A call for Perspectival Flexibility

What worries me in today’s society is the absolute lack of imagination. The persisting, and in many ways truly self-protecting, shallow, egocentric and deeply dangerous belief of dominating institutes, politicians and businesses that this is just how the world works. Capitalism, war, poverty, destruction of wider nature, oppression and unequal opportunities are a ‘given’. To be human means to compete, to fight, to go to war, to be envious and always put yourself first Perhaps, if we try really hard this is a truth that we can fade out over centuries. But for today’s society a ‘given’ nonetheless. Simply a fact in a world in which 8 billion people co-exist.

Bulls**! Absolute utter nonsense. This is a narrative with the pure (unconscious?) intention to stifle change, uphold the status quo and constantly enhance the bank accounts, opportunities, health and lives of a happy few. As Rutger Bregman said:

“The inability to imagine a world in which things are different is evidence only of a poor imagination, not the impossibility of change.”

Zeitgeist

This believe simply reflects our current Zeitgeist. This prevailing growth-oriented capitalistic worldview, in which humans became Consumers and governments turned Corporate has only been dominant since the early twentieth century. The consumer story has only been dominant, in certain parts of the world, for a century or so. A time so short, it is as insignificant as a blink on the cosmos’ timeline. A very confused cosmic blink! It’s even a ridiculously short period when placed on the timeline of the Homo Sapiens, who started roaming the earth between 550,000 to 750,000 years ago.

Looking Beyond The Zeitgeist

Matriarchal Societies

In today’s society, womxn still have to stand up, every day, to the fact that masculine energy is running the global (shit) show, but the patriarchy hasn’t always been dominant.

One example of a matriarchal society is the Iroquois. The Iroquois were organized matrilineally, with familial descent traced through the mother's line. Women held significant roles in decision-making, property ownership, and choosing tribal leadership. Clan mothers played a crucial part in selecting chiefs and had authority in council meetings.

Today, the Mosuo people in China's Yunnan province are often cited as an example of a contemporary matriarchal society. In Mosuo culture, family lineage is traced through the maternal line, and property is passed down through daughters. Women have considerable influence in household affairs, economic decisions, and social structures. They hold key roles in community governance, and their opinions are highly valued in decision-making processes within the society.

Gift Societies

A well-known example of a gift society is the potlatch tradition among various Indigenous cultures, including the Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakwaka'wakw peoples. In a potlatch, individuals or families host gatherings where they give away gifts to guests, displaying their wealth and generosity. These gifts can include food, blankets, artwork, or other valuable items.

Potlatches serve various purposes, including celebrating significant events like weddings or funerals, solidifying alliances between different groups, and redistributing wealth within the community. They reinforce social ties, create networks of reciprocity, and maintain social harmony by ensuring that resources are circulated rather than hoarded.

Animate Society

The term "animate society" doesn't refer to a specific societal structure or system in the typical sense. However, the concept of an animate society can be connected to certain indigenous or animist beliefs where the natural world, including plants, animals, and elements, is perceived as having a spirit or soul. In an animate society, the relationships between humans and the environment are often deeply intertwined, impacting social norms, decision-making processes, and the overall worldview of the community.

One example of an animate society can be found in certain Indigenous cultures, like the Navajo (Diné) people of North America. The Navajo traditionally hold beliefs in an animate society where various elements of nature, such as animals, plants, mountains, rivers, and celestial bodies, possess spirits or consciousness. The relationship between humans and nature in Navajo culture is deeply woven into their social fabric, influencing their traditions, values, and interactions within the community. This perspective fosters a holistic worldview where humans are considered as part of nature rather than separate from it, encouraging stewardship and respect for the environment.

Polygamous societies

A polygamous society refers to a cultural or social structure where relationships, partnerships, or marriages don't adhere strictly to the conventional monogamous framework of having only one romantic or sexual partner at a time. Many historical societies, such as ancient Greeks, and various African and Asian communities, practiced polygamy or had forms of multiple partnerships. These practices were often embedded in cultural or religious traditions, where having multiple partners was socially accepted and sometimes even encouraged for reasons like social alliances, inheritance, or religious beliefs.

“Society is always in a state of flux, and each generation's outlook and beliefs will differ from the last” - Unknown

Perspectival Flexibility

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts

Changing mindset requires us to develop a different relationship with "being right". A lot of what we are seeing as givens and truths today are simply the social constructs and beliefs of the Zeistgeist. To transcend our current worldview we need to train our perspectival flexibility.

“Perspectival flexibility is an art of living. It's about constantly trying to remain aware of how you think about others or a situation, recognizing that your perspective is just one viewpoint and not equivalent to ultimate truth. I am drawn to what the Nigerian philosopher Sophie Oluwole says about it: 'Wisdom is the ability to see something in a different way.' I believe you can challenge yourself to break free from the tunnel vision in which we often find ourselves.” - Lammert Kamphuis (Translated from Dutch)

The key is to genuinely delve into the perspective and constantly question the context in which your worldview and ideas are born. You do this, among other things, by actively seeking information, perspectives and ideas from a wide range of different sources, explore wide (existing worldviews) and deep (historical and future worldview). Engaging in conversations with those who hold different opinions, not with the intention to ‘win’ or persuade them to ‘switch sides’. But with the intention and openness to explore, be surprised, learn and perhaps even UNlearn.

Humanity’s future depends on the collective willingness to choose curiousity and kindness over rightness. To stop digging the same hole deeper and start exploring seemingly opposing worldviews. To strengthen and flex our Perspectival Muscles, training our ability to seriously play with a wide range of perspectives and worldviews.

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . . Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relationships? Are you in right relation?Where is your water? Know your garden. It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader."- Hopi Elder Wisdom

How can our perspectives sculpt a more empathetic and inclusive society? Join me in redefining our narrative.

Sources

Perspectival Flexibility:

• Verslaafd aan ons eigen gelijk: Pleidooi voor perspectivistische lenigheid - Lammert Kamphuis (Only In Dutch)
• Lateral Thinking: An Introduction - Edward De Bono.
• Think Again - Adam Grant

Matriarchal Societies:

• "The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future" by Riane Eisler
• "The Creation of Patriarchy" by Gerda Lerner
• "Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years - Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times" by Elizabeth Wayland Barber

Gift Societies:

• "The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies" by Marcel Mauss
• "Gifts and Commodities" by Christopher A. Gregory
• "Gifts of the Spirit: Living the Wisdom of the Great Religious Traditions" by Philip Zaleski and Paul Kaufman

Animate Societies:

• "The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World" by David Abram
• "Animism: Respecting the Living World" edited by Graham Harvey
• "The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual" by Victor Turne

Polygamous Societies

• "Polygamy: A Cross-Cultural Analysis" edited by Miriam Koktvedgaard Zeitzen