One of the reasons the City fell into the madness that led to the credit crunch was not just the rampant individualism or lack of hierarchical oversight or egalitarian values but also the fact that everyone thought they could and should be a master of the universe on a six figure salary. There weren’t any fatalists who saw their work as just a decently paid job who might both have calmed things down and spotted the inevitability of eventual collapse.

Totally.

Intersting new report by the WWF on identity theory in relation to climate change: doesn’t come up with much more than vague recommendations, but it’s good to see environmentalists finally tackling why they have so little traction with groups that might be labelled “individualist” and “fatalist”.

http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/meeting_environmental_challenges___the_role_of_human_identity.pdf

A cultural theorist e-mailed me directly with the point that some of the ways we use ‘human ingenuity’ to tackle climate change are very hierarchical; that is to say they rely on massive schemes needing major state support – huge wind farms for example. I think I might refine my statements before I test them with a live audience tomorrow (especially as it turns out that the audience has been rehearsing – see below)

I haven’t managed to hook up with Tim yet. I’lll reprot back when i do.