The Earth is full of problems, many of which are highly complex. Their complexity is caused, among other things, by the limits of our knowledge and technology; the complexity of natural processes and society (the socio-ecological system), with its intricate connections and interdependencies; path dependencies, such as the difficulty of changing infrastructure; social constructions and conventions; and the complexity of the human mind. Everything is connected through complex interactions. Can all of this be managed? I believe it is possible, provided that our level of knowledge is sufficiently high and that we understand systems thinking. Knowledge is power. The Finnish academic Erik Allardt stated: “When we know the processes of nature and society thoroughly, we can make good interventions.” Managing the world well requires not only knowledge but also a high ethical standard from humanity.

The Root Causes of the World’s Problems
In order to understand how problems can be solved, we must first diagnose them and consider their nature and causes, just as a doctor does when treating an illness. The world’s social, or societal, problems, such as wars and poverty, are primarily caused by poor relationships between human beings. The world’s ecological problems, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, are caused by humanity’s poor relationship with nature. A poor relationship manifests itself, for example, as indifference, greed, and a lack of knowledge. The same principles that make a good romantic or friendship relationship are also part of the solution to these problems: empathy, valuing the other, knowing the other, wanting what is good for the other, living together, and planning things together.

Ultimately, everything begins in the human mind. A good relationship with nature and with other people begins in the psyche. We must increase our knowledge, wisdom, empathy, and compassion. When we recognize the value of one another and of nature, rather than seeing other beings on this planet as “others” who have no value, or at worst as threats and competitors, positive change becomes possible. When we understand how systems function and that everything is connected to everything else in some way, we can understand the importance and significance of the system that sustains all of this.

Technically speaking, the world’s problems most often arise because people take too much from nature and from other people, dump pollutants into the natural environment, and fight over resources. Selfishness, hatred, and ignorance lie behind these problems. Ethics must guide our behavior in the same way that laws do. Through reason, knowledge, and compassion, we can envision what a good world should look like, just as plans and blueprints are drawn up before a house is built. We are the builders of the world. Not everyone needs to share the same values in every respect, but agreement must be reached on the things that matter most. Different cultures, subcultures, and religions can coexist as long as they are united by respect for life, human rights, the value of nature, equality, democracy, and freedom. Almost all the countries of the world have recognized these as common principles through the United Nations.

Solutions

A paradigm is an established way of thinking or worldview. Because the root causes of our problems originate in the human mind and in broken relationships, we must change our entire way of thinking and our worldview. We must see the world as a system in which everything is interconnected. We must recognize value in human beings, animals, and plants. Humanity must transform its system of values. Nature is not a resource, an enemy, or a mere means to an end; nor are other people competitors, threats, or beings without value.

Immanuel Kant argued that ethics is realized only when we see other people and beings as ends in themselves — as beings whose happiness and well-being matter — rather than as means to an end. Humanity must abandon an instrumental view of the world and stop seeing society and nature as machines. Living beings are not here merely to provide utility; they are here to be free, alive, and happy. A forest does not exist simply to be cut down, nor animals simply to be eaten. Human beings are not here to serve a machine-like society or a capitalist economic system.

A Paradigm Shift

The world is a complex system that should be understood as networks in which everything is interconnected. Things are rarely linear, as one might imagine, for example, when considering the operation of an engine. The world is not simple but highly complex, containing countless connections and interactions. We need to move from a linear worldview to a systemic one.

Consumption is destroying the planet. Consumption is a linear use of resources and one of the greatest causes of environmental problems. It must be replaced by a circular economy. The world should not be viewed as a series of linear flows and chains of events, but as cycles, such as the water and nutrient cycles.

Nature is not a collection of resources but a system consisting of living beings and non-living elements whose cycles sustain life. The interactions and symbiosis among living organisms make the continuation of life and the harmonious existence of ecosystems possible.

The world is not an isolated island. Our way of thinking must shift from nationalism toward a global perspective in which the world is seen as a village where everything affects everything else and where we have a responsibility toward one another.

The pursuit of individual interests must give way to the pursuit of the common good. The purpose of a good society is the happiness and well-being of all its members.

In energy production, we must move entirely away from a linear fossil-fuel economy and nuclear power toward sustainable renewable energy. Only an energy system based on nature’s cyclical processes, such as wind and solar power, is sustainable. The energy system must be capable of lasting for billions of years. In the distant future, perhaps we will even be able to harness the energy of black holes.

We must move from technocracy toward a worldview shaped by ethics. The world is not a machine, and solutions to its problems are not merely technical.

Short-term thinking must give way to thinking on a timescale of millions of years. This is a prerequisite for creating a sustainable world. The world is unfinished, but we can build it into a better place, generation by generation. We carry the torch in our turn, and we can pass the world on to future generations in a better condition than we found it.

An Eight-Part Path to Change

Linear → systemic
Consumption → circularity
Nature as a resource → nature as a system
National → global
Individual interest → the common good
Fossil fuels → renewables
Technocracy → science + ethics + humanism
Short-term thinking → a timescale of millions of years

Daniel Elkama