|
|  |
|
|
|
| |
| Jun 26, 2009 2:07 am |
|
re: Do societies choose to fail? Is that what we are doing? |
Ken Hilving
| |
The New Yorker asks:
"What barriers are we putting in the way of making our own future sustainable?Are the cultural values of "our society" more important than our survival?
Are we prepared to change how we live in order to LIVE?"
The framing of the question indicates a key barrier. That barrier is conformity with the social norm over individual action.
What barriers am I putting in the way of making my own future sustainable? Are the cultural values of society more important than my survival? Am I prepared to change how I live in order to LIVE?
With this simple change in perspective, any of us can take appropriate steps regardless of what others choose to do, and without imposing any demands on anyone else.
This in no way requires an individual to withdraw from social interaction, or confront all aspects of social norms. Most of our societies have sufficient latitude between "normal" and "anti-social" for individuals to take appropriate actions. Done respectfully, new approaches evolve the social norm. Such changes, though, are most possible at the individual level. Private Reply to Ken Hilving (new win) |
|
| |
|
