In this engaging discussion, best-selling author Sarah Wilson dives deep into the concept of societal collapse and what we can do about it. With a rich background in research and a keen focus on both Western and Indigenous theories, she critiques outdated linear thinking and the dangers of toxic masculinity. Sarah makes a compelling case for community resilience and the need for moral frameworks in times of crisis. She also re-evaluates climate activism, advocating for innovative economic models like degrowth to pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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insights INSIGHT
World in Crisis
The world is in crisis due to collapsing complex systems and a linear mindset.
We attempt to solve problems by standing above them instead of getting entangled.
insights INSIGHT
Moloch Theory
Moloch theory explains our inability to solve problems despite ingenuity and technology.
We make short-term sacrifices that lead to collective suffering, like with AI and the climate crisis.
insights INSIGHT
Individualism's Downfall
Capitalism and neoliberalism promote individualism and remove moral boundaries.
Humans, inherently selfish yet needing community, are destroying themselves without these checks and balances.
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The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
Iain McGilchrist
This book argues that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, allowing for two incompatible versions of the world. The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, while the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility, and generosity. McGilchrist takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists from ancient to modern times. He argues that the increasing dominance of the left hemisphere in today’s world has potentially disastrous consequences.
The Cat in the Hat
Dr.Suess
The story follows the Cat in the Hat, a tall anthropomorphic cat in a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie, who visits two children, Sally and her brother, on a rainy day when their mother is away. Despite the objections of their pet fish, the Cat shows the children various tricks and introduces his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, causing chaos in the house. However, just before the mother returns, the Cat cleans up the mess using a machine. The book is known for its simple vocabulary, basic rhyme, and colorful illustrations, making it a favorite among children and parents alike.
The Lorax
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
The Lorax is a story about the Once-ler, a businessman who arrives in a flourishing forest of Truffula trees and begins to chop them down to build a garment called a Thneed. Despite the protests of the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, the Once-ler continues his destructive activities, leading to the devastation of the environment and the displacement of the wildlife. The story highlights the consequences of unchecked industrialization and the importance of environmental conservation. The book concludes with a message of hope, as the Once-ler passes on the last Truffula tree seed to a young boy, encouraging him to restore the forest and bring back the Lorax and his friends.
The s**t’s hit the fan.
We can’t turn the fan off, argues best-selling author Sarah Wilson. But we can learn how to clean up the mess.
Sarah, author, podcaster and creator of the This is Precious newsletter, has been on a similar journey to me. Four years of interview experts, research and writing on a topic the mainstream refuse to engage with: collapse. She joins me to discuss exactly that. What’s going on, how we got here, and what we can do about it.
This conversation weaves Western and indigenous theories, examining everything from Moloch theory and the Church to Tech Bro eugenics. We end by discussing crisis as turning point and opportunity, and how to spread the right ideas so that, when the time comes, the right ones are lying around in the ashes, ready to be used.
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