The intrusion of freedom

"It is the intrusion of human freedom and responsibility that makes economics metaphysically different from physics and makes human affairs largely unpredictable."

- E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful

I think that one of the appealing aspects of science is that it predicts the future. Here we have a situation with known present conditions, and with documented principles and mathematical relationships we can reliably predict the future conditions of the situation.

It's enjoyable, it's seductive, and it's satisfying. For me at least. Usually.

However, as simple as it is for many of us (scientists and engineers, really) to find hope in reducing existence to physical and biological principles and mathematical relationships, in doing so we neglect the value of human volition in making our future quite unpredictable.

Unfortunately, "most people, most of the time, make no use of their freedom and act purely mechanically," Schumacher writes.

What's important to get, though, is that to Schumacher predictability isn't necessarily the absence of freedom. Predictability in human action is "when we or others are acting according to a plan." 

When we look to the future and see rising seas, climatic changes in food production and pests, less clean water, more pollution, etc., we see the results of mechanically following the plan laid out for us by an exploitative, consumerist economy. To create a (predictably) better future for more human and non-human life than this vision suggests, we need to follow a new plan.

"A plan is the result of an exercise in the freedom of choice," he writes. It just happens that we tend to predictably choose "the behaviour pattern of very large numbers of people doing 'normal' things."

"The problem comes when we begin responding to social proof in such a mindless and reflexive fashion that we can be fooled by partial or fake evidence."

- Robert Cialdini, Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion

There may be large-scale devastation in our lifetimes, there may not be. There will at least be small-scale devastation during our lives and large-scale devastation over the long-haul for our species and others. Why not move in a healthier direction now in support of life?

What to do (any order works):

• Educate yourself
• Talk about it with anybody: “The most cost-effective way to reduce CO2 emissions is to reduce the use of coal first and most sharply.” Oh, and natural gas is a bad substitute.
• Join the movement

Thanks for reading!

"The task is formidable indeed, but the resources that are waiting to be mobilised are also formidable."

 - E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful