This week in class we watched videos by RSA Animate that illustrated points as philosophers lectured. The whole point of this was to answer these questions; what does it mean to be a human being? And how do we feel emotions, and become better people through our actions? These are the questions of life, and everyone must come to terms with them. As Rifkin says "The first drive is to actually belong"(Rifkin). He is referring to human desires, and being social creatures we want acceptances, and a sense of belonging with our peers. That is the most important thing in the human mind, and we all strive for it. In the beginning of humanity we wanted to belong with our family group. As we formed towns, and cities that strive extended to our community. As religions formed we found belonging with our religious group. Then with our nationality. Now that globalization is occurring, and humans can interact with someone across the globe just as easily as with their neighbor that drive is expanding again. Humans are starting to want to belong in the global community. Roman Krznaric says the way to belong in the global community is through empathy. "Empathy isn't just something that expands your moral universe, empathy is something that can make you a more creative thinker, improve your relationships, can create the human bonds that make life worth living." (Krznaric). By extending empathy to a greater scale in the world around us humans can become a global community where everyone feels as though they belong. Krznaric also says "Empathy is also about social change, radical social change... empathy can create a revolution, not one of those old fashion revolutions of new states, government, policies, laws, but something much more fiery and dangerous; which is a revolution of human relationships." (Kryznaric). This revolution is starting to take hold in society today, and could very well change the world as we know it.
The old world is falling apart. The things that were standard in the past are no longer working. Our world is falling to pieces, and we need change now before it's too late. Our worlds resources are dwindling, and we continue to take from it, and pollute it. In America today the top 1% wealthiest people own an astonishing 43% of America's financial wealth. Our education systems are failing. The American Dream is no longer a reality. In order to bring about change, and save the world the first thing that needs to happen is education reform. Sir Ken Robinson says "The problem is they are trying to meet the future by doing what they did in the past, and on the way they're alienating millions of kids who don't see any propose in going to school... the problem is that the current system of education was designed, and conceived, and structured for a different age. It was conceived in the intellectual culture of the enlightenment, and in the economic circumstances of the industrial revolution." (Robinson). Kids are being taught how to be a good factory worker, and schools are even run on a factory schedule. In a sense, schools are mass producing good, simple minded, office workers, and anyone who doesn't fit the mold is discarded into the dregs of society. There was a study done on humans ability for divergent thinking given to 1,500 people. When they were in kindergarten 98% scored at the genius level in divergent thinking, but as they got "educated" in school the percentage of genius divergent thinkers dropped dramatically. Luckily, as the global community forms, reform comes as well. It's coming on slowly to be sure, but its happening. People are starting to care about others, and the world around them in an unprecedented way. Slavoj Zizek explains it well "Charity is no longer an idiosyncrasy of some good guys, here and there, but the basic constituent of our economy." (Zizek). It seems as though everything you buy is not only for the product, but for a cause. almost every product in today's market place is not only a product, but a donation. Though most humans don't go out of their way to help people in need, by say building a well in Africa, almost every product they buy goes to helping some cause or another. Whether that be finding a cure for a disease, helping the national economy, or aiding impoverished countries, humans are constantly donating money to help the world. Green, environmentally friendly products are gaining popularity every day, and everyone is giving back to the world. It may be a long time before our empathy stretches across the world, and every thing thing is part of the global community, but it's happening, and we need it to if we are to survive much longer on this planet.
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