TEDxAmazonia - Enrique Leff wants us to take care of ourselves - Nov.2010

Summary

The speaker discusses humanity's lost connection with nature, leading to a profound environmental and civilizational crisis. They critique modern economic models that objectify nature and emphasize the need for a new paradigm that balances ecological sustainability and cultural creativity. Drawing from indigenous wisdom, the speaker calls for a shift in perspective towards coexistence with nature, moving away from individualism and embracing the diversity of cultures and knowledge. The message stresses the importance of creating a future based on dialogue, ethics, and responsibility for life, ensuring a sustainable world that honors cultural differences.

Takeaways

• 😀 Humanity has lost its way in the pursuit of civilization, neglecting nature and its vital role in our existence.
• 🌍 The environmental crisis we face today is not just a temporary issue but a crisis of civilization itself.
• 🤔 The modern worldview, rooted in philosophy and science, objectifies nature, treating it as a resource rather than a living system.
• 💡 The Cartesian paradigm that emerged during the Renaissance dissociated nature, feelings, and reason, leading to the objectification of the world.
• 💸 Economics has been built on a mechanistic understanding, ignoring the crucial connection between nature and the economy, treating nature as an 'externality'.
• ⚖️ The current economic system prioritizes progress through capital and labor but fails to consider the environmental degradation it causes.
• 🔥 According to the second law of thermodynamics, the economy accelerates the entropic death of the planet, depleting resources and biodiversity.
• 🌱 Indigenous communities offer valuable lessons on living in harmony with nature and their territories, a model for a new economic rationality.
• 🌳 A new economic model should focus on ecological productivity and cultural creativity, particularly in biodiverse regions like the Amazon.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The future requires embracing an ethics of otherness—acknowledging and respecting cultural and knowledge diversity, rather than imposing a singular worldview.

Q & A

What is the primary message of the speaker in the beginning of the transcript?

The speaker begins by highlighting the grave environmental crisis humanity is facing, which they believe is a fundamental crisis of civilization. They emphasize that humankind has lost its way in relation to nature, and the task now is to understand where and how this disconnect occurred.

What is meant by the 'crisis of civilization' in the transcript?

The 'crisis of civilization' refers to humanity's failure to understand the interrelationship between nature and human beings. It points to the consequences of objectifying nature and disrupting the natural systems that sustain life, leading to unsustainable economic and societal models.

How does the speaker relate the work of Martin Heidegger to the crisis?

The speaker mentions Heidegger's work to illustrate how philosophy shifted from a more holistic view of existence to a focus on metaphysics and transcendental phenomenology. This intellectual shift contributed to objectifying the world and humans, leading to a disconnect from nature and an emphasis on manipulating and controlling it.

What role does the economy play in the environmental crisis according to the speaker?

The economy, according to the speaker, has contributed to the environmental crisis by treating nature as an 'externality'—something outside the scope of economic calculations. The economy operates on a mechanistic model that ignores the ecological interconnections, leading to the exploitation and degradation of natural resources.

What is the connection between the economy and the second law of thermodynamics?

The speaker refers to the work of economist Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, who linked the economy to the second law of thermodynamics, particularly the concept of entropy. As economic processes deplete natural resources and energy, they cause irreversible degradation of nature, which accelerates the planet's entropic decline.

How does the speaker propose humanity should change its approach to the environment?

The speaker proposes that humanity needs to adopt a new productive rationality based on ecological productivity and regional sustainability. This new approach would blend nature's inherent productivity with cultural creativity, fostering diverse ways of life while maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

What is the role of indigenous communities in the speaker's vision for the future?

Indigenous communities, along with peasants, are seen as exemplars of sustainable living. They have traditionally learned to coexist with their territories, maintaining ecological balance. The speaker calls for incorporating this wisdom into new models of production and coexistence with nature.

What is the speaker’s view on individualism and its impact on the environment?

The speaker critiques individualism, which they see as a product of the Cartesian paradigm that isolates humans from each other and from nature. They advocate for a shift toward a worldview based on 'otherness,' recognizing the interconnectedness and differences between cultures and humans.

What does the speaker mean by 'otherness' and why is it important?

'Otherness' refers to acknowledging and respecting differences between people, cultures, and ways of life. It is crucial because it calls for a dialogue of knowledge and mutual understanding, as opposed to imposing one dominant worldview. This concept is central to the speaker's call for cultural diversity and environmental sustainability.

How does the speaker suggest we approach the future and the unknown?

The speaker suggests that we should approach the future with humility, acknowledging that we do not know everything. This requires living with both our existing knowledge and a willingness to embrace the unknown, particularly through a collaborative dialogue that values diverse perspectives.