Which Future?: Choosing Democracy, Climate Health, and Social Justice

Which Future? will change forever the possibilities you imagine for the future. Relentless climate disruption and severe societal inequities threaten Earth's well-being and humanity's future. But are chaotic, dystopian scenarios inevitable? Not if we recognize our collective choices as the very foundation of these destructive forces. Which Future? presents a bold, provocative alternative to conventional thinking, based on an imaginative synthesis of 21st century cognitive, cultural, and biological sciences. First, it explains how, because human reality is socially constructed, we have the power to control our own destiny. Second, it spells out the way humanity is interconnected with nature, so that our very survival depends on keeping nature healthy. Finally, it fleshes out the full worldview of "natural humanism," built on the values of true democracy and sound natural science, a vision of people interconnected with the planet and each other, and morally committed to everyone's well-being and fulfillment.

About the Author :
David Greene is an independent scholar passionate about contributing to human welfare and justice. An instinctively holistic thinker and Stanford PhD in social psychology, he has enjoyed careers in academia, software development, and K-12 education policy research and evaluation. Along the way he has conducted significant research at Amherst College, the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and SRI International; and has conducted funder-initiated evaluations in the Chicago and Los Angeles public schools, and for the Lawrence Hall of Science. He lives and works at home in Palo Alto, CA and posts online at whichfuturebook.com.

Review :
In Which Future?, David Greene synthesizes principles from evolutionary biology, linguistics, systems engineering, philosophy and political science to argue that if we want any future at all, we don't really have a choice: we must embrace a radical shift in the way we engage with the world and with other human beings. A thoughtful, provocative and important book. - Dr. Sally E. Goldin, Carnegie-Mellon University Thailand, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering David Greene's powerful insight is in showing how the relationships of humans to nature, and humans to other humans, are deeply interconnected, as well as what this implies. We cannot restore our relationship to the natural world if we do not simultaneously restore our relationships with one another, and our commitment to justice and human flourishing. Which Future?, aptly described as a work of moral philosophy, offers us a wake-up call well worth heeding. - Alan Mallach, Urbanist, Author of The Divided City In Which Future?, David Greene draws on principles of cognitive science, evolution, and general systems theory to derive a small set of fundamental moral imperatives. This constitutes an insightful and important new approach to moral philosophy, challenging current neoliberal dogma and speaking directly to central issues confronting humanity. A timely and well-written call to action for us all. - Mark R. Lepper, Stanford University Professor of Psychology, emeritus I must have read a thousand times someone saying that we need to revise our way of thinking if we're going to avoid climate and human catastrophe. But such comments are always light on just how we should do that. In Which Future?, Greene fills that gap with a compelling prescription for philosophical and political change. - Robert Adler, Author of Science Firsts and Medical Firsts