Presented by Jeremy Lent

Transcription

1 Presented by Jeremy Lent

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3 Increasing numbers of component parts Source: Cynthia Stokes Brown, The Meaning of Big History, Philosophically Speaking, Origins VI 1, January 2016

4 Interact with increased flows of energy Increasing numbers of component parts Source: Cynthia Stokes Brown, The Meaning of Big History, Philosophically Speaking, Origins VI 1, January 2016

5 Complexity increases Interact with increased flows of energy Increasing numbers of component parts Source: Cynthia Stokes Brown, The Meaning of Big History, Philosophically Speaking, Origins VI 1, January 2016

6 Something novel and more complex emerges Complexity increases Interact with increased flows of energy Increasing numbers of component parts Source: Cynthia Stokes Brown, The Meaning of Big History, Philosophically Speaking, Origins VI 1, January 2016

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9 Increasing complexity Increasing complexity

10 Increasing complexity Increasing complexity

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12 Geographic variation in whether, or when, the peoples of different continents became farmers and herders explains to a large extent their subsequent contrasting fates. Jared Diamond Author, Guns, Germs, and Steel Source: Jared Diamond. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (Kindle Locations ) London: Vintage, 2005.

13 Culture, values, and beliefs were unimportant [in explaining history].... Seek the reason why the West rules entirely in brute, material forces.... It is geography that explains why the West rules. Ian Morris, Author, Why the West Rules For Now Source: Morris, Ian. Why the West Rules For Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future. New York: Picador, 2010.

14 19 th century French naturalist, George Leopold Cuvier

15 The Caucasian race has given rise to the most civilized nations, to those which have generally held the rest in subjection. 19 th century French naturalist, George Leopold Cuvier Cited in McEvilley, T. (2002). The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies. New York: Allworth Press, xxi, xxiv.

16 Continental Axes From: Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel

17 Environment Culture

18 Environment Culture

19 Environment Culture

20 Environment History Culture

21 Environment Culture

22 Theory of culture and environment Applications to Thresholds 6-8 Threshold 9 The Future?

23 Theory of culture and environment Applications to Thresholds 6-8 Threshold 9 The Future?

24 Environment Poses problems Organisms Solve problems Evolution

25 Environment Poses problems Organisms Solve problems Evolution

26 Environment Poses problems Organisms Solve problems Evolution

27 Environment Organisms

28 Environment Organisms

29 Environment Organisms

30 Environment Evolution Organisms

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32 Non-stick leg coating Light weight Locomotion

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34 Human Genome Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

35 Human Genome INCREASED COMPLEXITY RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture

36 Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome INCREASED COMPLEXITY RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture

37 Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

38 Capability for symbolic thought Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

39 Emergence of language Capability for symbolic thought Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

40 Thoughts, feelings, emotions, ideas

41 Language Shared symbolic network of meaning Metaphors w Values Thoughts, feelings, emotions, ideas Myths w Worldviews

42 Further frontal lobe expansion Emergence of language Capability for symbolic thought Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

43 Further frontal lobe expansion Ever-increasing complexity Emergence of language Capability for symbolic thought Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

44 Further frontal lobe expansion Ever-increasing complexity Emergence of language MODERN HUMANS EARLIER HOMINIDS Capability for symbolic thought Expansion of frontal lobes Human Genome More complex social interaction Nonverbal mimetic culture Human Culture RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY

45 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE

46 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Solutions to environmental problems: w Tools w w Food preparation w w Resources w

47 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Solutions to environmental problems: w Tools w w Food preparation w w Resources w Constructions of meaning and values : w Myths w w Gods w w Cosmology w

48 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Solutions to environmental problems: w Tools w w Food preparation w w Resources w RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY Constructions of meaning and values : w Myths w w Gods w w Cosmology w

49 Environment Culture

50 Einkorn Weak husks spontaneously shatter Good for propagation Bad for harvesting

51 Wheat Einkorn Weak husks spontaneously shatter Good for propagation Bad for harvesting Strong husks don t shatter Bad for propagation Good for harvesting

52 Farming Wheat Einkorn Weak husks spontaneously shatter Good for propagation Bad for harvesting Strong husks don t shatter Bad for propagation Good for harvesting

53 Hunter-gatherers Nomadic Egalitarian values Sharing economy

54 Agriculture Hunter-gatherers Nomadic Egalitarian values Sharing economy Settled Hierarchical values Property rights

55 Dominance Large communities Greater resources Higher stakes Agriculture Hunter-gatherers Nomadic Egalitarian values Sharing economy Settled Hierarchical values Property rights

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57 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Adaptations to environmental factors RECIPROCAL CAUSALITY New constructions of meaning and values

