Anyone who claims that 'the greatest gift the West gave the Rest was the power of reasoning' is either profoundly ignorant of world history or actively peddling propaganda.
That old phrase 'point of diminishing returns' always pops up reading articles like this. One may start out poor or middle class and having been told that one is to strive to achieve more than ones' parents, many end up a little better off than the parents, the poor may exceed their parents more than the middle or upper class. Those born in the upper class are on top, that point of no return, while the middle may get to the top. But once there, then what? The children of those achievers then have no up to go to, so the diminishing return kicks in. anyhow, why wasn't India included? Would they have been as the Chinese in that graph? Here in America we have improved living conditions and been able to purchase things that make life easier, but when we see government and businesses trying to control our thoughts and how we do things, one can pretty pessimistic. At 88, having grown up in the forties, I'v e seen and experienced a lot in life's improvements and I still find pessimism creeping into my head about the future for the coming generations.
Interesting way of framing a big debate. It would be far more interesting, however, to see where and how these doomsday ideas have influenced policy and policy implementation. In other words, has any of this pessimism actually affected how societies manage themselves? Because if there has been little or no such influence, then the whole thing amounts to little more than noisy arguments among academics, hair-splitting and angel-on-pinhead counting. Also, Michael Mann a "catastrophist"? First of all, seriously? They guy is an accomplished climate scientist with way more than enough receipts to demonstrate the basis of his views. Second, by saying it would be a bad idea to let less developed countries follow the same developmental path as our own, he's not saying that they should (somehow) be prevented from developing. He's saying they should be encouraged, influenced, channeled towards more sustainable pathways. This is all demonstrably doable. Not easy, but definitely achievable. And might just result in a higher standard of living than the conventional top-heavy, "free market", fossil fuel-powered development path. I'm not a pessimist or an optimist. Frankly, who the hell knows what is going to happen? I don't make a philosophy out of my wagers vs the future. But I don't think the debate is much improved by putting words in Dr Mann's mouth or by characterizing his rather sensible, well-supported position as "catastrophist".
I am not sure internet/social media should be absent from a discussion on western pessimism. It possibly magnifies all the worries you list in a way that similar stuff was ignored in the past
Superb article, Maarten!
Great piece! I think your four types of pessimist make sense. Very interesting!
“science, free inquiry, democracy” well said
Anyone who claims that 'the greatest gift the West gave the Rest was the power of reasoning' is either profoundly ignorant of world history or actively peddling propaganda.
That old phrase 'point of diminishing returns' always pops up reading articles like this. One may start out poor or middle class and having been told that one is to strive to achieve more than ones' parents, many end up a little better off than the parents, the poor may exceed their parents more than the middle or upper class. Those born in the upper class are on top, that point of no return, while the middle may get to the top. But once there, then what? The children of those achievers then have no up to go to, so the diminishing return kicks in. anyhow, why wasn't India included? Would they have been as the Chinese in that graph? Here in America we have improved living conditions and been able to purchase things that make life easier, but when we see government and businesses trying to control our thoughts and how we do things, one can pretty pessimistic. At 88, having grown up in the forties, I'v e seen and experienced a lot in life's improvements and I still find pessimism creeping into my head about the future for the coming generations.
Interesting way of framing a big debate. It would be far more interesting, however, to see where and how these doomsday ideas have influenced policy and policy implementation. In other words, has any of this pessimism actually affected how societies manage themselves? Because if there has been little or no such influence, then the whole thing amounts to little more than noisy arguments among academics, hair-splitting and angel-on-pinhead counting. Also, Michael Mann a "catastrophist"? First of all, seriously? They guy is an accomplished climate scientist with way more than enough receipts to demonstrate the basis of his views. Second, by saying it would be a bad idea to let less developed countries follow the same developmental path as our own, he's not saying that they should (somehow) be prevented from developing. He's saying they should be encouraged, influenced, channeled towards more sustainable pathways. This is all demonstrably doable. Not easy, but definitely achievable. And might just result in a higher standard of living than the conventional top-heavy, "free market", fossil fuel-powered development path. I'm not a pessimist or an optimist. Frankly, who the hell knows what is going to happen? I don't make a philosophy out of my wagers vs the future. But I don't think the debate is much improved by putting words in Dr Mann's mouth or by characterizing his rather sensible, well-supported position as "catastrophist".
We’re on the brink of global collapse man, mark my words!
I am not sure internet/social media should be absent from a discussion on western pessimism. It possibly magnifies all the worries you list in a way that similar stuff was ignored in the past