7 Philosophies on the Future

(Recorded November 12, 2024)

Description

​​In last week’s Frankly, Nate shared his thoughts on some of the polarities we’ll need to harmonize as we journey towards a more uncertain world. As the holidays approach for many, we will face these “polarities” head-on in relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. How could imagining the different perspectives of others allow us to have more meaningful and empathic conversations about the future?

In today’s Frankly, Nate highlights seven views of the future and how broadening our awareness to include others’ starting points might allow for greater discourse and understanding. How we view the future stems from what we care about and our expectations for humanity – from needing to stay focused solely on daily struggles to believing we’re on an endless path towards living outside our own solar system. Perhaps an even bigger factor is whether we believe we can change the trajectory of the future or if our species is simply stuck on a predetermined outcome.

How do common beliefs and fears for the future – such as colonizing Mars, degrowth, societal collapse, or climate catastrophes – shape our philosophies for the future? And while many of us may think that we have a strong synthesis of our economic, ecological, and geopolitical realities, why should we think that any one of us can predict the future with 100% certainty? Finally, how could we use these lenses when listening to others – and take a first step in a likely “bend not break” future?

Show Notes

PDF Transcript

00:21 – What people care about – Data from Valuegraphics

03:30 – Human expansion into the solar system beyond Earth

03:51 – World population of 8 billion people

04:00 – Age of human species

04:14 – Degrowth

04:33 – Sink capacity

04:40 – Holocene

04:59 – Consumption

06:57 – 6 continent supply chain

07:59 – Bend vs break TGS series

08:21 – Financial credit Frankly 23 “The Mordor Economy”

08:28 – Wile E. Coyote