In my book In the Grip of Necrocapitalism I introduce the concept of conflict as a narrative for civilisation. Throughout human history we have viewed the world as a series of conflicts rather than mutually beneficial collaborations between humans and other species: an unprovoked conflict with nature, an unprovoked conflict with other humans, and a … Continue reading The Biggest Tariff of Them All
When I warned years ago that the climate crisis would be completely forgotten in a few years, I was ignored like some type of attention-seeking “boy cried wolf” conspiracist. But I meant what I said. And I still mean it, and events prove me right. Just look around, even the worst-case scenario didn’t look this … Continue reading Overshoot Deficit Disorder
The short-term nature of this civilisation is evident in its short-term economic system: impulse buying, instant gratification, single-use commodities and single-use natural resources are all manifestations of a mindset that systematically ignores long-term repercussions. Our psychological coping mechanisms and addictions seek short term relief in unhealthy foods, drugs, and habits that make us feel good … Continue reading Live Fast, Die Young: The Great Procrastination
Our powerful, charismatic brain is not designed for long-term planning and projecting. Its impressive capacity to solve problems is at its peak only when these problems are present right here, right now. From a survival point of view, the “right here right now” is much more important than 10 years from now, or even 10 … Continue reading The longest 10 minutes of your life have just begun
Our naturally dismissive attitude towards impending disasters is woven into the geological history of this planet. Our brain did not evolve in the midst of catastrophes, but during one of the most climatically stable and abundant times in Earth’s history. Resources were infinitely plentiful in relation to our consumption, and the climate remained stable enough … Continue reading A Brain from Another Time
With any economy, the faster you grow and expand, the sooner you die, just like an obesity patient. There is, however, one economy in the world who has got it right. It neither grows nor dies, and actually manages to stay the same, or at least it did, until recently. It is the oldest economy … Continue reading The Biggest, Oldest Economy In The World Is Burning
Humans suffer from the perversion of perfectionism, which leads to insecurity, greed, selfishness, jealousy and conflict. But our nature is to be imperfect. In fact, all of nature is imperfect. Yet it continues, it survives, without ever looking back or looking down. All that matters is now. Humanity has been torturing itself since its very … Continue reading On Intelligence
Yesterday at the beach I saw a dog that reminded me what it feels like to be a healthy human. It was a tiny brown poodle with an aqua-green sweater that more than made up for its size in sassiness, sexiness, energy, and as Iggy Pop would say, lust for life. The sad part in … Continue reading The Happiness Report: Zombies At the Beach
All wars, conflicts, genocides and ecocides have originated in supremacy. Our civilisation has never been able to root out prejudice, speciesism or discrimination because supremacy, of all shapes and sizes, is a formidable economic powerhouse. Supremacy narratives facilitated the creation of false hierarchies which propped up power structures and enabled the worst of capitalism: black … Continue reading The New Relentless Global Threat of Supremacy
We are being told by CEOs, self-proclaimed futurists, visionaries, technology gurus and Silicon Valley geeks with millions of followers and thousands of books sold, that AI will bring about a never-before-seen abundance, after a “short rough patch” of adjustment. I’ve watched a number of talks, interviews and discussions online with these experts over the years, … Continue reading AI Won’t Destroy the World. Humans Using AI Will.
George Tsakraklides 