On Tuesday one of the last subjects we discussed was Precautionary and Proactionary. More often than not Proactionary people and thinkers create and do things without fully understanding the capabilities and consequences of their thoughts or creations. Precautionary people and thinkers are all about understanding the consequences of what "COULD" happen.
The creation and use of the Atomic Bomb during WWII is a good example of Proactionary thoughts put into action. The creation and use of the Atomic Bomb was deemed necessary to end WWII. Today, everyone knows the consequences of using the Atomic Bomb but in 1944-1945 the future consequences of their actions was either not thought out all the way to conclusion or my favorite "couldn't truly be understood. My grandfather was a WWII veteran so I have always argued that the atomic bomb was the used appropriately because it indeed did end the war. In the last few years, with thoughts of terrorism popping up left and right, I have thought what may have transpired if the US never created or used the atomic bomb. But that is a thought of speculation and opinion...
Global Warming is an example of Precautionary thinking. Scientists have been studying the Earth and its atmosphere for years. They understand what hurts our environment and what benefits it. Scientists know what we as a people need to do to prevent the melting of polar ice caps, the extinction of wild life, and the thinning of the ozone layer. Activists and scientists have been arguing for the reduction of the burning of fossil fuels and to limit the off shore oil drilling rigs. They have pushed for the used of hydrogen fuel cells, wind energy, electric power, and so forth. This principle psychologically defines those who assess the consequences before preparing to turn a thought into reality.
These two principles were created to differentiate between two types of thinking, those who go for it no matter what, and those who step back in fear of what may happen. Precautionary and proactionary minds surround elected officials for the specific purpose of presenting both sides of an idea.
So which one are you? Are you a person who engages in a thought or activity before thinking about what could happen or are you the type of person who thinks all the way and even beyond the conclusion of your actions?
This is very interesting, and I never gave this much thought before today. I am definately a procautionary thinker most of the time. However, I think that most people are both. It is a balance between caring and having the newest and greatest technology. Some people are aware that they are destroying the planet, but they fail to care because they are so caught up with what is going on here and now. I feel there is constantly a power struggle between countries and even normal people. Everyone wants to have the best of the best. Does this mean that they are proactionary people? Or do they simply just not care? Is there a difference?
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that I am a bit of both. I usually tend to think things through though, so I would most likely lean heavily towards precautionary. There are always those times, though, when over thinking a problem can cause a person to fail to act. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith and act out of instinct.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is a place for both but I personally agree more with being proactionary. I just feel that it makes more sense and I feel that in the end you can get a lot more done that way.
ReplyDelete