Change in consciousness as an ecological strategy

Abstract

Purpose

Pursue Gregory Bateson’s observation that human consciousness as we see it today is tightly focussed on finding and pursuing purposes. Taken too far, the wider world of nature suffers from imbalance. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Bateson’s cybernetic speculation suggests that strategies to avoid ecological catastrophe need to take human consciousness into account. The author searches for cases of consciousness better aligned with reality and consider current possibilities for developing such consciousness.

Findings

Findings from the literature of philosophical anthropology are reviewed, showing that consciousness that is better aligned with reality has occurred in history, including with the San Bushmen and in the Greek polis. Yet these cases are rare and quite different from today’s culture. In addition, there are several distinct features of current culture that prevent the development of aligned consciousness.

Originality/value

Philosophical anthropology is outside the normal constraints of social science but points in the direction of further holistic cybernetics inquiry that can produce a different diagnosis and strategy for the global ecological challenge.

Citation

Myers, K.C. (2015), "Change in consciousness as an ecological strategy", Kybernetes, Vol. 44 No. 8/9, pp. 1350-1357. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-09-2014-0202