Chris, Ken, Klaus, Jerry and list
On Feb 27, 2009, at 9:08 PM, Ken Friedman wrote:
> Design involves both kinds of states. In design, as in most
> practices, what you write describes it well: "passion or flow states
> come, i think, only at fortunate moments that nevertheless make the
> whole process worthwhile."
Perhaps it is useful to link "passion" and intentionality and to
consider the duration and recurrence of the commitment involved. In my
view, passion is about doing something intensely in contexts where
opportunities for fulfillment exist. It is laden with values and
mediated by beliefs. It has a persistent focus, context, and
background built in the thinker's mind over time. It is also about
obtaining or achieving desirable objects whether these be artifacts,
relationships, behaviors, goals or the complexly rewarding feelings of
"flow". A passionate response to a person or situation of any kind is
an emotionally driven, positive, goal seeking commitment that isn't
accidental or determined by fortuitous events or satisfactions as the
comment might suggest. It involves an executive function of mind and
patterns that depend on the fit between affordances in focal
situations and the thinker's background, knowledge and values to
manifest high motivation. Some people are or become more passionate
than others. They respond passionately to different situations with
different knowledge and objectives. They are "self actuated" in
Maslow's terminology. Perhaps passions qualify and direct intentions
toward the objective of experiencing flow.
Interesting thread,
Chuck
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