:Analogies for Sustainable Development/Adaptive flexibility as grass in the wind
Appearance
| “ | The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than
the mighty oak which breaks in a storm. |
” |
| — Confucius | ||

Overview
[edit | edit source]Analogy Map
[edit | edit source]| Reed in the wind | Adaptive flexibility |
|---|---|
| Wind | Changes in the environment |
| Being physically flexible to bend | Being behaviorally, psychologically, and/or socioculturally flexible to adapt |
| Not breaking | Surviving, flourishing, living towards one's values |
Discussion
[edit | edit source]This analogy serves as a simple way to introduce the target concept of adaptive flexibility and resilience across contexts.
Class discussion questions: What are the paralells between the physical flexibility or rigidity of plants, and the mental or social flexibility of humans?