Cancer cell behavior is actually following rational self-interest defined by the game theoretics of if I stop being a cancer cell the body's still going to die right because I can't stop everybody else from doing it. If we don't cut the trees down but we don't have some rule of law that makes sure nobody does then all it means is the other tribe that's in competition with us cuts all the trees down and they'll use that economic advantage against us in the next tribal warfare and we're screwed. We've never solved anything that matters ecologically or socially like there are some times where people out of concern for the commons have went against some profit stream, he says.
In this fourth installment of conversations with Daniel Schmachtenberger, we dive deeper into the nuances of humans using energy, materials and technology. Human’s ability to develop and use tools is one of our greatest strengths - yet has also led to increasing destruction of the natural world. How does technology intensify the binding effects of a world order based on growth? Is there any way out - or could global solutions just make the problem worse?
About Daniel Schmachtenberger:
Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue.
The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.
Towards these ends, he’s had particular interest in the topics of catastrophic and existential risk, civilization and institutional decay and collapse as well as progress, collective action problems, social organization theories, and the relevant domains in philosophy and science.
For Show Notes and Transcript visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/42-daniel-schmachtenberger