The Empathic Civilization
Here’s something for those of you who have sufficient interest and attention span, not to mention spare time:
Author and futurist Jeremy Rifkin has written a book called The Empathic Civilization, in which he argues we are in the middle of a paradigm shift that is epochal.
The Emphatic Civilization is a fascinating book that boldly challenges the conventional view of human nature embedded in our educational systems, business practices, and political culture — a view that sees human nature as detached, rational, and objective, and sees individuals as autonomous agents in pursuit primarily of material self-interest. And it seeks to replace that view with a counter-narrative that allows humanity to see itself as an extended family living in a shared and interconnected world.
According to Rifkin, the progress of civilization has been a constant struggle between empathy — increased human connection — and entropy, the deterioration of the health of the planet. It is, quite literally, a race against time. “We are on the cusp of an epic shift,” he writes. “The Age of Reason is being eclipsed by the Age of Empathy.”
The Huffington Post Book of the Month Selection
Get the book, if you’re interested, and/or watch Jeremy talk about it:
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Gotta love the Internet and YouTube.
Cheers,
BuFoon Steve
