I agree with everything Mr. Capra is saying, other than the use of the word 'sustainable.' We are not just sustaining life on Earth, we are solving problems and improving (at least) the conditions for all life, so nature's systems, our systems and ourselves work and evolve. Sustain is not a big enough word or idea.
"The great challenge of our time is to create sustaining communities; that is, social and cultural environments in which we can satisfy our needs without diminishing the chances of future generations"... communities able to learn, as a group, in the moment, as new problems-opportunities-transformations arise. May I explain why I would like to upgrade the discussion from sustainable to evolving? My thoughts:
1. 'Create sustainable communities' is a static phrase (all life is either growing or dying), functional and an end/destination. A closed system. cannot function indefinitely without the application of energy from an external source.
2. All living systems are open systems, with open-ended potential to develop themselves and their capacity to do and be; communities must be living systems. An open system works through an energy exchange with its greater environment in a way that creates a symbiotic relationship.
3. There are four levels at which humans work:
a. Transformation
b. Improvement-growing potential, not making what exist work better.
Above this line human spirit is alive in work ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Below the line work is routine
c. Maintain/Sustain
d. Operate
4. We are interested in our possible evolution, evolution of our community and the evolution of Earth. Evolution of our troubled being, requires: developing new capacities, new stories/paradigms, a new vision, new ideals, new status symbols, new totems, new taboos, and authenticity.
ORIGINAL COMMENT
I agree with everything Mr. Capra is saying, other than the use of the word 'sustainable.' We are not just sustaining life on Earth, we are solving problems and improving (at least) the conditions for all life, so nature's systems, our systems and ourselves work and evolve. Sustain is not a big enough word or idea.
"The great challenge of our time is to create sustaining communities; that is, social and cultural environments in which we can satisfy our needs without diminishing the chances of future generations"... communities able to learn, as a group, in the moment, as new problems-opportunities-transformations arise. May I explain why I would like to upgrade the discussion from sustainable to evolving? My thoughts:
1. 'Create sustainable communities' is a static phrase (all life is either growing or dying), functional and an end/destination. A closed system. cannot function indefinitely without the
application of energy from an external source.
2. All living systems are open systems,
with open-ended potential to develop themselves and their capacity to do and be;
communities must be living systems. An open system works through an energy
exchange with its greater environment in a way that creates a symbiotic
relationship.
3. There are four levels at which humans work:
a. Transformation
b. Improvement-growing potential, not making what exist work better.
Above this line human spirit is alive in work
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below the line work is routine
c. Maintain/Sustain
d. Operate
4. We are interested in our possible evolution, evolution of our community and the evolution of Earth. Evolution of our troubled being, requires: developing new capacities, new
stories/paradigms, a new vision, new ideals, new status symbols, new totems,
new taboos, and authenticity.