Issue: Human nature

The Significance of Stories

The Significance of Stories

Posted by | Sep 19, 2022 | |

It is easy to take stories for granted, but they are an essential and unique element of human life. They are all around us; they shape our personalities and are the glue that binds groups of us together. In a genuine sense, they form our windows into the world. But each of us has our own unique set of windows, and they are more like “stained glass windows”, or even a fairground “house of mirrors” than panes of undistorting glass. So, even though there is a shared physical reality in which we all live, we all perceive it differently. Unfortunately, these differences in perception not only encourage tribalism and lead to conflict. They also allow us to persist in a collective lifestyle that severely threatens human life as we know it on our home planet.

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The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence In History And Its Causes

The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence In History And Its Causes

Posted by | Jul 5, 2022 | |

Wasn’t the twentieth century the most violent in history? In his extraordinary, epic book Steven Pinker shows us that this is wrong, telling the story of humanity in a completely new and unfamiliar way. From why cities make us safer to how books bring about peace, Pinker weaves together history, philosophy and science to examine why we are less likely to die at another’s hand than ever before, how it happened and what it tells us about our very natures. – amazon.co.uk

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Science, Philosophy & Spirituality

Science, Philosophy & Spirituality

Posted by | Jul 1, 2022 |

An integrated review of what science, philosophy and spirituality contribute to our understanding and experience of the world today.
We each have a unique ‘worldview’ that is shaped by our knowledge, experiences and our beliefs. This course will provide the opportunity to examine (and possibly expand) that worldview in the light of modern scientific discoveries, critical questions posed by philosophers, and diverse beliefs revealed through spiritual traditions. It will be of particular interest to people who care about the lasting damage that humanity is causing to our home planet, and who are seeking to understand what resources the fields of science, philosophy and spirituality can offer

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Projects: exercises in shared intentionality

Projects: exercises in shared intentionality

Posted by | Feb 4, 2022 | , |

Since before the dawn of history, projects have been a principal human activity. Today, projects add significantly to the world’s GDP. They have become a common form of transforming the built environment and the way many organizations manage themselves in the private, public, and voluntary sectors.
Much modern project management guidance emphasizes the principles, structures, processes and techniques involved in delivering the product, service or transformation that is the project’s intended output. Also, both research and practice acknowledge that project executives should possess ‘people skills’. But despite this, too many projects still fail to live up to expectations, which results in both economic and social waste.
As a ubiquitous example of shared intentionality, projects can be thought of as an expression of our essential nature as human beings – what marks us out from all other species. So, perhaps what is needed is more careful and nuanced attention to the people, the context and the relationships that constitute the project itself.

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