Pendulum of Progress: Back and Forth

EJ Marey Geometric Chronophotograph 1883

Apparently, the human heel-first stride is quite a unique (and efficient) way of walking. Something our species only shares with bears and great apes. When we walk, the first thing that sets ground is the heel then the front. Most animals walk on the balls of their feet, while we humans land on our heel and push off on our toes. And back again…

To approach old challenges in valuable new ways

To me, this balancing back-and-forth phenomenon or ‘Human Pendulum’ as beautifully formulated in the research of Webber (2016), shines an intriguing light on the concept of (effectively and efficiently) moving forward, on progress and human evolution. Particularly in combination with another interesting phenomenon, brought to the surface by various scientific studies and brain (damage) research that examine the role of memory in imagination and future thinking including that of - among others - Okuda et al. (2003) and Schacter, Addis and Buckner (2007). Apparently, there is a striking overlap in brain activity when we think about the past and when we envision our futures, suggesting that we might need the stories of our memory system to ‘write’ future experiences. Or, to put it simple, we need to be able to look back to be able to look forward. Of course, keeping in mind that we are still discovering the many, many secrets of the cognitive functions of the brain, and, with all ongoing research, there are a lot of nuances as well as important differences and interpretations to take into account. But, is it possible that - because we seem to be focusing so much on the future nowadays - we have been walking/running on our toes for too long? And, to move forward, we need to touch base, go back first? Is our current direction, pace and process of progress been based on an unnatural stride forward?

Gratification of The Now

With (almost on a daily basis) ever-changing future scenario’s, the seduction of the now has also never been this strong. Technology and marketing trends are rapidly transforming and speeding up our steps while continuously feeding our neural networks’ the experience of instant gratification. Many seem to be searching for the next big thing or are in a race to be first, preferably sooner rather than later. However, is this short-term craving genuinely contributing to a sustainable long-term foundation? Or are we merely (becoming) addicted? A slave to impulses? Are we - consciously or unconsciously - losing our freedom of choice? 

In Ulysses Shoes

If that is the case, we might need to follow into Ulysses’ footsteps to prepare ourselves for the present-day Sirens' songs and gain back control of our ship. In order to do so, it is important to know not only today’s version of ourselves, but all possible realities; past, present and future. Otherwise, the steps we are taking now, based on short-term desires, an incomplete stride and one-way direction, guarantee will make us tumble down.

Whether or not our answers lie in the movement of the human pendulum, the influence of the Sirens' songs or the stories of our memory, definitely something to think about when taking a next step.

——————-

References
James T. Webber, David A. Raichlen. The role of plantigrady and heel-strike in the mechanics and energetics of human walking with implications for the evolution of the human foot. 
The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2016.

Okuda J, Fujii T, Ohtake H, Tsukiura T, Tanji K, Suzuki K, Kawashima R, Fukuda H, Itoh M, Yamadori A. Thinking of the future and past: the roles of the frontal pole and the medial temporal lobes. Neuroimage, 2003.

Schacter DL, Addis DR, Buckner RL. The prospective brain: Remembering the past to imaging the future. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2007.