Three circumstances that people in the U.S. could confront in the years immediately ahead could well challenge the viability of democratic governance as we know it. Recognizing them can help us engage them with the foresight needed if they are … Read More
I gave my most recent book Perspective and Guidance for a Time of Deep Discord the subtitle: “Why We See Such Extreme Social and Political Polarization and What We Can Do About it.” Today conflict between ideological factions has become … Read More
Creative Systems Theory brings very big-picture, long-term perspective to the human condition. It addresses understanding as a whole, not just particular concerns, and it helps us make sense of the very different ways we have understood ourselves and our worlds … Read More
There are few more important human questions than that of identity—just what it means to be a person. We can easily assume that its answer is obvious—I look in the mirror and there I am. But in fact the answer … Read More
For quite a while I questioned an important conclusion suggested by Creative Systems Theory. Even when I recognized its value, I hesitated to write about it out of concern that it would be misinterpreted. That conclusion: A great deal of … Read More
According to CBS News, in 1983 companies spent $100 million marketing to kids. Today that figure is closer to $17 billion. I find the fact that we can find this situation acceptable deeply disturbing. Somehow we comfortably make the leap … Read More
Adapted from “The future of Art” in Cultural Maturity: A Guidebook for the Future (With An Introduction to the Ideas of Creative Systems Theory) The concept of Transitional Absurdity (a formal notion within Creative Systems Theory) describes how, when Modern … Read More
People often ask me how I see the relationship between Cultural Maturity and the digital revolution. It is a multifaceted and informative relationship. On one hand, the relationship is close and mutually positive. No sphere of technical advancement is likely … Read More
Adapted from Cultural Maturity: A Guidebook for the Future Transitional Absurdity refers to a dynamic that for quite a while I questioned. Only recently have I written about it. I now think in fact it is quite important. It … Read More
What caused the 2008-2009 financial collapse? Simple greed and incompetence? The unfortunate “perfect storm” confluence of economic cycles, globalization, and other hard-to-predict factors? Yes, yes, and yes. But something deeper was also at work. Understanding this more fundamental ingredient in … Read More