Humans, education, A.I., technology, Nature, the loss of youth, and our meta-crisis

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFVoearUvP8

Dr. Zachary (Zak) Stein is interviewed on the Nate Hagens YouTube channel.  Dr. Stein is Harvard-educated in the fields of human development, educational neuroscience, and the philosophy of education.  His current work is in the area of mitigation of the meta-crisis.  The discussion is deep and wide-ranging, so put on your thinking cap and be as open-minded as possible.

Relative to the Crisis we're in (and in other ways), our educational system has failed us.  Stein explains how to fix it.  He also delves into how the current path of A.I. is going to make education even worse, and dangerously so.

If you can't watch the entire interview, then at least catch these two short segments:  from 1:20:25 to 1:36:01; and from 1:39:36 to 1:41:20.  Or, better yet, watch the whole thing in stages. It will wake you up to the depth of the Human Predicament, and how to mitigate it.  Too bad almost all our national politicians apparently are oblivious to all this.

It's embarrassing that the USA shortly will offer up Joe Biden and D. J. Trump as the (supposedly) best main candidates for the Presidency of the USA.  It's also shameful, and a testament to the power of propaganda, plutocrats, and the oligarchy.  So many people are much better choices.  Here are only a few:  more or less on "The Right"---anyone [is superior to Trump], including Mitt Romney and Rand Paul; more or less on "The Left"---Elizabeth Warren, Jill Stein, Bernie Sanders, and Cornel West [all are superior to Biden].

Our educational system also is to blame.  Too many people seem to be trained only for being a "Yes" employee, a work drone.  No open-mindedness, no critical thinking, no holistic thinking, little concern for ethics, and little foresight beyond job and family.  Add to all that, little interest in philosophy, history, and the biophysical basis of our existence - NATURE.  Such a scenario is a recipe for disaster.  If it is to survive and thrive, Civilization needs a lot more than only technocrats and Yes people.

Zak Stein is a comprehensive thinker with vision and a radical, but necessary, framework for building an educational network which enhances and enables human society to be its best.  His suggestions for navigating through the ongoing human predicament are an inspiring must-see.  Don't miss it.  [I recommend you turn on the captions.]

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

The Earth System Treaty, a Positive Step

Anyone can take this step toward raising awareness of what scientists know about the current human predicament AND the known, scientific, potential solutions.  First, though, read the article at this link to gain perspective:  

https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/mahbdialogues/earth-system-treaty-a-mahb-dialogue-with-julian-cribb-council-for-the-human-future/

If you agree with the concept, sign the Treaty.  After you sign, you're asked for a donation.  Should you prefer not to donate, there's something else which will help raise awareness.  You're given the means to post the "sign the treaty" link on social media.  Every little bit helps.  https://www.change.org/p/save-a-habitable-earth-for-our-children?source_location=search

Undoubtedly, several powerful forces are/would be/will be against the Earth System Treaty.  They seem to prefer the Status Quo:  ecological overshoot; exponential, infinite economic growth on a finite planet; the delusional belief that the Laws of Nature do not apply to humans; and the pipe-dream that Technology can solve any problem whatsoever.

Other people recognize the human predicament, but seem to feel there's nothing beyond what can be done in their own personal behavior patterns which will have any impact.  In other words, only the public and private Powers-That-Be can make any difference in the Big Picture.  There's some truth in such a view.

Here's the thing, though:  when massive numbers of everyday people make a statement, eventually those in Power pay attention.  The history of many social Movements supports that contention.  The need for an Earth System Treaty (or something akin to it) is obvious to many people around the world.  Make a statement.  Sign the Treaty, and promote the concept.  Join the Movement. Grandchildren everywhere thank you for your effort.

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails