1. Perennialism Deep Roots for a Resilient Culture Bill Vitek, PhD SOAR Presentation April 6, 2012

2. Our Work Today Our Work Today Put on your Philosophy Goggles! Put on your Philosophy Goggles! Consider the deep questions, and the concepts and systems advanced to answer them. Consider the deep questions, and the concepts and systems advanced to answer them. Consider three transformational or axial periods in history that reflect different approaches to the “big” questions. Consider three transformational or axial periods in history that reflect different approaches to the “big” questions. Help us to see that we may be living in the third period right now. Help us to see that we may be living in the third period right now.

3. My Assumptions My Assumptions Nature/Natural World left out of or abused by the first two transformations. Nature/Natural World left out of or abused by the first two transformations. The world is showing signs of this exclusion, and they’re not positive or healthy signs. The world is showing signs of this exclusion, and they’re not positive or healthy signs. We are 150 years into a new transformation that puts nature back in. We are 150 years into a new transformation that puts nature back in. It’s an exciting time to be a philosopher! It’s an exciting time to be a philosopher!

4. Terms of Engagement Paradigms and Worldviews Paradigms and Worldviews Types of Paradigm Change Types of Paradigm Change Connections between Collapse, Complexity and Paradigm Change. Connections between Collapse, Complexity and Paradigm Change. “Isms” as systems of meaning “Isms” as systems of meaning The big Philosophical Questions The big Philosophical Questions Material and Formal cultures Material and Formal cultures

5. The Original Great Transformation Axial Age Axial Age War and violence War and violence Teachers and philosophers Teachers and philosophers Social change Social change Axis of change Axis of change Divided “earlier peoples” from modern humans Divided “earlier peoples” from modern humans Psychological shift in consciousness Psychological shift in consciousness “What is new about this age...is that man becomes conscious of Being as a whole, of himself and his limitations…He asks radical questions. Face to face with the void he strives for liberation and redemption. By consciously recognizing his limits he sets himself the highest goals.” Karl Jaspers

7. The Two Great Isms Monotheism Monotheism Judaism Judaism Christianity Christianity Islam Islam Humanism Humanism Greek and Hellenistic philosophy Greek and Hellenistic philosophy Buddhism Buddhism Confucianism Confucianism Homo Sapiens: Happiness is the pursuit of Wisdom

8. Where is Nature? Cosmos Cosmos An “And it was good” creation An “And it was good” creation Logos….. Logos….. Expressed Mathematically  Ordered Expressed Mathematically  Ordered Applicable to Social Systems Applicable to Social Systems But…… But…… The central relationships, goals, and goods of human life are expressed in human relationships with God, each other, and by understanding our own minds. The central relationships, goals, and goods of human life are expressed in human relationships with God, each other, and by understanding our own minds.

9. Left Behind in the Pre-Axial Age Humans-Nature-Divinities part of one whole Humans-Nature-Divinities part of one whole Totemism Totemism Animism Animism Many gods Many gods Immanent Divinity Immanent Divinity Spirit in all things Spirit in all things

10. Corresponding Material Culture Scriptures, manuscripts…..Writing Scriptures, manuscripts…..Writing Places of study/worship Places of study/worship Forms of education designed to further the paradigm Forms of education designed to further the paradigm Complex and stratified civilizations Complex and stratified civilizations Agriculture….The first human break from nature Agriculture….The first human break from nature

12. A Great Transformation In consciousness In consciousness In being In being In value In value In customs, rules, practices, social systems In customs, rules, practices, social systems In material culture In material culture Over a long period of time Over a long period of time Still with us today Still with us today

13. Second Great Transformation The Enlightenment: 1691-???? The Enlightenment: 1691-???? Three great revolutions Three great revolutions Scientific Scientific Political Political Economic Economic The Age of Reason: “Dare to Know” The Age of Reason: “Dare to Know” Focused on individuals pursuing happiness as sovereigns in a limitless way Focused on individuals pursuing happiness as sovereigns in a limitless way

15. Enlightenment Assumptions Nature is a Boundless Source and Sink Nature is a Boundless Source and Sink Human Mind/Knowledge is Sufficient Human Mind/Knowledge is Sufficient Human Concerns are First and Foremost Human Concerns are First and Foremost Transgression of Limits is a Right and a Duty Transgression of Limits is a Right and a Duty Science Science Engineering Engineering Economics Economics Ethics Ethics Nature is a supermarket, laboratory, playground and dump Nature is a supermarket, laboratory, playground and dump

16. Material Culture

17. Focus on Economics as the Engine of Happiness The Great Transformation, Karl Paul Polanyi The Great Transformation, Karl Paul Polanyi Nation state had to co-evolve with self-regulating markets in order ensure market survival Nation state had to co-evolve with self-regulating markets in order ensure market survival If not, markets would break away from the state If not, markets would break away from the state The state would become secondary The state would become secondary Markets would no longer be sustainable Markets would no longer be sustainable Consumerism is the new Ism Consumerism is the new Ism Homo Economicus: Happiness is the pursuit of stuff

