The Watchman’s Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction
by Rebecca D. Costa (Vanguard Press)

December 23rd, 2010

By Barbara Kessler

A sociobiologist and former Silicon Valley executive, Rebecca D. Costa looks at how other civilizations have dealt with societal collapse and rapid changes, as she scans our increasingly complex modern world. While not explicitly about climate change or sustainability, this thought-piece about the potential collapse of civilization helps clarify and re-frame the issues. It shows how people must break through old, unworkable methods, push past  hesitations, myopic viewpoints and the faulty thinking that often stands in the way of positive change.

Costa takes an exhaustive look at what doesn’t work, reserving a chapter for the “Supermemes” that thwart our response to complex problems, such as “irrational opposition” and “silo thinking” (over-specialization) and ” counterfeit correlation” (confusing correlation for causation). She looks at how the  inadequate mitigation of problems, such as recycling for example, can actually block further progress by posing as complete solutions.

This is fascinating stuff for anyone interested in how our human biology and evolution affects issues such as the decline of the American education system or the inability of public policy to counteract economic decline. The ramifications for the environment are obvious.

Throughout, Costa shares anecdotes about breakthroughs that highlight people’s ability to surmount incredible obstacles, such as the microfinance solution developed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus that addressed the crushing poverty in Bangladesh by giving tiny businesses small, short term loans.  Applying her biologist’s filter, Costa points out that the program perfected by Yunus tapped into our human instinct to band together in small troupes.

Original article