We Need a Shift in Context
August 29, 2014
Climate Change – A Matter of Context
by Laughlin Artz
What
will get us out of this mess is the same thing that got us into it – action.
Not just any action, but a new kind of action, an entirely different
order of action that comes from a new kind of thinking. As Einstein said:
will get us out of this mess is the same thing that got us into it – action.
Not just any action, but a new kind of action, an entirely different
order of action that comes from a new kind of thinking. As Einstein said:
“We can’t solve problems by using the same
kind of
kind of
thinking we used when we created
them.”
them.”
We need action that isn’t just more, better and different versions
of what we’ve done before, but action that is bold, radical and produces
results not possible in the current landscape.
of what we’ve done before, but action that is bold, radical and produces
results not possible in the current landscape.
The current climate
situation is the direct result of actions taken and not taken. And our success or failure in effectively
mitigating that situation will also be a direct result of actions taken and not
taken.
situation is the direct result of actions taken and not taken. And our success or failure in effectively
mitigating that situation will also be a direct result of actions taken and not
taken.
To effectively get at the whole matter of action, we need to
examine what determines action. Not what
explains it or justifies it, but what actually determines it.
examine what determines action. Not what
explains it or justifies it, but what actually determines it.
What determines
action? Facts? No. Otherwise when 20 people are presented with
the same facts, you would get 20 people taking the same actions. Knowledge?
No. It is common knowledge that to lose weight,
one needs to eat less and exercise more.
Yet that knowledge does not predictably translate into the actions of
eating less and exercising. In fact,
when you test out much of what is believed, assumed or theorized to be what
determines action, it doesn’t hold up in the real time moments of “what is
happening” when people are taking action.
action? Facts? No. Otherwise when 20 people are presented with
the same facts, you would get 20 people taking the same actions. Knowledge?
No. It is common knowledge that to lose weight,
one needs to eat less and exercise more.
Yet that knowledge does not predictably translate into the actions of
eating less and exercising. In fact,
when you test out much of what is believed, assumed or theorized to be what
determines action, it doesn’t hold up in the real time moments of “what is
happening” when people are taking action.
Consider that what determines action is not the “situation”
itself (the facts, the “what is happening” in the moment), but rather “how the situation is there, how it shows itself). And if you
alter how the situation is “there” for someone, his or her actions alter
accordingly.
itself (the facts, the “what is happening” in the moment), but rather “how the situation is there, how it shows itself). And if you
alter how the situation is “there” for someone, his or her actions alter
accordingly.
For example, when the situation of Climate Change is “there”
for someone as “a hoax” the actions that person takes will be completely
correlated to that “how it is there for them,” which will be the action of taking
no action.
for someone as “a hoax” the actions that person takes will be completely
correlated to that “how it is there for them,” which will be the action of taking
no action.
Given that what will make the
difference in the matter of Climate Change is ensuring that the right actions are
taken at the right times to produce the right results and that action is correlated to how the situation called climate
change is “there” for people, then the question becomes:
difference in the matter of Climate Change is ensuring that the right actions are
taken at the right times to produce the right results and that action is correlated to how the situation called climate
change is “there” for people, then the question becomes:
“How do we get
Climate Change to “be there” for people such that the correlated actions of
that “how it’s there for them” are the actions that mitigate the situation?”
Climate Change to “be there” for people such that the correlated actions of
that “how it’s there for them” are the actions that mitigate the situation?”
What determines how
a situation is “there” for people, and correspondingly the actions they take or
don’t take, is not the facts but rather the context in which the facts exist.
a situation is “there” for people, and correspondingly the actions they take or
don’t take, is not the facts but rather the context in which the facts exist.
Context gives/shapes the way
the situation “is there” for people, and therefore is the key determining factor in the matter of people’s actions. People’s actions are determined not by the
situation itself, but by how the situation “is there” for them. And what determines how it’s there for them
is context. Calling people to effective action is the power of context.
the situation “is there” for people, and therefore is the key determining factor in the matter of people’s actions. People’s actions are determined not by the
situation itself, but by how the situation “is there” for them. And what determines how it’s there for them
is context. Calling people to effective action is the power of context.
We need a Shift in Context. If we as a global
community are to be successful in mitigating the predictably catastrophic
future of Climate Change, a shift in
context is required. Not just important, but required.
community are to be successful in mitigating the predictably catastrophic
future of Climate Change, a shift in
context is required. Not just important, but required.