Knowledge (Old/New)
What old vs. new ways of knowing will help us build the world we want?
The Knowledge theme brings together a number of related axes: Domain, Science, Spirituality, Time, and Technology. One important thread weaving these axes together is old vs. new ways of knowing, focusing on tradition, values, and ancient wisdom vs. rationality, materialism, and contemporary science. Plenty of potential for creative tension here!
Two Poles
Knowledge (Old Pole)
Knowledge (New Pole)
One approach to ways of knowing values what we have inherited from the past, what has stood the test of time. The old pole of the Knowledge theme builds on the ideal Domain, alternative Science, sacred Spirituality, fear of Technology, and veneration of past Time to trust these old ways of knowing more than newer approaches to knowledge. The old pole moves tentatively into the future, leaning more into wisdom than innovation. One possible online example: Order of the Sacred Earth.
The new pole of the Knowledge theme prioritizes contemporary approaches, those that reflect the advancement of knowledge over time. Weaving together the material Domain, mainstream Science, secular Spirituality, love of Technology, and trust in future Time, this pole may or may not respect past traditions, but certainly places far more emphasis on the recent flourishing of scientific and related forms of knowledge. One possible online example: The Breakthrough Institute.
Ideal Pole |
Domain |
Material Pole |
Environmental problems will only go away if we focus on our values and paradigms, not just our practices and behavior. |
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Environmental solutions require changing things that govern what we do, like laws and policy, not just changing our values. |
Heterodox Pole |
Science |
Orthodox Pole |
When it comes to environmental issues, in many cases mainstream science is only one source of truth among others. |
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It’s important to follow scientific consensus and scientific facts in addressing environmental problems. |
Sacred Pole |
Spirituality |
Secular Pole |
Nature has an important spiritual dimension that we must not neglect in coming to terms with our environment. |
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People who look for spiritual dimensions of environmental problems and solutions are wasting their time. |
Technophobic Pole |
Technology |
Technophilic Pole |
Some people think we can solve environmental problems with technology, but this may just create more problems. |
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Technology can make our lives healthier, easier, and more comfortable with minimal adverse environmental impact. |
Past Pole |
Time |
Future Pole |
The past provides ancient wisdom and previously undisturbed ecosystems we must now honor and restore. |
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We need not look to the past for environmental solutions, given our potential for future ingenuity and progress. |
Survey Results
The histogram above displays a weighted mean of this theme’s related axes, for surveys from fall 2018 to now. Responses toward the left of this chart lean toward the left pole of this theme; those toward the right favor the right pole. What is the overall distribution of responses? What does this say about participants in the EcoTypes survey, and their take on this theme? How do your results compare?
The correlation table above compares responses to statements for axes related to this theme. Values near 0 mean little association; values above |0.2| and |0.4| are formatted to imply stronger association. (Positive values mean the axis poles line up as above.) Which axes seem to have a strong empirical association? Do you find any surprises in the strong, weak, or negligible associations summarized above?
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