Homo Sapiens—Always in the Arena? | James Newman | TEDxYorkSchool

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I’ve much enjoyed listening learning

I’ve much enjoyed listening learning tonight thank you to all the speakers

tonight thank you to all the speakers

tonight thank you to all the speakers thank you very much this has been a

thank you very much this has been a

thank you very much this has been a great opportunity for me personally to

great opportunity for me personally to

great opportunity for me personally to reflect on what this quote means to me

reflect on what this quote means to me

reflect on what this quote means to me and then to broaden that to see if

and then to broaden that to see if

and then to broaden that to see if there’s even more meaning in it related

there’s even more meaning in it related

there’s even more meaning in it related to what I see in the world around me why

to what I see in the world around me why

to what I see in the world around me why does this quote have such a hold on me

does this quote have such a hold on me

does this quote have such a hold on me what must I have experienced what

what must I have experienced what

what must I have experienced what triumphs but more likely what failures

triumphs but more likely what failures

triumphs but more likely what failures lurk perhaps than like subconscious

lurk perhaps than like subconscious

lurk perhaps than like subconscious waiting to resonate with these words at

waiting to resonate with these words at

waiting to resonate with these words at every opportunity as you know this

every opportunity as you know this

every opportunity as you know this famous quote is but a short snippet from

famous quote is but a short snippet from

famous quote is but a short snippet from a good long speech on citizenship in a

a good long speech on citizenship in a

a good long speech on citizenship in a republic which would be well worth a

republic which would be well worth a

republic which would be well worth a good read or at least an understanding

good read or at least an understanding

good read or at least an understanding of today but for today I need to

of today but for today I need to

of today but for today I need to simplify my thoughts down to the essence

simplify my thoughts down to the essence

simplify my thoughts down to the essence of what is simply in the words of that

of what is simply in the words of that

of what is simply in the words of that quote but first a short story if I may

quote but first a short story if I may

quote but first a short story if I may perhaps of my most important

perhaps of my most important

perhaps of my most important contribution at NASA as part of my first

contribution at NASA as part of my first

contribution at NASA as part of my first spaceflight and that taught me just how

spaceflight and that taught me just how

spaceflight and that taught me just how big the arena can be and how fierce

big the arena can be and how fierce

big the arena can be and how fierce opponents can fight and just how the

opponents can fight and just how the

opponents can fight and just how the criticism can sting it was about 1992

criticism can sting it was about 1992

criticism can sting it was about 1992 and that already been in NASA as an

and that already been in NASA as an

and that already been in NASA as an instructor for about five and a half

instructor for about five and a half

instructor for about five and a half years and an astronaut actually for a

years and an astronaut actually for a

years and an astronaut actually for a year and a half the opportunity came for

year and a half the opportunity came for

year and a half the opportunity came for me in a small team to essentially hack

me in a small team to essentially hack

me in a small team to essentially hack in to the Space Shuttle main computer

in to the Space Shuttle main computer

in to the Space Shuttle main computer information stream that traditionally

information stream that traditionally

information stream that traditionally only goes to the Mission Control Center

only goes to the Mission Control Center

only goes to the Mission Control Center laptops had just become powerful enough

laptops had just become powerful enough

laptops had just become powerful enough to handle the work that the Mission

to handle the work that the Mission

to handle the work that the Mission Control Center was doing to process and

Control Center was doing to process and

Control Center was doing to process and display over a hundred and twenty eight

display over a hundred and twenty eight

display over a hundred and twenty eight thousand bytes a second

thousand bytes a second

thousand bytes a second not particularly a hard task or a big

not particularly a hard task or a big

not particularly a hard task or a big deal today the laptops are not

deal today the laptops are not

deal today the laptops are not completely reliable in space I had four

completely reliable in space I had four

completely reliable in space I had four laptops on the flight deck with me okay

laptops on the flight deck with me okay

laptops on the flight deck with me okay just in case and I needed to have a

just in case and I needed to have a

just in case and I needed to have a bunch of computing power there the

bunch of computing power there the

bunch of computing power there the laptops are not completely reliable in

laptops are not completely reliable in

laptops are not completely reliable in space because the radiation that’s not

space because the radiation that’s not

space because the radiation that’s not being blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere

being blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere

being blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere will occasionally corrupt a bit of

