The hen and egg problem of transformation

The famous problem of what was first “the hen or the egg?”also applies to transformation towards sustainability. Humans cause environmental problems through the systems and society we created. We created systems and society so we assume, that we can change them. But we are not the only ones who get a say in this. Systems and society also create us. They have their own agency.

There is no easy answer to “who was first us or the system?”. This becomes more apparent when we ask ourselves “who was first me or the system?”. One created the other. The egg and the hen are inseparable.

So when we want to transform system and society, we need to keep in mind, that they also need to want to transform. Just as we can’t change other people if they don’t want to themselves. We can’t change system and society, if they don’t want to.