In essence, it represents the natural human reaction to a Power Vacuum.
I may comment primarily on Physics, for this blog, but my audience should understand that economically I am a Professional Investor. Sure, I know physics and you will, by now, understand that I am opinionated (Ed. No, really? Ed. Yes, you Dozy Bastard!).
However, from a professional, earn my crust, battle-proven, perspective I am an Investor and Trader. The last qualification, the single word Trader, is significant.
Emphatically, it means I am a Turncoat.
I would just as happily buy you as sell you. Not You specifically, but my inventory exposed to the thoughts and actions of you as I perceive them. If I see a glut of Bananas coming then I will certainly sell you Bananas.
However, mostly, I will not appear eager to do so.
Why would I want you to know that I have too many bananas?
Well, even that depends. Perhaps you are a great customer and I will warn you?
Then again, perhaps not!
That is the thing about traders. They are, well, Traders. You can trust them but only if you move with the times. I say this because very many people despise traders. They say: Why do you first sell me bananas and now lemons?
Er, you got good grades in school: Work it Out!
Back to the War of Succession.
What has this historical phenomenon (repeated over and over and over again) have to do with trading? It is very simple. People are made differently, which is a Good Thing. Traders know which way the wind blows and when it blows they Change.
They have a knack for self-preservation. Like a Cat, they land on their feet. They are non-aligned and say things that will certainly piss off: Somebody – All of the Time.
You do not actually need many such people. Their function is limited and their craft is very murky. On the other hand, you do need many stalwart people who more or less assume humanity is: Well-Directed – Most of the Time.
In Roman terms, these people are the proverbial Salt of the Earth. They are good, hard-working, caring people who contribute actively to progress.
They are the Bulk of Society.
However, let me remind you of a strange geological fact.
Every so often, the magnetic field of the Earth reverses. What was the North magnetic pole becomes the South and vice-versa. I mention this fact, not because of any mystical connotation, but to explain for what reason a War of Succession happens. The majority of folks have no interest in Hacking the Kernel of Human Nature. However, if you want to be a good Trader, and certainly if you crave Excellence, you must.
When the magnetic field of the Earth reverses… that is a War of Succession.
People seek security in Authority because they are generally good, hard-working souls. They rightfully expect that authority, certainly Authority of Noble Descent, will reward them for their labor. That is reasonable, and the normal state of affairs.
Beware though! When the stars realign and the field switches polarity then: The Old Allegiances are Thrown into Chaos. The Ancient Greeks knew this well, from bitter experience, and invented a bunch of Remedies.
Tragedy, Poetry, Philosophy and many other sundry diversions including Wine!
Modern Man is ill equipped for the present shift in thinking. It takes many forms and is near Universal. Contrary to a bunch of popular nonsense, it has nothing to do with The Mayans, Astrology, Disaster, or the Urgent Need for Nuclear Weapons to Fry Incoming Asteroids. However, it has everything to do with finding new productive ways to live.
When traditionally productive activities are threatened then the Good Folk, who make things happen, who care little for hacking human nature, feel threatened. Indeed, they are Restless for a Reason.
The old ways of living are not working and so there is desperate search for New Authority. Often that involves the Canonizing of, or Demonizing of, Old Authority.
Just like Football Teams! This is Our Time, Right Now.
In such times, it pays to know History.
The title of this blog: The War of the Copenhagen Succession betrays my concern.
I see a great Foment of Activity about a simple fact: Modern Physics is in Crisis. It has just this year progressed from Theories of Everything to Theories of Nothing. This is a manifestation of Social Crisis. Niels Bohr, with help from Werner Heisenberg, gave us the quite useful Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. This concerns our deepest and most mysterious theory of how Nature works.
However, that theory is old now… 85 or 100 years old, depending on how you count it. Humanity has grown out of it, and asks questions which the theory denies entirely.
Ergo… the geomagnetic field reversed and that World View is Toast.
Like all theories it was and is a Mental Construct. It is an impermanent Approximation to Truth. However, folks do not comprehend how the picture we employ of the world may well turn on a dime. They do not concern themselves with philosophical nonsense!
One year the earth is flat, the next it is round and we have potatoes.
This perplexes folks and leads to Wars of Succession. If now the world is round and we have Potatoes, what is to become of my Aubergines?
Shall I mount a protest and Storm the Bastille?
My advice, as a Trader, is: Never Fight Change.
If the mind of the physicist should move – like a Star Quake – from contemplation of Theories of Nothing in the direction of Theories of Something then do not fight it.
Just work out what people will Buy in that New World!
Even better, if you really want to survive, be the Agent of Change.
The Eye of the Storm is the Calmest Place in God’s Firmament.
Just wrote a note to myself not to read you blog posts while drinking a full mug of hot coffee, can get dangerous.
Also, I am not sure I’ll ever buy bananas from you ….
Hi there! This article could not be written
much better! Looking through this article reminds
me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about
this. I most certainly will send this article to him.
Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank
you for sharing!