will occasionally corrupt a bit of

will occasionally corrupt a bit of memory here and there in the in the

memory here and there in the in the

memory here and there in the in the laptop so they’re not completely

laptop so they’re not completely

laptop so they’re not completely trustworthy but the benefits for the

trustworthy but the benefits for the

trustworthy but the benefits for the crew of being able to use some of the

crew of being able to use some of the

crew of being able to use some of the data that wasn’t already being displayed

data that wasn’t already being displayed

data that wasn’t already being displayed on the very limited shuttle displays

on the very limited shuttle displays

on the very limited shuttle displays none of which had real graphics at that

none of which had real graphics at that

none of which had real graphics at that time was potentially so important for

time was potentially so important for

time was potentially so important for the future of docking the shuttle with

the future of docking the shuttle with

the future of docking the shuttle with the space station through the ability to

the space station through the ability to

the space station through the ability to fuse information from multiple sensors

fuse information from multiple sensors

fuse information from multiple sensors radar lasers GPS for example to robotic

radar lasers GPS for example to robotic

radar lasers GPS for example to robotic arm operations to something as simple as

arm operations to something as simple as

arm operations to something as simple as updating a world map on the laptop that

updating a world map on the laptop that

updating a world map on the laptop that would let us know where we were with the

would let us know where we were with the

would let us know where we were with the earth without having to go look out the

earth without having to go look out the

earth without having to go look out the window or ask the control center I had

window or ask the control center I had

window or ask the control center I had no idea how protective the flight

no idea how protective the flight

no idea how protective the flight controllers were going to be of their

controllers were going to be of their

controllers were going to be of their prerogative to see all the data in to

prerogative to see all the data in to

prerogative to see all the data in to control the flight and of course what

control the flight and of course what

control the flight and of course what the crew could see and therefore do I

the crew could see and therefore do I

the crew could see and therefore do I was peppered with Spears again and again

was peppered with Spears again and again

was peppered with Spears again and again and finally after the lead flight

and finally after the lead flight

and finally after the lead flight director told me that he was not going

director told me that he was not going

director told me that he was not going to kill my little project I felt almost

to kill my little project I felt almost

to kill my little project I felt almost encouraged and pressed ahead

encouraged and pressed ahead

encouraged and pressed ahead we succeeded and soon no space shuttle

we succeeded and soon no space shuttle

we succeeded and soon no space shuttle crew would fly without that capability

crew would fly without that capability

crew would fly without that capability but it was a hard battle and emotionally

but it was a hard battle and emotionally

but it was a hard battle and emotionally exhausting why can’t people just

exhausting why can’t people just

exhausting why can’t people just recognize what is right and good of

recognize what is right and good of

recognize what is right and good of course that is an ironic thing to ask as

course that is an ironic thing to ask as

course that is an ironic thing to ask as our country even our world continually

our country even our world continually

our country even our world continually grapples with what is right and best for

grapples with what is right and best for

grapples with what is right and best for our future we obviously will just will

our future we obviously will just will

our future we obviously will just will not ever all agree at a certain level

not ever all agree at a certain level

not ever all agree at a certain level President Roosevelt’s words speak to the

President Roosevelt’s words speak to the

President Roosevelt’s words speak to the effort required to maintain something

effort required to maintain something

effort required to maintain something that he considered good and excuse me

that he considered good and excuse me

that he considered good and excuse me good in the world

good in the world

good in the world or Republic as is the responsibility of

or Republic as is the responsibility of

or Republic as is the responsibility of the citizens of Republic’s but anybody

the citizens of Republic’s but anybody

the citizens of Republic’s but anybody who’s been in the arena of any sort will

who’s been in the arena of any sort will

who’s been in the arena of any sort will probably agree that the emotional cost

probably agree that the emotional cost

probably agree that the emotional cost of that effort at a very minimum can be

of that effort at a very minimum can be

of that effort at a very minimum can be very high but must struggle be an

very high but must struggle be an

very high but must struggle be an integral part of being alive of being

integral part of being alive of being

integral part of being alive of being human is the reason the species was able

human is the reason the species was able

human is the reason the species was able to leave Africa and spread to all parts

to leave Africa and spread to all parts

to leave Africa and spread to all parts of the earth is that because of an

of the earth is that because of an

of the earth is that because of an innate need and willingness to struggle

innate need and willingness to struggle

innate need and willingness to struggle being human to most of us inherit this

being human to most of us inherit this

being human to most of us inherit this willingness and make it a part of

willingness and make it a part of

willingness and make it a part of everything we do

everything we do

everything we do is it possible to conceive of human life

is it possible to conceive of human life

is it possible to conceive of human life or perhaps more broadly of any life that

or perhaps more broadly of any life that

or perhaps more broadly of any life that is not involved in a daily struggle for

is not involved in a daily struggle for

is not involved in a daily struggle for survival in some way shape or form

survival in some way shape or form

survival in some way shape or form survival of our way of life of our

survival of our way of life of our

survival of our way of life of our belief system of what we want for our

belief system of what we want for our

belief system of what we want for our country etc etc some of these are the

country etc etc some of these are the

country etc etc some of these are the proverbial firstworldproblems some of

proverbial firstworldproblems some of

proverbial firstworldproblems some of mine certainly were but for others some

mine certainly were but for others some

mine certainly were but for others some in our own country the struggle is about

in our own country the struggle is about

in our own country the struggle is about food and shelter and aside I’ve tried to

