Perdix was the name of Icarus's nephew and Daedalus's apprentice. The word "Perdix" has meaning in Greek, and it has influenced words in various languages, including the international language. In Greek, the word "Perdix" (Περδίκκας) is composed of two words: "peri" (περί) meaning "around" or "concerning," and "dike" (δίκη) meaning "justice" or "judgment." Therefore, the meaning of the name "Perdix" is "he who cares for justice" or "he who surrounds justice." The name "Perdix" was common in ancient Greece.
From the Greek word "Perdix," words in various languages have been derived, such as Perdrix in French and English, where it is the name of the partridge bird, which runs on the ground but is unable to fly.
In these languages, the word "prediction" is also derived from the word "Perdix," meaning prophecy or forecasting.
In philosophy and literature, the word "prediction" is used to describe the process of predicting or forecasting future events based on existing knowledge. The word also symbolizes the search for justice and truth, the desire to understand the world and act morally.
Perdix was the son of Daedalus's sister, and he learned the art of construction and engineering from his uncle. He was a very talented young man, a brilliant student, and even invented innovative tools like the saw. Unfortunately, his story ended in tragedy: Daedalus, who felt jealous of his nephew's talent and feared that he would take the place of his beloved but slower natural son, Icarus, pushed Perdix from the roof of the temple of Athena. The goddess of wisdom took pity on Perdix and turned him into the bird named after him - the partridge. Afterward, Daedalus and Icarus fled to Crete. As punishment for the murder, Daedalus was ultimately condemned to witness the death of Icarus falling from the sky with the wings he had built for him.
Sometimes parents want their children to fulfill at all costs the dreams that they themselves failed to achieve. The father wants his son to continue the marathon race that he started but failed to finish. Now it is the son's turn to continue from that point and win. There is a significant difference between the desire for the son to fulfill the father's dreams at all costs and the desire for the son to conservatively take his place. Continuing the path at all costs reflects an expectation that the son will fulfill the father's hidden dreams and desires, which is what Daedalus sought for his natural son Icarus to fulfill. The worldview that reflects an expectation that the son will conservatively fill the role that the father filled and inherit his profession and status is similar to the role that Perdix filled. Both approaches, if not balanced, can lead to a tragic end. The story of Daedalus, Perdix, and Icarus may serve as a warning sign and illuminate the complexity of transferring legacy and expectations between generations.
The character of Perdix, in the context of the invention of the saw, teaches about the preference for systematicity and immediacy over the aspiration to fulfill dreams. Daedalus was the son of the king of Athens, and it is possible that his true desire was to be the heir to the throne. Perdix, on the other hand, represented a more practical and rational approach, aimed at achieving control and order in the world. His character can be interpreted as representing the practical and rational side of human nature. Unlike Daedalus, he is not drawn to big dreams or long-term plans. He prefers the immediate, the obvious, what can be achieved here and now. The saw, as a working tool, symbolizes dismantling and cutting. Icarus, on the other hand, following his father's desire, represents the desire for freedom and breaking boundaries. He prefers the dramatic experience, even at the cost of risk and self-destruction.
Organizations constantly face the need to make decisions, both small and large. Often, these decisions involve a dilemma between maintaining the status quo and innovating and taking risks. The characters of Perdix and Icarus are suitable to serve as different metaphors for the ways in which organizations approach the decision-making process:
Perdix represents the analytical approach, the attempt to predict the future. Organizations that operate like Perdix invest significant resources in collecting and analyzing data to make informed and rational decisions. This approach can lead to growth and innovation, but also to paralysis and slow decision-making. These organizations prefer to stay in their comfort zone and make decisions based on prior knowledge and experience. This approach can be effective in the short term, but it can lead to stagnation and lack of development in the long run.
Icarus, on the other hand, represents the innovative approach, the desire to fulfill dreams and break boundaries. Organizations that operate like Icarus encourage creativity, initiative, and risk-taking. This approach can lead to breakthroughs and the creation of significant value, but also to failures and painful falls. Like Icarus, these organizations strive for innovation and are not afraid to take risks. This approach can lead to dazzling success, but it also carries the risk of failure.
Despite their revolutionary contribution, inventions like the jet plane and the video cassette can also be seen as examples of the preference for immediacy. Similar to the saw, which allows for quick cutting and dismantling, the video cassette and the jet plane offer quick and efficient solutions to human needs. These inventions allow people to control time and space, streamline processes, and shape reality according to their wishes. Both inventions contributed to the rise of consumer culture, where the immediate satisfaction of desires becomes a central value.
Before the invention of the video cassette, watching movies was limited to screening times in cinemas or television broadcasts. The video cassette made it possible to watch movies anytime, anywhere, immediately, without dependence on an external schedule. It gave the viewer complete control over the content, with the ability to pause, rewind, and jump between different segments.
The jet plane dramatically shortened flight times and made it possible to reach distant destinations quickly and easily. It allowed people to overcome the limitations of time and space and experience the world immediately and in the present, and it significantly contributed to the processes of globalization, which are characterized, among other things, by the rapid pace of information and goods exchange.
Daedalus pushes Perdix from the roof to his death,
and the goddess transforms him into a partridge during his fall.
