It took me several months but in October I finally finished reading Ervin Laszlo's 1972 book "An Introduction to Systems Philosophy" in which he builds the case for a new philosophy based on a systems approach to understanding the traditional problems in philosophy.
It is a somewhat technical work, but very rewarding if you take the time to understand what he is getting at, and the case he builds is pretty compelling. This seems a useful way of thinking about life, the universe, and everything.
Other recent writers have been marking out a similar path; currently I'm reading Jeremy Lent's latest work, "the Web of Meaning", which is a very accessible exploration of similar territory, although he doesn't explicitly reference Laszlo.
The current debates around what next for climate activism post COP26 (see Action In the Pipeline) could perhaps benefit from taking a systems approach to understanding the relationships between human society and the natural world in which it exists as well as the relationships between components of society and individual human psychology.
I've just finished reading Andreas Malm's latest book - "How to Blow Up a Pipeline" - it is quick and easy to read and makes several very interesting points. I'd recommend it as required reading for anyone who considers themself any kind of climate activist, whatever your attitude to non-violence and pacifism. This is not a book to change your mind, but it is a book to help you understand more aspects of the context within which climate activism must take place.
The first thing to say, in case you are in any doubt, is that the title is misleading - it is not a manual on monkey-wrenching, nor is it a call for the climate movement to change tactics - or at least not for everyone.
I have recently heard it argued that conventional activism - from protest walks to NVDA - is increasingly becoming a self-defeating exercise in The West (and elsewhere). As society becomes more and more centrally monitored (and thus controlled) and collectivism is replaced by atomisation and individualism, the only outcomes of any activism are simply to brand yourself as an activist and potential troublemaker to be repressed.
Well the title says it all. Despite my good intentions.
Why?
Lockdown inertia? Maybe a bit, but shouldn't lockdowns have been an opportunity?
Out of the habit? Well I've never really got into it, so I can't be out of it.
Nothing to say? - definiately not that. There is plenty that should have been said, most of it thought but not written down. Much of it captured by other commentators but not cross fertilized to this zombie site.
Lack of an audience? Which is beside the point - as I think I've said before the audience for this site, like most of mine, is my future self. Of course it is nice to know that someone else is reading, we crave that approval, but is it essential. And if it is then shouldn't I be writing regularly, week in week out, and be active on the awful social media to pull in an audience. I really don't want to be bothered with that. If you are not me-in-the-future and you are reading this, then welcome. Its nice of you to drop by, Ido intend to write more often but who knows if I will....check back in a month, in three months, in a year and find out.
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