Escaping the progress trap - the book
The author of Escaping the progress trap finds that individuals and societies may become preoccupied with their cognitive and technical activities, oblivious of changes to their environments. When those changes are man-made and harmful, the scenario rarely ends well. The book describes ancient and modern progress traps. The main focus however, is a methodical study of the underlying behaviour, with pointers to potential solutions.
The work of neuroscientists who investigate cerebral specialization is extensively referenced. Their research provides support for the view that mental "division of labor" is not always in humans' best interests. The classic case is Easter Island, but other examples, such as Seymour Cray’s doomed Control Data Corporation, or the other-wordly medieval Church, show the same characteristic: development that excludes solutions to problems that arise from development.
Find out why societies can become enmeshed in their own ingenuity. Learn how the damaging legacy of hyper-specialization can be reversed. As humans we have often learned about, and modified our behaviour, in order to survive. That ability, more than toolmaking or communication, is our saving grace. Thus, through nurturing and maximizing our natural talent for creative problem-solving, we can maintain the planet that sustains us.
It is time to adapt, once again.
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Note: the research, book and website are an independent undertaking.
The project began life in 1990 as a term paper entitled "The Progress Trap, Science, Humanity and Environment". It was then accepted for development in 1992 by McGill-Queen's University Press. The copyright for "The Progress Trap - and how to avoid it" was registered in April 1991. The manuscript was completed and submitted in 2002, but did not see final publication. After a similar book appeared in 2004, the author decided to publish independently, with the title "Escaping the progress trap". |
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