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10 - Reclaiming Human Nature

The Future Will Be Better (Eventually)

from Part III - Back to the Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2021

John M. Gowdy
Affiliation:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
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Summary

Can we regain our humanness? Considering the massive loss of the natural world, the impending effects of climate change, staggering inequality, and the power of the elite, it may be impossible to avoid a dystopian future. Nevertheless, many scenarios for the future are possible, including a prolonged or sudden collapse, a new optimist paradise, or a decentralized golden age of barbarism. I argue that a plausible future is a return to a hunting and gathering way of life as the coming climate instability and the exhaustion of accessible fossil fuels make agriculture impossible. If there is cause for optimism, it lies in our deep evolutionary past. Selfishness and exploitation are no more a part of human nature than cooperation and caring about others and the natural world. If we are to avoid a dystopian future, we need a collective political movement to challenge the ultrasocial status quo and its defenders. Individual action is not enough.

Type
Chapter
Information
Ultrasocial
The Evolution of Human Nature and the Quest for a Sustainable Future
, pp. 193 - 214
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Reclaiming Human Nature
  • John M. Gowdy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
  • Book: Ultrasocial
  • Online publication: 09 October 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108974264.014
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  • Reclaiming Human Nature
  • John M. Gowdy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
  • Book: Ultrasocial
  • Online publication: 09 October 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108974264.014
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Reclaiming Human Nature
  • John M. Gowdy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
  • Book: Ultrasocial
  • Online publication: 09 October 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108974264.014
Available formats
×