food and shelter and aside I’ve tried to

food and shelter and aside I’ve tried to convince my own children at times that

convince my own children at times that

convince my own children at times that many of the things I do as a parent are

many of the things I do as a parent are

many of the things I do as a parent are not simply arbitrary dictatorial and

not simply arbitrary dictatorial and

not simply arbitrary dictatorial and tyrannical but are actually motivated

tyrannical but are actually motivated

tyrannical but are actually motivated but a desire by a desire that they have

but a desire by a desire that they have

but a desire by a desire that they have the best chance to succeed in life and

the best chance to succeed in life and

the best chance to succeed in life and get to have choices in what they do

get to have choices in what they do

get to have choices in what they do parents are among the few that really

parents are among the few that really

parents are among the few that really care for their children’s success

care for their children’s success

care for their children’s success whether first world or other life is

whether first world or other life is

whether first world or other life is still a competition for available

still a competition for available

still a competition for available resources significant others college

resources significant others college

resources significant others college admissions job opportunities and

admissions job opportunities and

admissions job opportunities and outcomes these outcomes can have

outcomes these outcomes can have

outcomes these outcomes can have significant effects on our lives part of

significant effects on our lives part of

significant effects on our lives part of my own naivete is that I believed and

my own naivete is that I believed and

my own naivete is that I believed and still do that there are parts of the

still do that there are parts of the

still do that there are parts of the world often our own that are generally

world often our own that are generally

world often our own that are generally improving treating people more fairly

improving treating people more fairly

improving treating people more fairly more transparency in government slowly

more transparency in government slowly

more transparency in government slowly but surely making improvements in our

but surely making improvements in our

but surely making improvements in our Republic but I think I failed to

Republic but I think I failed to

Republic but I think I failed to acknowledge how important human

acknowledge how important human

acknowledge how important human appetites

appetites

appetites are there are people who hunger for

are there are people who hunger for

are there are people who hunger for certain things so much and some were

certain things so much and some were

certain things so much and some were just so good at some things and their

just so good at some things and their

just so good at some things and their personal success may come at the expense

personal success may come at the expense

personal success may come at the expense of others whether it is men abusing

of others whether it is men abusing

of others whether it is men abusing their power to the detriment of women or

their power to the detriment of women or

their power to the detriment of women or someone accumulating wealth at the

someone accumulating wealth at the

someone accumulating wealth at the expense of others or person accumulating

expense of others or person accumulating

expense of others or person accumulating political power primarily for their own

political power primarily for their own

political power primarily for their own benefit and not their constituents the

benefit and not their constituents the

benefit and not their constituents the list goes on and on so if I accept that

list goes on and on so if I accept that

list goes on and on so if I accept that this is what it means to be human

this is what it means to be human

this is what it means to be human I personally think that two of the most

I personally think that two of the most

I personally think that two of the most pressing problems for societies writ

pressing problems for societies writ

pressing problems for societies writ large is the civilization of young men

large is the civilization of young men

large is the civilization of young men and the education of young women how

and the education of young women how

and the education of young women how then do we make and imbue our lives with

then do we make and imbue our lives with

then do we make and imbue our lives with meaning

meaning

meaning it wasn’t until I worked at NASA that I

it wasn’t until I worked at NASA that I

it wasn’t until I worked at NASA that I finally admitted to myself that there’s

finally admitted to myself that there’s

finally admitted to myself that there’s not going to be a utopia in space or

not going to be a utopia in space or

not going to be a utopia in space or anywhere else for that matter we were

anywhere else for that matter we were

anywhere else for that matter we were obviously going to take our very human

obviously going to take our very human

obviously going to take our very human appetites and problems with us wherever

appetites and problems with us wherever

appetites and problems with us wherever we go

we go

we go now most species do not survive very

now most species do not survive very

now most species do not survive very long Oh ants and cockroaches aside okay

long Oh ants and cockroaches aside okay

long Oh ants and cockroaches aside okay the archaeological record is littered

the archaeological record is littered

the archaeological record is littered with evidence of the demise of species

with evidence of the demise of species

with evidence of the demise of species our own tenure on earth is just as

our own tenure on earth is just as

our own tenure on earth is just as uncertain as any other species is a

uncertain as any other species is a

uncertain as any other species is a colleague of mine pointed out it would

colleague of mine pointed out it would

colleague of mine pointed out it would behoove us to have a bit of humility and

behoove us to have a bit of humility and

behoove us to have a bit of humility and a lot less arrogance and pay attention

a lot less arrogance and pay attention

a lot less arrogance and pay attention to the real limits of a real planet we

to the real limits of a real planet we

to the real limits of a real planet we could start with not littering for

could start with not littering for

could start with not littering for example we live a lot of plastic I also

