The West Must Die - by Paul Kingsnorth. The attempt to live without the rest of nature, to conquer the world, to rationalize and remake it from the top down and bottom up: this began here, in ‘the West’. So here’s a thought: the alternative needs to come from here too. We started the revolution, so we need to start the restoration.

The West Must Die - by Paul Kingsnorth. The attempt to live without the rest of nature, to conquer the world, to rationalize and remake it from the top down and bottom up: this began here, in ‘the West’. So here’s a thought: the alternative needs to come from here too. We started the revolution, so we need to start the restoration.

McGilchrist would tell us that we should start by changing our quality of attention. This may sound nebulous, but it is anything but. If our left-hemisphere-dominated minds cause us to pay attention to the world in one way, then we need to train them, bit by bit, to pay attention in another. ‘Attention changes the world’, he writes. ‘How you attend to it changes what it is you find there.’

But what would this mean in practice? It would mean attending to the ways of seeing that were central to past cultures, but that Western modernity relentlessly dismisses or downplays as unprofitable, unrealistic, romantic, and all the rest. Perhaps central to this is an effort to see the world as an organism rather than a mechanism, and then to express it that way, through art, through creativity, through writing, through our conversations. The last part is the hardest, very often, but maybe the most important too.

To McGilchrist, the Western way of seeing - a way of seeing that was always going to give birth to something like the Machine - is rooted in the brain itself, and our very particular way of relating to the world can be seen, from some angles, as almost a form of mental illness. Our minds are, he suggests, unable to see the world in its fullness because our culture has trained them - or been trained by them - to see the world as an object and not a living thing. The consequence - in my words, not his - has been the emergence of the Machine and its values. Exchange meaning for control: that was the deal. Exchange beauty for utility, roots for wings, the whole for the parts, lostness and wandering and stumbling for the straight march towards the goal. That was the deal. Turns out it was a trap, and now look at us. Look at everything we know, and how little we can see. Look at us here, flailing, drowning, gasping as we sink into the numbers and words.

Forgetting the Body. Digital media seems to suggest immateriality, as does the language we use to talk about it: virtual reality, cyberspace, the cloud. Likewise, we are tempted to imagine that our use of digital media puts us in a state of disembodiment. There’s something to this, but the language of disembodiment is not the best way to describe what’s going on. After all, we never actually leave our bodies when we use digital media. Perhaps it’s best to think of it as a different mode of embodiment—one characterized by telepresence, a condition in which our immediate experience is not confined to the physical location of our bodies.

MacIntyre mentions this forgetfulness in a book titled Dependent Rational Animals. In it, he argues that this forgetfulness of the body leads us to ignore how thoroughly dependent we are as creatures, especially in childhood and old age but also under countless other circumstances throughout our lives. As the title suggests, MacIntyre was interested in putting this dependence at the center of how we think about what it means to be human, and thus at the center of our thinking about the virtues to which we ought to aspire.

To forget the body is to forget our dependence, our frailty, our limitations. If digital culture tempts us to forget our bodies, then it may also be prompting us to act as if we were self-sufficient beings with little reason to care or expect to be cared for by another. We never leave our bodies when we are immersed in digitally mediated experiences, but we might be tempted to disregard our flesh and its significance.

Incorporating these ideas, it becomes apparent that both the West's way of seeing the world and digital culture have led us to a state of disconnection and devaluation of the natural world and our own bodies. The Western mindset, rooted in the brain itself, sees the world as an object to be controlled, resulting in the emergence of the Machine and its values. On the other hand, digital media tempts us to forget our bodies and our dependence on the physical world.

To address these challenges and restore our connection with nature and our bodies, we need to change our quality of attention and train our minds to see the world as an organism rather than a mechanism. This shift in perspective can be achieved through art, creativity, writing, and meaningful conversations that express the world's living essence.

Additionally, it is crucial to acknowledge our dependence, frailty, and limitations as embodied creatures. By recognizing our vulnerability and embracing virtues like humility, generosity, care, patience, and mercy, we can restore the value and significance of our bodies and foster a sense of interconnectedness with the natural world.

Three actionable advice to incorporate these ideas into our lives are:

1. Practice mindfulness and cultivate a new quality of attention. Take time to observe and appreciate the living essence of the world around you. Notice the intricate details and interconnectedness of nature. Engage in activities that foster a deeper connection with the natural world, such as gardening, hiking, or simply spending time outdoors.

2. Embrace creativity and self-expression as a means to see and convey the world as an organism. Engage in artistic endeavors that allow you to express the beauty and complexity of nature. Write poetry, paint landscapes, or compose music that captures the essence of the living world.

3. Foster a culture of care and interdependence. Recognize the value and necessity of our bodies and the natural world. Practice acts of kindness, empathy, and compassion towards others and the environment. Support initiatives and organizations that promote sustainability, conservation, and the protection of biodiversity.

In conclusion, the Western mindset and digital culture have disconnected us from the rest of nature and our own bodies. To restore our connection and reestablish a harmonious relationship with the world, we must change our quality of attention, embrace the perspective of the world as an organism, and recognize our dependence and limitations. By incorporating these ideas into our lives, we can foster a renewed sense of interconnectedness and work towards restoring the balance between humanity and the natural world.