18. Review Pre-Axial God Nature Humans Axial Nature God Humans Enlightenment Economics Social Systems Nature Religion

19. Our World Delivered The Disturbing Data of our Times The Disturbing Data of our Times Illustrative of the desacrilization of nature, and economics’ disconnection from social and natural systems Illustrative of the desacrilization of nature, and economics’ disconnection from social and natural systems A call for another Great Transformation A call for another Great Transformation Already underway Already underway

20. The Age of Environmentalism 1836 - ???? Emerson-Thoreau: Transcendentalism Emerson-Thoreau: Transcendentalism Charles Darwin: Evolutionary Biology Charles Darwin: Evolutionary Biology Ernst Haeckel: Ecology Ernst Haeckel: Ecology John Muir: Nature as Cathedral John Muir: Nature as Cathedral Aldo Leopold: The Land Ethic Aldo Leopold: The Land Ethic Rachel Carson: The End of Nature Rachel Carson: The End of Nature James Lovelock: Gaia James Lovelock: Gaia

22. Environmentalism’s Assumptions Nature is not passive Nature is not passive Whole not equal to the sum of the parts Whole not equal to the sum of the parts All life is interdependent All life is interdependent Living systems are complex, emergent, diverse, self-organizing Living systems are complex, emergent, diverse, self-organizing There is no “environment” or “downstream” There is no “environment” or “downstream” Nature’s rules Rule Nature’s rules Rule Human’s are more ignorant than knowledgable Human’s are more ignorant than knowledgable

23. American Environmentalism Sources: 1880’s-1940’s Sources: 1880’s-1940’s Conservation Conservation Sinks: 1950’s-1980’s Sinks: 1950’s-1980’s Pollution Control and Risk Management Pollution Control and Risk Management Systems: 1990’s-Present Systems: 1990’s-Present Sustainability Sustainability Life Cycle Analysis Life Cycle Analysis Industrial Ecology Industrial Ecology Precautionary Principle Precautionary Principle

24. An Expanding Ethical Circle Sources Sources Conservation Conservation Utilitarianism Utilitarianism Anthropocentrism Anthropocentrism Sinks Sinks Rights Rights Individualism Individualism Systems Systems Species Species Ecosystems Ecosystems

25. Weak Sustainability

26. Strong Sustainability Strong sustainability refers to the need for human activity to reflect the asymmetric interdependence of the economic, social, and environmental spheres of life. The health of the worldwide economy is totally reliant on the existence of a healthy society, which is totally reliant on the existence of a healthy environment. The reverse is not true. Strong sustainability refers to the need for human activity to reflect the asymmetric interdependence of the economic, social, and environmental spheres of life. The health of the worldwide economy is totally reliant on the existence of a healthy society, which is totally reliant on the existence of a healthy environment. The reverse is not true. http://nz.phase2.org/glossary

27. The New Paradigm’s Goal? Prosperity in a Sun-Powered Ecosphere Homo Ecologicus

28. Our Earth Not just “an” Earth, but the only Earth there is. “Our” additionally indicates a sharing with others. It is not my or your Earth exclusively, whether as property owners or as human beings. Not just “an” Earth, but the only Earth there is. “Our” additionally indicates a sharing with others. It is not my or your Earth exclusively, whether as property owners or as human beings.

29. Sun Powered Solar energy, as we are discovering in the race to build solar panels and wind turbines, is steady, but not particularly dense. Over long enough time frames the sun’s capacity to do the work of fueling life can be stored as soil fertility, water in high places, wood fiber, coal, natural gas, oil, and even plutonium. But it is otherwise more tortoise than hare. Solar energy, as we are discovering in the race to build solar panels and wind turbines, is steady, but not particularly dense. Over long enough time frames the sun’s capacity to do the work of fueling life can be stored as soil fertility, water in high places, wood fiber, coal, natural gas, oil, and even plutonium. But it is otherwise more tortoise than hare.

30. A Living Ecosphere The local star—an auspicious distance from our Earth—in cooperation with a long list of elements (around thirty) left over from long-ago stellar explosions, and combined with mechanisms we still don’t fully understand, created single cell organisms. The rest, they say, is (evolutionary) history. It’s a localized 4.5 billion year enterprise that even asteroids the size of Manhattan could not destroy. Despite this resilience it is nevertheless a precarious venture since what is living (individuals, ecosystems, and even the ecosphere itself) can cease to live or have its life degraded.

