I have been working to understand the world.  My methods have included a lot of reading and thinking about various subjects.  Thinking and meditating while walking has produced moments of insight along the way.  It appears that we are all connected at a very basic level.  I am looking at how this interconnectedness works to produce the world we live in.

My primary interest area right now is in discovering how people change.  I am working with a dataset that represents a set of criminal offender risk scores that were collected over a period of several years.  These scores show patterns of chaos in the lives of criminal offenders.  If you would like to read more about this work, check out the work in progress link on the left.

Worldview:  I take the position of a re-visionary postmodernist as described by Thomas Jay Oord.  I believe that the current worldview adopted by many of the earth's citizens will not be able to fully explain the true nature of reality.  The current worldview is based upon a Newtonian cause and effect model, and essentially ignores the interrelatedness and nonlinear dynamics of the universe.  I suggest that a re-visioning process be undertaken that takes current research and theory and reapplies it through a holistic nonlinear dynamic lens.

I do not disagree with deconstructionists, who argue that there is no underlying theory that can be used to explain the world.  I take the position of the Tao, that a complete understanding of the world can only be felt, and not expressed.  This is best said, "The way that can be told is not the true way."

Given that there is no way to understand the universe through words, I believe that the theories of self-organization and complexity can provide a suitable framework for coming closer to understanding the world.  These theoretical positions are at least able to account for the holistic and nonlinear nature of the universe.

I share, with much of the human race, a desire to solve problems.  I will argue that this problem solving, in itself, is part of the reason we have the problems we see in the world.  We make bigger problems by trying to solve smaller problems.  For instance, we created global warming by trying to solve the problem of how to travel faster and easier (automobiles, etc.) If the world is ever to become sane, the process of problem solving needs to be recognized and directed.  We, as a species, need to start choosing the problems we give ourselves.

Areas of Interest:  I have a wide ranging number of interests, but they primarily fall under the headings of criminology, psychology, sociology, and complexity theory.  I have been working for a number of years to try to develop a sane criminal justice policy.  My efforts have been primarily directed at understanding and helping criminal offenders.  I believe that I am getting closer to understanding, but am still not completely clear how to help.

The "problem" is that criminal behavior is a systemic condition that arises from many different factors.  These factors must first be recognized and understood if real progress is to be made in reducing the level and severity of criminal behavior.  Efforts made to directly control criminal behavior will probably continue to make things worse until a more complete understanding is achieved.

Where to Go: If you are interested in learning more about my work in criminology and nonlinear dynamics, check out the work in progress link on the left.  I am trying to support myself in this amateur effort through a number of self directed initiatives.  These can be found under the links for "My day job" and  "Land for sale."  I do help support a couple of local non-profits who are also working on ex-offender and inmate issues, and those links are on the left.  If you are interested in learning more, check out the "Links" to other sites.

What do you think?: I am interested in developing relationships with like minded and not so like minded individuals.  Please feel free to let me know what you think about this site, and these efforts.  I am not so naive as to believe that I have all of the answers, and I am looking for input and discussion.

Tom Arnold