The Purpose of the University

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I've read a paper on altruism and how when people were shown an example of someone else being altruistic, they were like 300 times more likely to do altruistic acts themselves. And I think maybe in these alternative economic systems or alternative ways of interacting with others, we lack imagination. We don't see what's possible. So if we can see other people doing it, it's like Josh Farley says, just when you go to the health club, you lift weights to flex your muscles. The same thing is with cooperation and community and sharing and interacting with others. You have to flex those muscles.

On this episode, Nate is joined by Sustainability Science and Policy Professor Jon Erickson. He and Nate dive into Jon’s new book The Progress Illusion: Reclaiming our Future from the Fairytale of Economics, which covers the economic myths that have shaped our modern reality. How can we reshape the narrative and shift the paradigm towards different economic systems that promote human and ecological well-being over material consumption?

About Jon Erickson:

Jon Erickson is the David Blittersdorf Professor of Sustainability Science & Policy at the University of Vermont. He has published widely on energy and climate change policy, land conservation, watershed planning, environmental public health, and the theory and practice of ecological economics. He advised presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on economics and energy issues.