Tom Ellis
Jan 9, 2021

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Ideologically, I am with you 100%--but with one important general exception: Regenerative culture cannot be "designed" from the top down; it must evolve from the ground up. It is the Archimedes problem in a nutshell. Archimedes famously said, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world." Unfortunately, he was part of the world he wished to move, and there was nowhere else to stand--so "moving the world" while standing on it would be like putting a fan on a sailboat and expecting it to move.

Likewise, we cannot "design" a culture from within it. We can only become catalysts in its evolution toward desired outcomes, without ever being able to prespecify those outcomes. This is complexity theory 101. Our best option is therefore to grow gardens, grow community, and grow awareness--in that order. Permaculture is the way, not the goal.

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Tom Ellis
Tom Ellis

Written by Tom Ellis

I am a retired English professor now living in Oregon, and a life-long environmental activist, Buddhist, and holistic philosopher.

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