Stable equilibrium: fashion trends. Any given possible trend is by default not in fashion. That’s what makes it a trend, when it does become fashionable. On a short timescale, though, the coalescing of a “trend” is a process of its own, producing a trend that feels like a short-term stable equilibrium before it ultimately breaks down. Ones’ relationship with fashion might be defined by whether one is focused more on the long-term or the short-term equilibrium.
Bistable equilibrium: promising research. Many major discoveries depend on the accumulation of evidence and theory over an extended period of time. Sometimes, that accumulation ultimately leads instead to the failure of an idea (priming research), other times to a resounding confirmation of its merit (evolution). In the middle, though, there is a period of uncertainty, both in terms of the truth of the idea and interest in studying it further. An idea being established and central enough to gain the support of the scientific establishment, yet new enough to motivate gathering more evidence, is a temporary yet steady-feeling state. One way to describe the role of the scientist is that they help to clear out topics from this state of uncertainty more quickly, so that new topics can enter it.
Dynamic equilibrium: food in the pantry. Although over time, the amount of food has an average, for real-world cooking decisions we go off the fleeting “steady state” of what precise foods are present in the fridge. On a shorter time scale, you’re dealing with temporary “steady states” like having plenty of X or being out of Y. When I check my fridge or pantry before going shopping, I make a judgment call about whether I have “plenty of butter” or “need to get more butter,” rather than quantifying the precise amount of butter I have and buying enough to restore some optimal amount.
Stable equilibrium: fashion trends. Any given possible trend is by default not in fashion. That’s what makes it a trend, when it does become fashionable. On a short timescale, though, the coalescing of a “trend” is a process of its own, producing a trend that feels like a short-term stable equilibrium before it ultimately breaks down. Ones’ relationship with fashion might be defined by whether one is focused more on the long-term or the short-term equilibrium.
Bistable equilibrium: promising research. Many major discoveries depend on the accumulation of evidence and theory over an extended period of time. Sometimes, that accumulation ultimately leads instead to the failure of an idea (priming research), other times to a resounding confirmation of its merit (evolution). In the middle, though, there is a period of uncertainty, both in terms of the truth of the idea and interest in studying it further. An idea being established and central enough to gain the support of the scientific establishment, yet new enough to motivate gathering more evidence, is a temporary yet steady-feeling state. One way to describe the role of the scientist is that they help to clear out topics from this state of uncertainty more quickly, so that new topics can enter it.
Dynamic equilibrium: food in the pantry. Although over time, the amount of food has an average, for real-world cooking decisions we go off the fleeting “steady state” of what precise foods are present in the fridge. On a shorter time scale, you’re dealing with temporary “steady states” like having plenty of X or being out of Y. When I check my fridge or pantry before going shopping, I make a judgment call about whether I have “plenty of butter” or “need to get more butter,” rather than quantifying the precise amount of butter I have and buying enough to restore some optimal amount.
I love the idea of defining one’s relation to fashion by focus on short-term vs long-term equilibrium.