The world is extraordinarily complex, and biologically speaking we are all nothing more than a bunch of extremely clever monkeys in suits. From an evolutionary perspective we climbed down out of the trees on the African savannah only yesterday, and our brains are hard-wired for three primary functions: 1) to find stuff to eat; 2) to do everything possible to keep from getting eaten; 3) to do even more of what might be possible to make more of ourselves. That's it. Unfortunately these same exceptional brains have enabled us to create a world that is beyond our brains' effective comprehension.
So I think we really need to lighten up on ourselves when we criticize our species' seeming inability to collectively act on the many obvious complex and interconnected global dilemmas we have created for ourselves. Consider the following study done on our brains (abstract only, a nice physorg summary here):
Psychol Sci. 2005 Jan;16(1):70-6.
How many variables can humans process?
Halford GS1, Baker R, McCredden JE, Bain JD.
Abstract
The conceptual complexity of problems was manipulated to probe the limits of human information processing capacity. Participants were asked to interpret graphically displayed statistical interactions. In such problems, all independent variables need to be considered together, so that decomposition into smaller subtasks is constrained, and thus the order of the interaction directly determines conceptual complexity. As the order of the interaction increases, the number of variables increases. Results showed a significant decline in accuracy and speed of solution from three-way to four-way interactions. Furthermore, performance on a five-way interaction was at chance level. These findings suggest that a structure defined on four variables is at the limit of human processing capacity.
I think this is a fundamental issue we all need to recognize:
Three Variables, that's all our limited brains can reasonably handle.
I think this is why that, even in the face of all the overwhelming evidence, we find ourselves unable to act decisively on all the big and important issues of our time.
I also think this is why we tend towards two-party political systems.
And why Young-Earth Creationism exists.
And why neoclassical economics is imploding.
Just something to keep in mind as we all (hopefully) move forward together on this complicated journey of global transition.
Let's please be gentle with and go easy on each other whenever we can.
And dance and stretch together whenever we can, in both our bodies and minds.
Especially our minds.