Showing posts with label cooperation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooperation. Show all posts

Aug 24, 2025

post-growth


Prompt: Contentment is anathema to capitalism. 

Response: "Capitalism thrives on the idea that individuals will always want more, driving demand and innovation. Contentment can dampen this drive. (...) If people are satisfied with their current situation, they may not engage in the consumer behaviors that fuel economic expansion. (...) This dynamic raises interesting questions about the balance between personal fulfillment and economic systems." 

Prompt: Relation of contentment with the photo.

Response: "(...) The lush greenery suggests a peaceful retreat, promoting relaxation and a sense of well-being. Being surrounded by plants can enhance feelings of contentment, as nature often provides a calming effect. (...) The presence of a small table and chairs indicates a space for reflection or social interaction. Such environments can foster connections with oneself or others, contributing to a sense of fulfillment. (...) Spaces like this encourage mindfulness, allowing individuals to appreciate the moment and their surroundings, which is essential for cultivating contentment. (...) This serene setting contrasts with the hustle of urban life and consumer culture, highlighting the beauty of simplicity and the joy found in small, everyday moments.

Prompt: You said "This serene setting contrasts with the hustle of urban life" and yet this is a city balcony. 

Response: "(...) the setting is indeed a city balcony, which adds an interesting layer to the discussion of contentment. The balcony serves as a personal retreat amidst the urban hustle, allowing individuals to escape the noise and chaos of city life, even if just temporarily. (...) Incorporating plants in city living can enhance well-being, providing a connection to nature that is often lacking in densely populated areas. (...) The ability to create a serene space in an urban environment reflects a conscious effort to cultivate contentment, balancing the demands of city life with personal well-being. (...) The arrangement of plants and seating suggests a thoughtful approach to living, where individuals prioritize moments of peace and reflection, even in a bustling city. 

Prompt: Do you think it is a good image for what post-growth can be? 

Response: "Yes, the image can effectively symbolize the principles of post-growth. (...) Emphasis on Sustainability. The lush plants represent a commitment to sustainability and ecological balance, key tenets of post-growth thinking, which advocates for living within ecological limits. Quality of Life Over Quantity The cozy balcony setting emphasizes the importance of quality of life and well-being over material accumulation, reflecting a shift away from consumerism. Connection to Nature. The presence of greenery highlights the value of integrating nature into daily life, promoting mental health and a sense of community, which are central to post-growth ideals. Intentional Living. The serene atmosphere encourages mindfulness and simplicity, suggesting that fulfillment can come from small, meaningful experiences rather than constant growth and consumption. Urban Resilience. The image illustrates how urban spaces can adapt to promote resilience and sustainability, showcasing a vision for future living that prioritizes harmony with the environment.

Photo by Monica Pinheiro CC BY-NC-SA (CC), August 20, 2025.

Mar 21, 2025

March


A propósito das narrativas exageradas e erróneas da grandiosidade do ser humano, António Damásio, em Sentir e Saber (2020), escreve: 
"É grandiosa no que diz respeito aos seres humanos; menospreza injustificadamente os seres não-humanos; e não reconhece a interdependência e a capacidade de cooperação das criaturas vivas, desde as que existem ao nível macroscópico até aos seres humanos. Em última análise, não reconhece a presença de dispositivos e mecanismos poderosos, presentes na natureza desde o início da vida." 
Photo of tapestry detail «undigitise» by Monica Pinheiro CC BY-NC-SA (CC). March 2025.

Dec 12, 2023

cooperation


“In fighting against resistance, we will become more focused on getting rid of the problem than on understanding what it is; by contrast, when working with resistance we want to suspend frustration at being blocked, and instead engage with the problem in its own right”. Richard Sennett (2013). Together. The Rituals, Pleasures & Politics of Cooperation. Photo by Monica Pinheiro CC BY-NC-SA (CC).

Dec 11, 2022

December

"An unplanned exercise in cooperation is taking place, with animal and plant, fungus and microbe, competing and collaborating in complex ways. This is an ecosystem discovering itself, and it is here that the fundamental patterns of life on land are been established." Thomas Halliday (2022). Otherlands: A World in the Making. Photo by Monica Pinheiro free to use if you respect the license CC BY-NC-SA (CC).

Jun 13, 2021

June

 

"Human knowledge, ingenuity, technology and cooperation can transform societies and economies and secure a sustainable future. (...) Each individual and organization has a role to play in moving society along pathways toward a sustainable future that will vary across nations, regions and contexts, including through existing institutions and policy approaches." United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Making Peace with Nature: A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies. Image by Monica Pinheiro, license CC BY-NC-SA (CC)

Jan 29, 2021

January


“Our ways of thinking and the paths we take in life are hard to fathom, much less forecast using a reductive formula”, like an algorithm. "Listening helps you understand people’s mind-sets and motivations, which is essential in building cooperative and productive relationships as well as knowing which relationships you’re better avoiding.” Kate Murphy (2020). You’re Not Listening. Image by Monica Pinheiro, license CC BY-NC-SA (CC).

Dec 12, 2020

December

“If the composition of the air we breath depends on living beings, the atmosphere is no longer simply the environment in which living beings are located and in which they evolve; it is, in part, a result of their actions. In other words, there are not organisms on one side and the environment on the other, but a co-production by both. Agencies are redistributed.” Bruno Latour (2020). Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime. Image by Monica Pinheiro, license CC BY-NC-SA (CC).

Mar 29, 2019

March

March 2019
Image by Monica Pinheiro, license CC BY-NC-SA (CC)