Is Society now too Complex for Us? ( page 1 of 2 )

Book reviews and discussion by Andy James, B.Sc (Econ), FCA, MQT
(article published through Wholistic Healing Publications)

I have been interested in the impact of complexity on human beings for several decades now, ever since practicing (and later teaching) the Buddhist-Daoist disciplines including Insight Meditation, Taijiquan and Qigong. The renowned Indian sage, J.D. Krishnamurti, wrote at length on complexity at least 15 years before formal, academic Complexity TheoryHe was emphatic that
complexity could not be overcome by more complexity but only by simplicity, which made sense to me.

At the risk of being immodest, I would like to quote from one of my own books, Ageless Wisdom Spirituality: Investing in Human Evolution, since it says what I still want to say now: Complexity and stress may well be the most harmful yet least understood aspects of modern society and in particular of technology.
A fundamental and long-standing promise of technology is that it will save you time and effort, and provide greater convenience, thus allowing you opportunity for more important, meaningful, or pleasurable activities. Judging by the voracity with which we consume new technology, most people seem to wholeheartedly embrace this view of continuing progress and improvement through technology. Many even believe in the possibility of a technological paradise on earth “ no work because of cheap energy and robotic labour; no pain because of miracle medical breakthroughs; happiness through virtual fantasies etc.

Studies are beginning to show, however, that one of the characteristics of advancing technology is greater complexity and that few technological innovations touted as ˜timesaving', actually do. Indeed many people now complain of time shrinkage or deficit “ the feeling that there is not enough time to do what we think needs to be done. We constantly feel pressured and burdened even as we continue to buy new ˜tech' toys. (James, 2003, p
78)

The genius and meteoric rise of Modern Science over the last 400 years is based on its ability to break Life down into ever smaller (more specialized) parts/ compartments/ areas of study etc. and to measure the direct cause-and-effect dynamics of their inner components. We now use this quantitative cause- and-effect test of reality not only within the scientific, technological and
medical spheres, but more broadly throughout society, especially within the business/ economic, marketing and legal systems. Our present infatuation with the Free Market is based overwhelmingly on Quantity ($), rather than Quality. Literal Life or Death decisions are determined by this arbitrary standard of reality, which is rarely questioned since it has so rapidly raised our material standard of living, especially in the developed countries. Currently in North
America, to even question the Free Market is tantamount to being Un-American in its various, changing guises Terrorist, Communist, Islamist etc.

Although this conventional functioning and approach is undeniably powerful, it is also undeniably limited and entails certain negative characteristics, which are not yet widely recognized, but which seem to me to be surfacing at both the individual and collective levels.

I find it helpful to look at our individual functioning in order to understand our collective dynamics, because our external actions and words all emanate from within ourselves. One of the side-effects of a predominantly analytical approach to life is that we tend to see issues or problems almost as separate conceptual boxes, within which we seek resolution in simple either-or dichotomies¦instead, for example, of inter-connective and even multi-level both-and dynamics.

As the analytical process progresses, it creates ever more boxes and sub-boxes, which we struggle (often unsuccessfully) to juggle and reconcile. Krishnamurti called this process fragmentation, and explained how it leads to increasing complexity, confusion, division and alienation.

The individual I or self, for example, creates endless dichotomies with the Non-I or The Other in innumerable guises: God and Man, Man and Woman, Good and Bad, Man and Nature, Man and Animal, Black and White, Progressive and Conservative, Christian and Muslim, East and West, Rich and Poor, Old and Young etc. We create conceptual divisions even within our self like body, emotions, mind, soul, spirit etc. All of these are valuable individual notions/ theories of specific functioning, but in fact, none of the parts is ever really separate, but remain interconnected within greater wholes. Having been trained to break life into ever smaller pieces, many find even the concept of reintegration and wholeness extremely difficult to grasp much less to actualize. Our attention and energy are continually channeled towards the external world, resulting in common neglect and ignorance of our internal potential.

Many people I meet in my professional capacity (hundreds each year), even if relatively wealthy and privileged, are finding it difficult to cope with the demands of their every-day lives. They seem to be stressed, over-whelmed and generally confused. They carry the burden of too many responsibilities, choices, and decisions¦. with society constantly urging and enticing us to want/consume ever more. Many are enticed into running the treadmill ever faster, but others respond by withdrawing and cocooning, just getting by day-to-day, without any energy left to think about the longer term meaning and direction of their own lives or society in general.

To me, it has long appeared obvious that all the personal dynamics described above, also manifest at various collective levels: complexity, confusion, lack of real vision and purpose beyond the consumerism being pushed by the Market. We continually create new inventions, technologies, fields of study, regulations, bureaucracies etc., yet it seems like we are running on the spot. We ought to be feeling happier but we're not. We seem overwhelmed and paralyzed by the
complexities and planetary problems we have created in our search for a material paradise - global warming, pollution and degradation of the natural environment, depletion of scarce resources (especially oil and water), the vast and ever-widening gap between the rich and poor, the proliferation of weapons and powerful new technologies without adequate control, the threat of
pandemics etc. Even our most specific threat, the so-called War on Terror, is far too complex to be wiped out by crude military force and a big budget, even when wielded by the world's most powerful (for now) country, the USA. If our technological advances teach us one new lesson, it is that we live in a globally interconnected world. We need a more evolved and interconnected
consciousness to cope with our creations.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that several of these global dynamics feature in two (Canadian) bestsellers by Thomas Homer-Dixon. I had come upon these global processes from my observations of individuals, including myself. Homer-Dixon is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto and Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program there. His academic research on global issues has led him in the opposite direction - to the conclusion that individuals somehow need to radically change their perspectives and behaviour in order for humanity to rise to its unprecedented challenges.

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