The Biggest Takeaways from the Logic of the Superorganism
Frankly #79
As we piece together the different facets of our reality, the systems synthesis which emerges confronts us with some uncomfortable truths. These are the advanced inferences rooted in the logic of The Great Simplification. They have important implications for our expectations about the future and how we should respond in the present.
In this Frankly, I revisit some key messages from this channel and delve into some of the more challenging takeaways. The logic of the Superorganism reveals why narrow focus on solutions while extrapolating current trends will be insufficient for addressing the most important issues of our time and why these will increasingly have to be championed proactively, creatively and indirectly instead. As the biophysical and social limits to growth become harder to ignore, The Great Simplification synthesis points us to a more realistic portrait of the future: one of less for the 'median' human. Facing these realities is neither easy nor pleasant, but as more people arrive at a species-level conversation, it is necessary. Only by doing so can we look and plan several steps ahead to change the initial conditions of the future, in service of life.
In what ways are free markets and technology ‘false gods’? How does the metabolic hierarchy of the Superorganism dictate what gets prioritised in global decision making? And what speed bumps lie ahead on the road to The Great Simplification?
In case you missed it…
This week, I was joined by Luke Kemp, a researcher whose work is focused on existential risks (or X-risks), which encompass threats of human extinction, societal collapse, and dystopian futures. How can we begin to understand the likelihood and gravity of these ruinous events, and what kinds of responses from people and governments could further undermine social cohesion and resilience?
If you appreciate The Great Simplification podcast…
Be sure to leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! Leaving reviews helps the podcast grow, which helps spread awareness of our systemic situation from experts in ecology, energy, policy, economics, technology, and community building so that we can better understand - and respond to - the challenges of the coming decade.
The Great Simplification podcast is produced by The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future (ISEOF), a 501(c)(3) organization. We want to keep all content completely free to view globally and without ads. If you’d like to support ISEOF and it’s content via donation, please use the link below.
"We have to fly up high enough to look at the aggregate probability of where we are going and what we are."
When I was a kid I loved the idea of space exploration as adventure. Over decades I learned adventure is not only exploring outwardly, but inwardly. When we go far enough inward we discover humanity is more than either Ego or Self. This is a salient species-level topic because it means human nature is not set in stone. Discovering what we are is more important than discovering who we are. What we are is an unknowable unknown.
I see a task of mature humanity is exploring such questions as "What is existence experienced without Ego?" "What is existence encountered without Self?" Such questions allows us to create a Non-Egoic Scientific Method capable of creating a world worthy of our children for millions of generations to the end of the sun.
A prerequisite for a species-level conversation is a willingness to identify, sideline, see-through, tame and even participate in the annihilation of both Ego and Self. Then, humanity is mature enough to survive with some technology in Oneness.