Governments and institutions expect constant economic growth of 2.5-3% annually, based on the link between atoms (materials) and GDP growth being nearly one-to-one. With a current energy-GDP ratio of 0.99-1 globally and a materials-GDP ratio of close to one, the growth in material footprint has been 2.8% annually since 1900. If growth continues at 3% annually, global energy and material usage will double in the next 25-30 years and then double again after that. This unsustainable trend poses a serious problem that requires cultural response and deeper consideration.
On this episode we meet with founding member of The Consilience Project, Daniel Schmachtenberger.
In the second of a four-part series, Nate and Daniel explore the relationship between energy, information, technology, the Superorganism, and the maximum power principle.
How can we maximize returns on agency? Nate and Daniel explain the importance of hyper agents: those humans who have an outsized influence on what’s happening in the world.
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/20-daniel-schmactenberger