Critical thinking          

A 1972 MIT study predicted that the global economy would cease growing by 2030, followed by a rapid deterioration of Earth’s ecosystems and human society by 2040—unless we change our "business as usual" model. (Unfortunately, we didn’t.) A subsequent KPMG sustainability study revealed that MIT’s predictions were actually optimistic, and the reality is even worse than anticipated.

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In this class, we will explore these existential threats. We’ll study a wide range of theories, from Michel Foucault’s ideas about the centralization of power to game theory and the Tragedy of the Commons. We’ll also examine the concept of Incomplete Capitalism and review empirical theories on societal collapse, including works by Jared Diamond and Joseph Tainter.