Rewilding Philosophy part II

Most of the things and systems we designed, like our economic system, decrease the overall flourishing and aliveness of the planet. Yet, instead of blaming “society,” let’s keep in mind that once upon a time, most of those infrastructures and models of living used to be ideal. For example, after World War II, when food was scarce, farmers were asked to focus on one thing: to produce enough food so people don’t have to starve. Back in those days, that was the most urgent problem to solve, and back in those days, knowledge about the harms caused by fertilizers was (mostly) unknown.

The models of living and organizing society don’t hold up in the Anthropocene. Global warming, species extinction, growing inequality, post-truth rivalries, ocean acidification, increasing mental health challenges, and a prevailing sense of meaninglessness. The Anthropocene is characterized by crises; some refer to it as the meta-crisis. Religion used to guide our ways of life until it was replaced by scientism and capitalism. While many still hold on to the idea that science will solve our existential challenges while pursuing more wealth, many have realized that neither of these offers a meaningful way to live.