The Wisdom Principles by Ervin Laszlo

Author:Ervin Laszlo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

THE NEW IMPERATIVES

Think Globally

There are a number of “imperatives” confronting you today: dictates you either respect, or face dire consequences. Lifting the level of your thinking is one of them.

Global thinking is not thinking in general categories, or in millions and billions, whether of humans, hectares, or barrels of oil. It is thinking in terms of processes rather than structures, in terms of dynamic wholes rather than static parts. Its benefit is not to obtain a catalogue of ready-made blueprints for making proper choices in any and all circumstances; rather, it is to acquire the perspective by which we can make wise choices of our own.

Thinking in new and in better ways is a uniquely human capability. In the higher animals basic survival-related behavior remains guided by instinct, and instinct changes slowly through the processes of genetic mutation and natural selection. The dominance of experience over instinct is what distinguishes the rapid cultural evolution of humans from the slower genetic evolution of animals. You can learn from experience, and your conscious assessment of experience can steer your behavior, transcending your inherited motivations. Global thinking informs the choices you make in the private as well as the professional spheres of your life. When you choose consumer products for personal use, do you choose fancy items that use a great deal of energy or simple functional devices that do the job with a minimum of waste and fuss? When you choose your work or profession, do you strive to amass the most money in the shortest time or choose to engage in an activity that is meaningful in itself and beneficial to others? Global thinking also enters into the choice of the style you select for your home: Do we want a home designed for ostentation or one that inspires coziness and sociability? How you clothe yourself and your family is likewise informed by considerations of wisdom: Do you dress to be conspicuous and to feed your ego, or for genuine self-expression and to preserve family and community values and your cultural heritage?

Acting in a globally conscious way is not difficult, and it does not entail undue sacrifices. When you think globally, your life becomes richer and healthier, and you have the assurance of acting as you should, to the best of your ability. More than that, nobody can reasonably ask of you.

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