Pamela Swanigan, an award-winning essayist and former university instructor, delves into the rhetoric of 'hopium' and its failures in addressing ecological overshoot. She critiques how children's literature reflects reverence for nature yet often succumbs to human exceptionalism. Pamela discusses the influence of Judeo-Christianity on our disconnect with nature, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous cultures in fostering resilience. Embracing J.R.R. Tolkien's 'long defeat,' she advocates for a courageous confrontation with ecological realities rather than delusional optimism.
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insights INSIGHT
Ecocriticism's Failure
Ecocriticism, the study of literature through an ecological lens, has become overly theoretical and academic.
It lacks the promised interdisciplinarity with life sciences, hindering a deeper understanding of nature in literature.
insights INSIGHT
Understanding Biophilia
Biophilia, the inherent human affinity for life and nature, is evident in our innate biases and preferences.
We are drawn to natural environments and react instinctively to other life forms.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Denialism at the Summit
Pamela Swanigan observed denial of biophilia and human exceptionalism among scientists.
This was observed at a summit, highlighting the disconnect between scientific thinking and ecological realities.
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In this book, Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams delve into the nature of hope through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue. Drawing on decades of Goodall's work, the book addresses vital questions about maintaining hope in challenging times. It outlines Goodall's 'Four Reasons for Hope': The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. The book also shares Goodall's personal journey, from her experiences during World War II to her years in Gombe and her role as a global advocate for environmental justice, including her profound revelations about her next and perhaps final adventure[1][3][5].
A short history of progress
Ronald Wright
In this book, Ronald Wright explores the concept of progress and its implications for civilizations. He uses examples from the fallen civilizations of Easter Island, Sumer, Rome, and the Maya, as well as the Stone Age, to illustrate how societies have repeatedly fallen into 'progress traps'—innovations that create new problems or exacerbate existing ones. Wright argues that the 10,000-year experiment of settled life has been characterized by environmental destruction and economic inequality, and he warns that modern society must adopt long-term thinking and environmental sustainability to avoid the fate of past civilizations[1][3][4].
Sacred Nature
Karen Armstrong
In 'Sacred Nature', Karen Armstrong draws on her vast knowledge of the world's religious traditions to re-sacralize nature for modern times. She argues that by recognizing the interconnectedness of all life, we can find a path forward to address the climate crisis. The book explores how ancient philosophies and religions viewed nature as sacred, inspiring readers to reconnect with the natural world.
The rhetoric of “hopium” is failing as ecological overshoot deepens. “Hopium”, a colloquial term that is a blend of the words “hope” and “opium” (as though it were a drug), represents a faith in technological and market-based solutions to address our multiple reinforcing crises, despite evidence to the contrary. We're living in the long defeat and we must own and confront it with courage. Award-winning essayist, Pamela Swanigan, joins us. Highlights include:
How children's literature is full of reverence for nature but children's literature analysis done in the academy is dominated by the perspective of human exceptionalism;
The role that Judeo-Christianity has played in promoting the worldview of human exceptionalism while destroying the millennia-old biophilic and animistic belief systems;
Why Pamela was astonished that she won the Berggruen Prize Essay Competition given the magical thinking of human exceptionalism and techno-solutionism embodied by the attendees;
Social reformer and US Commissioner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs John Collier’s concept of the 'long hope'- that indigenous cultures and their nature-sacralizing beliefs could help humanity survive after the collapse of techno-industrial civilization;
Why the delusional and pervasive rhetoric of hope among social change advocates (such as Jane Goodall and David Suzuki) defies evidence, and why we must embrace JRR Tolkien's concept of the 'long defeat' in order to courageously fight against ecological destruction and social injustice.
See episode website for show notes, links, and transcript:
OVERSHOOT tackles today’s interlocked social and ecological crises driven by humanity’s excessive population and consumption. The podcast explores needed narrative, behavioral, and system shifts for recreating human life in balance with all life on Earth. With expert guests from wide-ranging disciplines, we examine the forces underlying overshoot: from patriarchal pronatalism that is fueling overpopulation, to growth-biased economic systems that lead to consumerism and social injustice, to the dominant worldview of human supremacy that subjugates animals and nature. Our vision of shrinking toward abundance inspires us to seek pathways of transformation that go beyond technological fixes toward a new humanity that honors our interconnectedness with all beings.
Hosted by Nandita Bajaj and Alan Ware. Brought to you by Population Balance.
OVERSHOOT | Shrink Toward Abundance 