example we live a lot of plastic I also

example we live a lot of plastic I also assert that discarding co2 is littering

assert that discarding co2 is littering

assert that discarding co2 is littering the list goes on but what invests us in

the list goes on but what invests us in

the list goes on but what invests us in the future our own lives certainly while

the future our own lives certainly while

the future our own lives certainly while we are young enough to have a future

we are young enough to have a future

we are young enough to have a future ourselves but certainly the lives of the

ourselves but certainly the lives of the

ourselves but certainly the lives of the young people we care about York two on

young people we care about York two on

young people we care about York two on the lower left but highlighted

the lower left but highlighted

the lower left but highlighted Caty these are the people we care about

Caty these are the people we care about

Caty these are the people we care about especially our own children perhaps even

especially our own children perhaps even

especially our own children perhaps even the children in our community in other

the children in our community in other

the children in our community in other communities so how should we choose to

communities so how should we choose to

communities so how should we choose to live our lives in closing I’d like to

live our lives in closing I’d like to

live our lives in closing I’d like to share with you a reading from a favorite

share with you a reading from a favorite

share with you a reading from a favorite Japanese story the story concerns a man

Japanese story the story concerns a man

Japanese story the story concerns a man named Musashi a samurai struggling to

named Musashi a samurai struggling to

named Musashi a samurai struggling to achieve wisdom the following is a brief

achieve wisdom the following is a brief

achieve wisdom the following is a brief passage describing some of his thoughts

passage describing some of his thoughts

passage describing some of his thoughts as he progressed along the way it wasn’t

as he progressed along the way it wasn’t

as he progressed along the way it wasn’t that he had forgotten the lesson he had

that he had forgotten the lesson he had

that he had forgotten the lesson he had been taught the truly brave man is one

been taught the truly brave man is one

been taught the truly brave man is one who loves life cherishing it as a

who loves life cherishing it as a

who loves life cherishing it as a treasure that once forfeited can never

treasure that once forfeited can never

treasure that once forfeited can never be regained he knew full well that to

be regained he knew full well that to

be regained he knew full well that to live was more than merely to survive the

live was more than merely to survive the

live was more than merely to survive the problem was how to imbue his life with

problem was how to imbue his life with

problem was how to imbue his life with meaning how to ensure that his life

meaning how to ensure that his life

meaning how to ensure that his life would cast a bright ray of light into

would cast a bright ray of light into

would cast a bright ray of light into the future even if it became necessary

the future even if it became necessary

the future even if it became necessary to give up that life for a cause if he

to give up that life for a cause if he

to give up that life for a cause if he succeeded in doing this the length of

succeeded in doing this the length of

succeeded in doing this the length of his life 20 years or 70 made little

his life 20 years or 70 made little

his life 20 years or 70 made little difference a lifetime was only an

difference a lifetime was only an

difference a lifetime was only an insignificant interval in the endless

insignificant interval in the endless

insignificant interval in the endless flow of time that for me is the most

flow of time that for me is the most

flow of time that for me is the most important question I know how do we

important question I know how do we

important question I know how do we imbue our lives with meaning part of

imbue our lives with meaning part of

imbue our lives with meaning part of that answer should be that we have

that answer should be that we have

that answer should be that we have responsibilities in our Republic and

responsibilities in our Republic and

responsibilities in our Republic and then it matters that we be in the arena

then it matters that we be in the arena

then it matters that we be in the arena in some way ourselves and not

in some way ourselves and not

in some way ourselves and not particularly at this time simply

particularly at this time simply

particularly at this time simply criticized and not act life is a canvas

criticized and not act life is a canvas

criticized and not act life is a canvas upon which we can paint meaning purpose

upon which we can paint meaning purpose

upon which we can paint meaning purpose we can express our ideas as to what

we can express our ideas as to what

we can express our ideas as to what there is that is worth doing we all have

there is that is worth doing we all have

there is that is worth doing we all have different and probably incomplete

different and probably incomplete

different and probably incomplete answers to these questions and those of

answers to these questions and those of

answers to these questions and those of us who are older should listen and learn

us who are older should listen and learn

us who are older should listen and learn from what some of our younger folks

from what some of our younger folks

from what some of our younger folks answers are especially at this stage of

answers are especially at this stage of

answers are especially at this stage of our lives and I am certainly eager to

our lives and I am certainly eager to

our lives and I am certainly eager to learn those answers what their answers

learn those answers what their answers

learn those answers what their answers are later in their lives too as their

are later in their lives too as their

are later in their lives too as their arenas expand and they

arenas expand and they

arenas expand and they grow with them good luck to our children

grow with them good luck to our children

grow with them good luck to our children and our future a lot of life is about

and our future a lot of life is about

and our future a lot of life is about showing up please show up thank you

showing up please show up thank you

showing up please show up thank you [Applause]

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