Revi wrote:Does this planet support intelligent life now?
When KJ recently mentioned that it is our mental capacity that makes the human story of overshoot unique I mentioned that we are also capable of reverence.
The Bhuddist story comes to mind regarding the interplay between compassion and intelligence.
Tighten the strings of a guitar too tight and they snap. This is intelligence with no compassion.
Too loose and they don't play. This is compassion with no intelligence.
Music happens when the strings are tightened just right, when intelligence is tempered with reverence and compassion. This sounds very idealistic in today's world but there is true wisdom in this.
The evidence is all around us that intelligence and technology not tempered with reverence for our mother earth is leading us to some frightening consequences. And still many point to further technological innovations leading us out of the impasse, where reverence plays no role.
That is when your question Revi if our planet supports intelligent life now is quite relevant.
Intelligence is easy as it really is just brain power. Wisdom is something else indeed. It considers and integrates mind, body and soul..
We are really out of practice with this as a society.