The Chronicle – February 2013
The Chronicle
Here we begin the “chronicle” portion of this online magazine, the chronicle of what we believe is a global transition from economic-industrial to ecological-cultural societies. In each issue of Musings authors will share their reflections on what they see going on in relation to this transition, both good and bad. We invite our readers to send in their reflections. In general reflections on a particular event should not exceed two paragraphs, though the reflection may contain hyperlinks to more information or a longer reflection. The one or two paragraphs, however, should stand on their own and contain a complete thought.
In this issue of the Musings we have two of our foundational papers describing what we mean by ecozoic. Soon we will publish an issue of our print publication containing a number of articles on “What is ecozoic?” Ecozoic is a term that will not be understood by everyone, so we use two terms that are more easily understandable as rough equivalents of ecozoic. One is “ecological-cultural societies” and the other is “ecological civilization.”
We are invited biased reporting on what is going on, yet we will hold our contributors to objective standards by including reflections both on how humanity is moving toward the ecozoic and away from it. That humanity is moving toward the ecozoic is our thesis, but it must be defended and tested.
The general idea of the transition from economic-industrial to ecological-cultural societies is this: 1. The industrial revolution is the most important revolution of the modern period, it is has changed everything; 2. Liberal-market economics was developed as an adjunct to industrialization—Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations was published in 1776 contemporaneously with the beginning of the industrial revolution—and has become the primary concern of nations; 3. While economic-industrial development has brought about great achievements, it has now brought humans and nature to an evolutionary wall; and 4. A “Great Turning,” “Great Transition,” or “Great Transformation” is required. Equity requires that a large part of humanity have more, but the overall direction of human societies must be about being more not having more (culture) and becoming coherent with natural processes and developing mutually enhancing relations among humans and the larger community of life (ecology).
Finally a comment on “online magazine”: The American Heritage Dictionary defines “magazine” as “a periodical containing a collection of articles, stories, pictures, or other features,” and a “newsletter” as “a printed report giving news or information of interest to a special group.” By these definitions CES Monthly Musings is an online magazine, not an online newsletter.