The Transformative Power of Pragmatism

Making purpose and needs the centerpiece of global dialogue

Moving Beyond Regret

At 57, reflecting on a pivotal decision made at 35, and I found myself ensnared in a web of regret during a contemplative walk. The question, "What if I had done that differently?" played on a loop, weighing me down. Yet, in the midst of all this turmoil, I noticed another thought: "How well is this regret serving me?" I realised what really mattered to me was the richness and enjoyment I could derive from this moment and all future moments. Far from working for me, listening to the regretful voice in my head was making me miserable and making me feel less energised to embody an exciting, adventurous life.

From Personal Insight to Global Application

The question ‘how well is this working for me (or you, or us)?’ is at the heart of Acceptance and Commitment therapy and also American pragmatism. For example, John Dewey asked how well traditional educational methods like rote memorisation were working for teachers, and encouraged them to experiment with new, more engaging approaches to teaching and learning.

The relevance of this pragmatic inquiry extends far beyond personal introspection, touching the very foundations of our culture, politics, and global discourse. The current political arena, often mired in ideology and absolutism, neglects the pragmatic evaluation of policies. Leaders frequently argue from a standpoint of what 'should' happen, invoking rights and universal moral principles, while sidestepping the crucial question: "Will this effectively address what people genuinely need and want?" This ideological entrenchment overshadows the pragmatic assessment of actions and policies, undermining our collective ability to address complex global challenges effectively.

The Global Commons and Our Collective Future

Consider the pressing issue of environmental degradation. The work of Rockstrom et al. (2023) advocates for a radical restructuring of global governance, emphasizing the stewardship of critical life support systems—air, water, life, and land—over nationalistic concerns. Their proposed model of polycentric governance and an overarching global institution for planetary commons seems like an answer to the question, ‘What might work to allow us to care for these critical life support systems?’ Yet, despite the clarity and sensibility of their propositions, I notice my own scepticism that anyone will listen, and my fear and despair that they may not.

Managing my Own Scepticism and Despair with Pragmatic Inquiry

The question then morphs into a meta-inquiry: "Is my scepticism and despair contributing to the solution?" Inspired by Joanna Macy's concept of active hope, I notice that succumbing to despair only diminishes my capacity for action. So what else can I do?

I find myself comforted once again by the presence of nature around me. I think that we need to learn from living systems.

Cultivating a Global Garden: Trusting in Emergence

Just as a garden cannot be cultivated overnight, the evolution of effective global governance demands patience, dedication, and a commitment to emergent, living principles. This approach necessitates a departure from absolutist notions of rights and moral imperatives, urging us instead to engage in a continuous dialogue about our shared values and objectives. By persistently questioning the efficacy of our actions—"What do we truly care about? Is what we are doing working to realize those values?"—we cultivate a fertile ground for the emergence of solutions that resonate with our collective aspirations.

Imagine if, instead of focusing on the intrinsic rightness or wrongness of an action, our media systems focused on asking whether what someone did worked for achieving their aims. Can you imagine the profound transformation that would occur in our national and international debates? Suddenly we would have to try to understand why people acted as they did, not because they are a particular type of person but because of what mattered to them in the moment. And from there we might naturally feel compassion for their efforts.

Lobbying for Change: The Pragmatic Way

The path to establishing Earth System Governance, as outlined by Rockstrom et al., lies in the persistent advocacy for institutions that can act as custodians of our planet's bioregions and critical systems. This endeavour requires a pragmatic approach, one that invites all stakeholders, including the affluent, into a dialogue yet ensures that their influence is balanced by a democratic commitment to the collective good. The continuous application of pragmatic inquiry—” What really matters here” and "Is what we are doing, working?"—serves as our compass, guiding us toward a governance model that is truly fit for the purpose of sustaining and regenerating the earth's natural systems.

Living Pragmatism

As we stand at the crossroads of potential global calamity and transformative change, I believe that we need to look closely at the ways we habitually make sense of, and respond to, social discourse regarding our biggest problems. To me, making the pragmatic worldview more visible and accessible seems like a useful thing to do to bring about what I care most for, a world where the flourishing of life in all its diversity is the paramount measure of our success.

References:

Rockström, J., Kotzé, L., Milutinović, S., Biermann, F., Brovkin, V., Donges, J., Ebbesson, J., French, D., Gupta, J., Kim, R., Lenton, T., Lenzi, D., Nakicenovic, N., Neumann, B., Schuppert, F., Winkelmann, R., Bosselmann, K., Folke, C., Lucht, W., … Steffen, W. (2024). The planetary commons: A new paradigm for safeguarding Earth-regulating systems in the Anthropocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(5), e2301531121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2301531121

Photo by Drew Farwell on Unsplash