58 Environment Culture

59 Environment Culture Here, culture changes the shape of history

60 Gunpowder: explosives, guns

61 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing

62 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Large scale iron production

63 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Large scale iron production Network of roads and canals

64 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Large scale iron production Highly productive agriculture Network of roads and canals

65 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Large scale iron production Massive navy with ocean-going vessels Highly productive agriculture Network of roads and canals

66 Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Magnetic compass Large scale iron production Massive navy with ocean-going vessels Highly productive agriculture Network of roads and canals

67 Sophisticated economy with paper currency Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Magnetic compass Large scale iron production Massive navy with ocean-going vessels Highly productive agriculture Network of roads and canals

68 Sophisticated economy with paper currency Gunpowder: explosives, guns Movable type printing Magnetic compass Cosmopolitan city: > 1 million inhabitants Large scale iron production Massive navy with ocean-going vessels Highly productive agriculture Network of roads and canals

69 Song dynasty, 11 th & 12 th century

70 ENVIRONMENT w Advanced technology w Communication networks w Productive agriculture

71 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE w Advanced technology w Communication networks w Productive agriculture

72 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE w Advanced technology w Communication networks w Productive agriculture w Humans are an integral part of the natural world w Emphasis on harmonizing with nature

73 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE w Advanced technology w Communication networks w Productive agriculture NEGATIVE FEEDBACK Construction of meaning and values

74 Western Europe, 17 th century Song dynasty, 11 th & 12 th century

75 Nature as machine Core themes of Western culture

76 Core themes of Western culture Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature

77 Core themes of Western culture Nature as machine Importance of measurement Man s dominion over Nature

78 Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature Core themes of Western culture Reason as source of divinity Importance of measurement

79 Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature Core themes of Western culture Reason as source of divinity Mathematics as language of God Importance of measurement

80 Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature Core themes of Western culture Goal to conquer Nature Reason as source of divinity Mathematics as language of God Importance of measurement

81 Conquest of Nature Shared symbolic network of meaning Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature Core themes of Western culture Goal to conquer Nature Reason as source of divinity Mathematics as language of God Importance of measurement

82 Conquest of Nature Shared symbolic network of meaning Nature as machine Man s dominion over Nature Core themes of Western culture Goal to conquer Nature Reason as source of divinity Mathematics as language of God Importance of measurement

83 Francis Bacon, the prophet of the scientific age: establish and extend the power of dominion of the human race itself over the universe render ourselves the masters and possessors of nature

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85 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE w Advanced technology w Communication networks w Productive agriculture POSITIVE FEEDBACK Construction of meaning and values

86 Environment Culture

87 THRESHOLD 8 THRESHOLD 7 Increasing complexity THRESHOLD 6 Increasing complexity

88 Culture shapes values, those values shape history THRESHOLDS 6, 7, AND 8 Increasing complexity Increasing complexity

89 Environment Culture

90 Global Civilization Trajectory High SOCIETAL COMPLEXITY Low 1600 TIME Present

91 Global Civilization Trajectory Singularity? High SOCIETAL COMPLEXITY Low 1600 TIME Present Future

92 Global Civilization Trajectory Singularity? High SOCIETAL COMPLEXITY Low Collapse? 1600 TIME Present Future

93 Global Civilization Trajectory Singularity? High Sustainability? SOCIETAL COMPLEXITY Low Collapse? 1600 TIME Present Future

94 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE

95 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Genetic engineering Synthetic biology Technological convergence

96 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Genetic engineering Synthetic biology Technological convergence Conquest of Nature Belief in material progress Focus on technological solutions Free market values

97 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Moore s Law Genetic engineering Synthetic biology Technological convergence POSITIVE FEEDBACK Conquest of Nature Belief in material progress Focus on technological solutions Free market values

98 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE

99 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Climate crisis 6 th extinction Overpopulation Resource scarcity

100 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Climate crisis 6 th extinction Overpopulation Resource scarcity POSITIVE FEEDBACK Conquest of Nature Belief in material progress Focus on technological solutions Free market values

101 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE

102 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Green energy solutions Agroecology Global internet communication Grass-roots activism

103 ENVIRONMENT CULTURE Green energy solutions Agroecology Global internet communication Grass-roots activism POSITIVE FEEDBACK Belief in shared humanity Emphasis on quality of life Value placed on natural world

104 Global Civilization Trajectory Singularity? High Sustainability? SOCIETAL COMPLEXITY Low Collapse? 1600 TIME Present Future

105 The Patterning Instinct: A Cultural History of Humanity s Search for Meaning Prometheus Books, Spring/Summer 2017 Jeremylent.com jeremylent@gmail.com