It’s common to hear the assertion that we have all the technology we need to avoid climate breakdown, and all that’s required is the political will to launch the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. These messages give the impression that little change is needed beyond our society’s carbon-intensive energy systems, allowing us to continue living essentially as we did before. There is significant reason to believe, however, that major changes to our lifestyles and culture are in fact necessary components of creating a sustainable society—and that a transition will be impossible without laying the groundwork for those changes.
Jan 10, 2023·edited Jan 10, 2023Liked by James R. Martin
Thank you, Aaron. Very helpful. More and more people are saying more or less what you're saying. It's important to have multiple voices, as this indicates the emerging transition culture of which you speak. My only issue is with your call for a new enlightenment. Iain Gilchrist's book, The Master and his Emissary demonstrates very clearly that despite a number of positive aspects, the enlightenment was the origin of the Cartesian dualistic culture, which bears much of the responsibility for our current predicament. Please consider calling for a new renaissance instead. Gilchrist shows how the creativity, spirituality and ingenuity of that phase is much more appropriate for the new transition culture that will lead to the eco civilisation we need to birth.
Thank you, Aaron. Very helpful. More and more people are saying more or less what you're saying. It's important to have multiple voices, as this indicates the emerging transition culture of which you speak. My only issue is with your call for a new enlightenment. Iain Gilchrist's book, The Master and his Emissary demonstrates very clearly that despite a number of positive aspects, the enlightenment was the origin of the Cartesian dualistic culture, which bears much of the responsibility for our current predicament. Please consider calling for a new renaissance instead. Gilchrist shows how the creativity, spirituality and ingenuity of that phase is much more appropriate for the new transition culture that will lead to the eco civilisation we need to birth.
Excellent article. I found myself highlighting most sentences until I had to give up