webTree🌳

While @july has never felt more optimistic about the future, I'm slowly veering in the opposite direction.

A few people asked why, so I wrote this short essay.

After years of working with century long time horizons, I'm noticing a shift in my optimism. I believe it partly stems from a paradox around unprecedented global connectivity alongside deepening fragmentation. 

It makes me wonder if our technological ingenuity can truly outpace our collective dysfunction when planetary challenges demand wisdom.

https://cyrusclarke.substack.com/p/why-an-optimist-is-slowly-veering

If you, like me, or Cyrus, struggles with pessimism or the sense We Have Lost Our Way — Michael Nielsen’s Wise Optimism essay has brought me a lot of comfort https://michaelnotebook.com/optimism/

The Farcaster formerly known as Kchamp. Books, beats, bodybuilding, bright ideas and beautiful things.

katherinechampagne.com

Researcher at MIT Media Lab | Creating futures | https://cyrus.website/info

Struggle with pessimism might have been too harsh! 

I try really hard not to be a pessimist. But I am not hopeful for the short term future. I think it will take a century or more to realize the promise of some of what we have started in the past few decades.

ah I don't think I'm a pessimist quite yet :) just healthily re-examining my previously unfettered optimism

would you consider yourself a pessimist? 

I'll also have to check out the article you shared.