2021 08 03

Doom By Hope*

Ronald Wright, coined the frase ‘Progress trap’, which refers to the way people out-smart themselves and develop technology that is in the long run beats the objectives.

In his book ‘A SHORT HISTORY OF PROGRESS’ he tells the story of past civilizations and the way they tripped themselves up: Prehistorian man and over hunting, Sumar and over cultivating, the Roman Empire and the Inca more similar to our civilization, over-grazing, deforestation, exlpoitation, war and endless hunger for power.

The book ends with a description of our state, and a plea. this is our last chance. the tone is desperate, because hope is what capitalism instils in its practitioners, which includes an ever increasing number of souls.

• Phrased by Margaret Atwood in Oryx and Crake