The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

7 Philosophies on the Future | Frankly 77

Nov 22, 2024

Delve into the intriguing polarities we face as we navigate an uncertain future. Explore seven unique philosophies that shape our outlook on survival, growth, and ecological concerns. Discover how understanding diverse perspectives can foster meaningful conversations, especially during the holiday season. Examine the impact of fears and aspirations—like colonizing Mars or preventing societal collapse—on our beliefs about the future. Lastly, contemplate the impossibility of predicting outcomes with certainty and the importance of listening to others.

09:50

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Diverse philosophical frameworks shape our understanding of the future, emphasizing the need for empathy in discussions about differing perspectives on growth or decline.

The critical debate between growth and degrowth underscores the necessity for proactive planning to avoid ecological collapse and societal conflict.

Deep dives

Diverse Perspectives on the Future

People have varying views on the future based on their values and priorities, which can be categorized into seven distinct philosophical frameworks. The first three categories reflect a focus on immediate needs, an uncritical extrapolation of past trends, or a belief in infinite human growth and expansion across the universe. This last viewpoint, while optimistic, often overlooks the limits imposed by natural resources and ecological systems. Each perspective shapes how individuals perceive future challenges and opportunities, highlighting the importance of acknowledging these differences during discussions about future planning.

Seven Philosophical Perspectives on the Future

10min

(Recorded November 12, 2024)

In last week’s Frankly, Nate shared his thoughts on some of the polarities we’ll need to harmonize as we journey towards a more uncertain world. As the holidays approach for many, we will face these “polarities” head-on in relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. How could imagining the different perspectives of others allow us to have more meaningful and empathic conversations about the future?

In today’s Frankly, Nate highlights seven views of the future and how broadening our awareness to include others’ starting points might allow for greater discourse and understanding. How we view the future stems from what we care about and our expectations for humanity – from needing to stay focused solely on daily struggles to believing we’re on an endless path towards living outside our own solar system. Perhaps an even bigger factor is whether we believe we can change the trajectory of the future or if our species is simply stuck on a predetermined outcome.

How do common beliefs and fears for the future - such as colonizing Mars, degrowth, societal collapse, or climate catastrophes - shape our philosophies for the future? And while many of us may think that we have a strong synthesis of our economic, ecological, and geopolitical realities, why should we think that any one of us can predict the future with 100% certainty? Finally, how could we use these lenses when listening to others - and take a first step in a likely “bend not break” future?

Show Notes and More

Watch this video episode on YouTube

---

Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future

Join our Substack newsletter

Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners