple?

How are tables complex?

I’m glad you asked.

I figure I can best make my point by taking the simplest topic and demonstrating its complexity:

It is, of course, tempting to think that tables are simple: four legs and a surface. One could easily get a log from the forest, put some legs on it, and set it up in the kitchen, right?

In a cartoon world, yes.

In the real world, it is not that simple.

In the real world, you would have to draw on the complexity of a chainsaw (metal and plastic production, principle of combustion, oil extraction from the ground, global trade) to cut it up.

If you place it in your kitchen raw, as you found it, you risk introducing pests, such as termites, into your home. Additionally, wood holds water, so over time it would begin to decay.

It must be treated to be preserved. How you treat it depends on the type of wood it is and how the chemicals in the oil, stain, or varnish will react when applied. Then you’ll need factory-produced screws and L-brackets, and a drill with an electric motor.

Some knowledge of biology and chemistry is necessary, as is basic know-how, the right tools, and a fair amount of physical strength.

If, on the other hand, you were to buy a table, then it would become even more complex. Then, foresting companies, factories, global economics, and other complex players become part of the equation.

So, you see, tables are complex.

Here is a fun thought experiment: Think of ANY topic.

The topic may appear simple at first. But once you start asking questions and really contemplating it, you will realize that the subject is actually far from simple.

The bottom line of today’s contemplation is this:

Our world is complex.

Our lives are complex.

There are, however, instances when things appear simple.

This is likely due to two reasons…

To be continued in part II.

Interested in the importance of truth? Click here.

Interested in discovering other topics? Click here.

A product of combustion, oil extraction, and global trade - chainsaws are anything but simple.

source: https://www.artstation.com