The Patterning Instinct

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This fresh perspective on crucial historical questions identifies the root metaphors that cultures use to construct meaning. It offers insights into the minds of diverse peoples, from early hunter-gatherers and farmers to ancient Egyptians, traditional Chinese sages, early Christians, pioneers of the Scientific Revolution, and creators of modern consumer society. The author, an entrepreneur and sustainability leader, employs recent findings in cognitive science and systems theory to uncover the hidden values shaping today’s cultural norms. By challenging the clichés of the science-religion debate, he illustrates how medieval Christian rationalism fostered scientific thought, which in turn influenced our modern view of nature's conquest. The author examines our current unsustainability crisis, arguing it is not an inevitable aspect of human nature but rather a culturally driven issue stemming from specific mental patterns that could be transformed. The book envisions a struggle between two contrasting views of humanity: one pursuing a technological endgame of enhanced humans, and the other advocating for a sustainable future rooted in our intrinsic connectedness with each other and nature. Ultimately, it emphasizes that each individual plays a role in shaping the meaning derived from their lives.