Hey Daniel - I appreciate your honest "exploration" of this topic :). Below, I am going to rift on this with you. I might have misinterpreted or read a little between the lines or I am just projecting my own internal wrestling, so feel free to disagree.
I resonate with many aspects you've addressed, but I might perceive it somewhat differently. When you mention "exploration", my mind immediately associates it with "optionality" based on your descriptions and examples. While there's some overlap between the terms, I wonder if "exploration" is the best fit. Exploration, for me, isn't just an endless sea of choices. Sure, traits like flexibility, adaptability, and curiosity are essential. Yet, true exploration involves making choices driven by a vision, whether personal, external, or even divine.
Historical explorers always had a guiding force or vision. Be it Steve Jobs with computing, Columbus in search of China, or Musk's Martian aspirations. Their journeys may have yielded unexpected outcomes and messy paths, but a foundational vision or telos was always there. Without it, one merely skims the surface, perpetually glancing at the periphery, and always weighing other possibilities (FOMO?). And it's worth noting, I believe optimization can coexist with exploration. I'm sure Columbus's crew or the SpaceX team were constantly optimizing in their pursuits.
So, I'd propose a rethink on the dichotomy you've presented. Perhaps it's not about exploration versus optimization but rather "optionality" (endless choice) versus "obligation" or "necessity" (making a choice).
Hey Daniel - I appreciate your honest "exploration" of this topic :). Below, I am going to rift on this with you. I might have misinterpreted or read a little between the lines or I am just projecting my own internal wrestling, so feel free to disagree.
I resonate with many aspects you've addressed, but I might perceive it somewhat differently. When you mention "exploration", my mind immediately associates it with "optionality" based on your descriptions and examples. While there's some overlap between the terms, I wonder if "exploration" is the best fit. Exploration, for me, isn't just an endless sea of choices. Sure, traits like flexibility, adaptability, and curiosity are essential. Yet, true exploration involves making choices driven by a vision, whether personal, external, or even divine.
Historical explorers always had a guiding force or vision. Be it Steve Jobs with computing, Columbus in search of China, or Musk's Martian aspirations. Their journeys may have yielded unexpected outcomes and messy paths, but a foundational vision or telos was always there. Without it, one merely skims the surface, perpetually glancing at the periphery, and always weighing other possibilities (FOMO?). And it's worth noting, I believe optimization can coexist with exploration. I'm sure Columbus's crew or the SpaceX team were constantly optimizing in their pursuits.
So, I'd propose a rethink on the dichotomy you've presented. Perhaps it's not about exploration versus optimization but rather "optionality" (endless choice) versus "obligation" or "necessity" (making a choice).