[Analysis of history and science influence on political and religious attitudes.]

Limits. I was watching a segment on the Mariana Trench, which got me to wondering. How deep is deep? How far is space? Just what are the limits? How did they get set? Can they be changed?

The Mariana Trough is up to 11,000 meters below the ocean’s surface. That is a deep ditch. It is the deepest natural location on earth. The deepest manmade hole was the Kola Borehole to gather data on the earth’s crust drilled from 1970 – 1989 by Russia. The second deepest is in the US. The Bertha Rogers well at 9583 meters (31,441 feet) was drilled in the Anadarko Basin near Burns Flat in western Oklahoma during 1972 – 1974. It encountered pressures of 25,000 psi and hit a molten sulfur pit that melted the drill bit. At the time, I was working for another oil company which drilled two similar wells in the Anadarko Basin. These were exploratory gas wells drilled and paid for by private investment of the companies. The comment at the time from our drilling superintendant was the wells did not make enough gas to blow out a match. Exploration at the limits is expensive.

Where are limits derived? There are personal, societal, and physical also called natural limits. Personal limits, including fear, keep individuals from accomplishing all they could. Others often see our capabilities better than we do. Why do we not finish that advanced degree, license, or other contemplated goal? As an educator we know you can, but the fruit is often just missed. Athletes in their field know how to push the limits to set new records, if for no other reason than personal best. We have a son and a grandson who are power weightlifters, with many records between them, just because they want to. They are also engineers.

Societal limits are imposed rules, but not necessarily written laws, which try to force individuals to conformity. Every generation challenges the tradition of the old-timers. I recall in our era, ‘never trust anyone over thirty.’ Yes, the non-conformity of youth is a conformity to their contemporaries. There is a challenge between rejecting all history and rejecting the irrelevant. History persists for a reason, it is the collective memory of what worked or did not.

Societal limits include religion and philosophy, which answers questions that we cannot answer. On close inspection, these are strongly correlated to history of what has worked for society for long periods of time. Much of religion is restricted to a particular societal culture. Amazingly, Judeo-Christian is the only one that has successfully moved cross cultural around the world, for as long as recorded history. By its own words, its limits are simple: love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. That is stark contrast to hate, destroy, and kill anyone not like you.

Physical limits are defined by what is called natural law. First law, ‘there ain’t no free lunch.’ Second law, ‘every process runs downhill.’ Third law, ‘at the limit, everything goes to zero’ or we all die. Many years ago, we published research about the apparently thirteen natural laws, which includes life and its biological reproduction. Everything derives from these or is a variation. These are not laws any individual or society wrote. They are observable and defined. Fascinatingly, the so-called religious laws are just another explanation of the fundamental natural laws. If for no other reason, that alone is enough to rationalize Judeo-Christian ethics.

Since few people study the calculus or deep dive into the foundational research, we just accept the principles by faith or belief. It is no different than you believe your cellphone will work, and use it, but cannot design one. Eschew the longest recorded religion at your hazard.

One more calculus illustration may clarify. My co-author is an artist and detests math. We made an agreement a long, long time ago. I would make the money and she would spend it. Do not worry that it is math, but in calculus we use a simple statement. The summation of all the little changes from the lower limit to the upper limit gives the result. Whether discussing personal, societal, or physical limits, it is the same. The lower limit is chaos, the upper limit is majestic, with everything in between as levels of mundane. Plant that in your mind.

A year ago, the country and its leadership was in chaos. The now President demands wearing a suit and living majestic. The entire world in short order is in much better attitude, economic growth, and hope.

Think about it. How far are you willing to go? The natural laws that work are in place. Success comes from doing what works. You set your limits. It is your choice.