31. Systems Science Resilience Theory Resilience Theory Complexity Theory Complexity Theory Thresholds and Adaptive Cycles Thresholds and Adaptive Cycles Panarchy: “The cross-scale and dynamic character of interactions between human and natural systems” (Walker and Salt, 89) Panarchy: “The cross-scale and dynamic character of interactions between human and natural systems” (Walker and Salt, 89)

33. Perennial Agriculture Nature as Measure Nature as Measure Natural Systems Agriculture Natural Systems Agriculture Perennial Polycultures that mimic natural systems Perennial Polycultures that mimic natural systems Focus on the grains (wheat, corn, rice) Focus on the grains (wheat, corn, rice)

34. Wes Jackson’s Work Kernza™: Perennial Intermediate Wheatgrass Check out those roots!

35. Engineering Holistic Biomimicry Holistic Biomimicry Life Cycle Assessment Life Cycle Assessment Cradle to Cradle Design Cradle to Cradle Design DfE (Design for Environment) DfE (Design for Environment) The Precautionary Principle The Precautionary Principle

37. Merging Formal and Material Sustainability Movement too much about the material culture Sustainability Movement too much about the material culture The Need to put Economics back in its Place The Need to put Economics back in its Place The Challenge of putting Sapien back in the Picture The Challenge of putting Sapien back in the Picture Giving the Formal Culture its Due Giving the Formal Culture its Due

38. An Ecological First Principle Prosperity on a living planet requires limits, broadly construed. Aldo Leopold’s definition of ethics Aldo Leopold’s definition of ethics The grudging recognition that we “can’t have it all” The grudging recognition that we “can’t have it all” Eden’s message: “You may have all of this, but not that” Eden’s message: “You may have all of this, but not that” Biophysical principles Biophysical principles The CSA autumn bounty……of root vegetables and squash! The CSA autumn bounty……of root vegetables and squash!

39. With Three Axioms No Harm Knowingly destroying life- systems or limiting the diversity and co-evolution of life is a moral and social wrong on a living planet.

40. http://www.whole-systems.org/extinctions.html

41. No Hubris Areas of certainty are small relative to the large field of ignorance. We should behave as if our ignorance will always exceed our knowledge. Areas of certainty are small relative to the large field of ignorance. We should behave as if our ignorance will always exceed our knowledge. It will.

43. No Hurry All life depends on sunlight and the complex and integrated chemical and thermodynamic processes it powers (Net Primary Production). NPP is constrained by many factors and cannot be substantially improved, increased or sped up over time without the addition of inputs from outside the system. Since we can’t substantially speed up these natural processes, Our only option is to slow ourselves down.

45. A Paradigm Without a Name Sustainability? Sustainability? Deep Ecology? Deep Ecology? Resourcefulism? Resourcefulism? Stoicism? Stoicism? Escapism? Escapism? Survivalism? Survivalism? Locavorism? Locavorism?

46. How About “Perennialism?” Resource: “To rise again” Resource: “To rise again” Deep roots that hold the “soil” together Deep roots that hold the “soil” together In one place for the long haul In one place for the long haul Slow accumulation of fertility Slow accumulation of fertility Welcomes diversity Welcomes diversity Self-renewing Self-renewing Resilient Resilient Slow and steady Slow and steady Prosperous within well-defined limits Prosperous within well-defined limits

47. Imagine a Perennial Culture Both Material and Formal Agriculture Agriculture Economics Economics Education Education Technology Technology Transportation Transportation Art, Music Art, Music Culture Culture

48. Why This Transformation is So Difficult Flashy Brains Flashy Brains Genesis Genesis Prometheus Prometheus The Enlightenment The Enlightenment Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny Geological Inheritance Geological Inheritance Crediting the Brains (the Pumps) Crediting the Brains (the Pumps) rather than the Inheritance (the Well) The Evolutionary Disposition to Live to Excess The Evolutionary Disposition to Live to Excess http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/u/up_the_creek_without_a_paddle.asp

49. A Necessary Transformation A New Founding A New Founding Revolutionary Thinking…and Action Revolutionary Thinking…and Action At the Outer/Inner Most Boundaries At the Outer/Inner Most Boundaries The Ecosphere The Ecosphere The Human Mind The Human Mind A True Test and Testament of a Well-Developed Neo- Cortex A True Test and Testament of a Well-Developed Neo- Cortex There’s Still Time There’s Still Time Transformational Thinking is in Our Heritage Transformational Thinking is in Our Heritage It’s already underway It’s already underway

50. In Wildness is the Preservation of the World! Thoreau-Muir-Leopold-Rowe-Jackson Thoreau-Muir-Leopold-Rowe-Jackson Nature Alive! Nature Alive! The source of our prosperity The source of our prosperity Resilient, Complex, Creative Resilient, Complex, Creative Ecosystems Science and Engineering Ecosystems Science and Engineering Creating A New Material and Formal Culture Creating A New Material and Formal Culture Humanity’s Greatest Challenge Humanity’s Greatest Challenge

51. The most meaningful work that we can do is to “Build receptivity into the still unlovely human mind.”* Beginning with our own….. *Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

52. Let the Wild Rumpus Start!