DeepSummary
The podcast features an interview with Professor Boaventura de Sousa Santos about his book 'From the Pandemic to Utopia: The Future Begins Now.' Santos argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of human existence and exacerbated existing social inequalities. He sees the virus as a messenger from nature, highlighting the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources under capitalism.
Santos discusses the idea of 'barbarism,' suggesting that the current system of production and consumption, despite claims of civilization, is leading to an ecological catastrophe. He proposes a paradigmatic shift towards a new civilizatory model that prioritizes a more equitable relationship between nature and society, and the priority of life, both human and non-human.
Santos outlines three scenarios for the future: negationism, gatopardism (making changes to maintain the status quo), and an alternative scenario that embraces the lessons of the pandemic. He expresses skepticism about the willingness to learn from the pandemic, citing vested interests and the prioritization of short-term crises over long-term systemic issues.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources under capitalism and the fragility of human existence.
- Professor Boaventura de Sousa Santos views the pandemic as a messenger from nature, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift towards a new civilizatory model that prioritizes an equitable relationship between nature and society, and the preservation of life.
- Santos critiques the notions of 'progress' and 'civilization,' suggesting that the current system, despite claims of progress, is leading to forms of 'barbarism' that are causing harm, particularly in the Global South.
- Santos outlines three scenarios for the future: negationism, gatopardism (making changes to maintain the status quo), and an alternative scenario that embraces the lessons of the pandemic.
- Santos expresses skepticism about the willingness to learn from the pandemic due to vested interests and the prioritization of short-term crises over long-term systemic issues.
- Santos advocates for a transition towards more sustainable practices, such as investing in public health systems, promoting agricultural sovereignty, and gradually transitioning to renewable energy sources.
- Santos emphasizes the importance of learning from diverse knowledges and experiences around the world, beyond the dominant Western paradigm, to inform a more sustainable and equitable future.
- Santos acknowledges the difficulty of the transition but maintains a 'tragic optimism' that change is possible, particularly through grassroots initiatives and a willingness to learn from the pandemic's lessons.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Well, barbarism has always been a concept that used for something that precedes our time or succeeds our time, and it is much worse than our current time. We, particularly in the global north, we have always believed that barbarism is behind us. It was before, because we believe in progress, and science and technology have brought, in fact, progress. Well, many people in the global south don't buy this narrative because they have been suffering the consequences of this so called progress.“ by Boaventura Santos
- “I think that we have to start from what is possible. For instance, if you want an energetic transition for countries that depend on fuel, fuel, fossil energy, we cannot change that from one day to the next. So we have to change it gradually, but intensively.“ by Boaventura Santos
- “The other is the discussion of agricultural sovereignty. That is to say, there are essential goods that we should produce locally if possible, because you know that when a pandemic comes and the chain, the distribution chain breaks down, you may be, you know, in great danger.“ by Boaventura Santos
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Episode Information
New Books in Environmental Studies
Marshall Poe
8/11/23