ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the case that our material success as a species has not been matched by an equally robust evolution of empathic care for our natural surroundings, by a reflexive appreciation of our own power and limitations, or by an emergent sense of adult responsibility. These latter features are essentially ideational, not material, and are summed under the heading of ‘metanarrative,’ a concept in immediate need of renovation. The term ‘metanarrative’ is defined and discussed, noting its importance as an expression of our shared interests, objectives, and ethical propensities and, in effect, as an embodiment of the public mindscape. This chapter sets up a cultural critique of the incumbent metanarrative by establishing a top-down view of human affairs on Earth. It closes with an acknowledgement of other approaches to understanding the macro-trends of our collective behaviour, explaining my preference for the former.
