Apologies to the Grandchildren: Reflections on our Ecological Predicament

"Apologies to the Grandchildren: Reflections on our Ecological Predicament Industrial capitalist civilization does not stand still. Its political, economic, and social viability requires continuous growth. Progress is the secular religion of modern civilization. In this class, we will ask provocative questions about our current ecological predicament and its connection with a challenged liberal democracy. What do political history,philosophy, anthropology and depth psychology have to say about these issues? Will technology and AI in particular lead us to a state of technological and managerial success? We will also view a short video by the ecologist Nate Hagens as well as a personal and revealing interview "Knowing What We Know, How Shall We Comport Ourselves?" with New York Times best selling author of “The End of Ice” Dahr Jamail (who was a Port Townsend resident) about moving forward meaningfully. He will address "how do you talk with the younger generations who are coming of age at this time"? How might we proceed beyond "The Apology to the Grandchildren"?

Ron Strange has a long standing interest in Deep Ecology's core principle and belief that the living environment as a whole should be respected and regarded as having certain basic moral and legal rights to live and flourish, independent of its instrumental benefits for human use. A biocentric rather than an anthropocentric world view.

The Book: This is a reading/seminar not a lecture. Participants must acquire the book (approx. $7) "Apologies to the Grandchildren" by William Ophuls and have read pages 1 through 48 prior to the first class.

The class meeting in the Charles Pink House (next to the library) Tuesdays Dec 2 to 16th, Dec. 30th and Jan. 6th.1 to 3 pm. 5 total meetings.