2556. Thinking and doing often conflict

Nietzsche, always challenging, said that understanding history gets in the way of doing, and Lao Tzu wrote that knowledge leads to destruction. I notice that many organizations that focus on what to about climate almost exclusively focus on well defined projects and issues such as land use, education, health, transportation, regenerative cities but mostly avoid discussions of what can happen. No scenarios of collapse, of major political shifts, changes in the culture, real land reform distribution t those who grow food) . So discussion is contained in well worn grooves and imagination about futures at the cultural historical level is prevented. These discussions are trying to change one variable at a time leaving the rest in place.

In those discussions where I ave participated I often hear “Don’t talk about the bad possibilities, it’s too demoralizing.” These is some truth to this but those of us who want further understanding, for example systems complexities or historical sources , in order to deal with underlying and often hidden causes feel like we are the bad guys. In particular we can’t talk about what to do after a collapse or to actively try to prevent one. I don’t know what we can do about this.

Another problem is that all the projects, such as more EVs; are both feeding profit and making the problems harder. At the deepest level all projects want to keep ongoing , compjxifying and growing, But this is part of the glue that holds society and its interweavings intact, or even add to the density of relationships. I don’t know what we can do about this.