Very well said, Meredith, and thank you! Seneca's Natural Questions are explicitly directed at understanding nature, as the better we understand nature, the closer we come to the divine. I'm like you, always wanting to know the name - as if the name can help us to know something better - but indeed, if we don't even know the name, we have no 'handle' with which to investigate further. I remember - not too many years ago - seeing 'as if for the first time' (Seneca's 'tanquam spectator novus,' well, 'nova' for me) the blue-banded bee. It was first named by Europeans in the 1790s, although no doubt named before that by indigenous Australians. That in itself was a glimpse into history. Ever since, I've been more open to observing and learning about insects: it's truly a productive cycle of observing, learning, and observing more closely.
Thank you for this insightful comment, Judith! And very interesting about Seneca and your observations about the blue-banded bee. Your description of the cycle of observing, learning, and observing more closely rings true to me!
Very well said, Meredith, and thank you! Seneca's Natural Questions are explicitly directed at understanding nature, as the better we understand nature, the closer we come to the divine. I'm like you, always wanting to know the name - as if the name can help us to know something better - but indeed, if we don't even know the name, we have no 'handle' with which to investigate further. I remember - not too many years ago - seeing 'as if for the first time' (Seneca's 'tanquam spectator novus,' well, 'nova' for me) the blue-banded bee. It was first named by Europeans in the 1790s, although no doubt named before that by indigenous Australians. That in itself was a glimpse into history. Ever since, I've been more open to observing and learning about insects: it's truly a productive cycle of observing, learning, and observing more closely.
Also, your pics of the hike are spectacular!
Thank you for this insightful comment, Judith! And very interesting about Seneca and your observations about the blue-banded bee. Your description of the cycle of observing, learning, and observing more closely rings true to me!