problem

Anobis – Causes of World Problems

By kengele

While pondering problems humanity faces it occurs to me that many are a direct result of the action of Man, or have anthropogenic causes (ab homine). In contrast, we are clearly not responsible for the causes of other problems. Yet others may be in an intermediate category, perhaps naturally caused, but exacerbated by us. I

Read More 

A word I seek

By kengele

Occasionally I try and describe a concept but fail because I lack the tools. What I mean is I don´t know the correct word to use, or the word does not exist. Normally if there is a word and I don´t know it, I can easily look it up in a dictionary. Sometimes the word

Read More 

What?

What are the problems that we face? What are their causes? Which would we be able to trace their cause ultimately to us (anobis), and which are independent of us (abalia)? I imagine that problems that can be traced to us should to some extent be solvable, since we are the cause. Some problems that are totally independent of us may be insoluble, and others may not.

This theme will most likely also involve quite a bit about human behaviour.

How many times do we ask questions like these with exasperation?

  • They say many people are near starvation. Why can’t we feed everyone?
  • Are the oceans over-fished? Can we answer this question?
  • If so, why can’t we regulate the fishing industry so the oceans are not over-fished?
  • Are nuclear weapons a deterrent or a threat? Or both?
  • Why can’t they ban land mines? or nuclear weapons?
  • Is climate change real? If so, it it caused by carbon emissions?
  • If so, why can’t we come to an agreement over limiting carbon emissions?

Aside from what problems we face, this theme explores how we understand these problems, and why at times we fail to solve them. Ideas on how we may solve them should be in the How? theme.