Becoming a Better Ancestor | Roman Krznaric

TL;DR

In a world plagued by short-term thinking, Roman Krznaric explores the need for long-term thinking to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and ecological degradation, and presents six different approaches to becoming a "good ancestor."

Transcript

hello i'm alexander rose the executive director here at long now i'm joining you today from the interval in san francisco and our speaker today roman kuznerick will be joining us live from london where he'll also stay on to do questions afterwards roman is one of the research fellows here at the long now foundation and he's been writing about issue... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 Pathological short-termism is pervasive in society, hindering our ability to address pressing long-term challenges.
• 🤔 Deep time humility allows us to recognize the significance of long-term thinking by placing our existence in the context of the vast cosmic timeline.
• 🤔 Cathedral thinking, intergenerational justice, a legacy mindset, holistic forecasting, pursuing a transcendent goal, and cultivating a trust in the future are all crucial elements in becoming a good ancestor.
• 🤔 Democracies must further deepen their democracy and inject more long-term thinking practices into their decision-making processes.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does deep time humility help us improve our long-term thinking?

Deep time humility allows us to recognize that humanity is just a small blip in the grand cosmic story and encourages us to consider the long cycles and ecological choreography of the planet. By grasping our insignificance in the context of deep time, we can cultivate a greater sense of responsibility towards future generations and the environment.

Q: What is cathedral thinking and how can it contribute to long-term planning?

Cathedral thinking involves embarking on projects with long time horizons, often spanning decades or even centuries. It encourages us to take a generational perspective, working on initiatives that may not come to fruition within our lifetimes but will benefit future generations. Cathedral thinking aligns with projects such as infrastructure development, scientific endeavors, and social movements focused on lasting change.

Q: How can intergenerational justice change the way we think about the future?

Intergenerational justice emphasizes caring about the welfare and interests of future generations. It challenges us to consider the rights of those who are not yet born and to make decisions that benefit both current and future people. By prioritizing intergenerational justice, we develop a broader sense of responsibility and recognize the impact our actions will have on future individuals and communities.

Q: How does a legacy mindset contribute to long-term thinking?

A legacy mindset involves considering the legacies we leave behind for future generations. It goes beyond egocentric or familial legacies and encourages us to think more universally. By reflecting on the type of world we want to create for future individuals, we can make decisions and take actions that positively shape their lives, ensuring a better future for all.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Roman Krznaric emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking in a world dominated by short-termism.

• He argues that long-term thinking is necessary to address urgent global challenges, including climate change, racial injustice, and technological risks.

• Krznaric presents six different ways to think long-term, including deep time humility, cathedral thinking, intergenerational justice, legacy mindset, holistic forecasting, and pursuing a transcendent goal.