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I believe there is room for everyone

Your views are valuable, and if they differ from mine, I genuinely welcome your feedback. All I ask is for respectfulness in the conversation, creating a space where we can learn from each other.

-mannimykel

Inspiration Behind THINKERER

The world's growing complexity and uncertainty often leaves me anxious.  

With today's internet it's so hard to get interesting information without the anxiety-inducing click bait and targeted advertisements, or paying $5/month to yet another service I'll forget about and continue to pay subscriptions fees on for months thanks to Auto-Pay. I can't deal with it anymore so I wanted to create my own space for my explorations and invite others to join in the fun! It's essentially a blog of where my head is at, and what I'm learning on my own journey to living a sustainable life. 

 

I've always been interested in technology and from the things I was reading, ChatGPT seemed like it could be a solution to alleviate my frustrations. So far, it seems I was right. I'm able to explore topics from different angles very quickly to gain new perspective and discover new insights which help me on my journey to understand the universe and contribute to human understanding.

 

Because of my profession, I mostly read about things related to sustainability (which is virtually everything). Because I am something of a polymath, I can take seemingly unrelated concepts and find linkages -- a useful skill I seek to share through THINKERER.

 

Over the course of my life I discovered two philosophical movements in history that complement each other exceptionally well to create a strong sustainability framework. I call this framework civic sustainability, because it is distinct from traditional sustainability. Sustainability is built on three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. Civic sustainability is built on five: environmental, social, economic, cultural, and political

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Our world's attention-grabbing frenzy frustrates me. It's not about picking sides, it's not 'them or us,' or 'you or me'—the issue lies with the entire system. I believe the root of this problem is that information moves faster than our capacity to fully comprehend it, leading us to react impulsively rather than taking the time to form thoughtful responses. This is what we need to change most urgently.

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To ensure this blog remains somewhat consistent in focus, I chose to ground all my thought pieces in the Enlightenment and Transcendentalist movements. These are the sources from which I  derive personal peace, and I believe their philosophy can guide us towards a more sustainable, equitable, and just world. 

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We don't always need to reinvent the wheel to effect significant changes; sometimes, all it takes is slowing down, examining our history, and working together to incrementally improve what we already have.

Roots in Enlightenment

The Enlightenment Era was a time of radical thought and innovation that challenged conventional norms and fundamentally altered our societal understanding. It was an era that held reason, logic, and empirical evidence in high regard, asserting that these tools could catalyze both personal and societal betterment.

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In this blog, I aim to embrace this ethos of the Enlightenment, endorsing reason and continual self-growth. I champion open-mindedness, inquiry, and dialog, striving to create a space where ideas can be freely exchanged, critically examined, and progressively refined. I believe in the transformative power of education, knowledge, and logic, viewing them as catalysts that can drive us towards a society marked by equity, mutual understanding, and sustainability.

DALL·E 2023-05-29 17.17.18 - abstract painting of evolution.png
DALL·E 2023-05-29 13.14.28 - graffiti of a a bunch of colorful intricate chains.png
DALL·E 2023-05-29 12.07.48 - Vincent Van Gough style painting of a quantum computer.png
DALL·E 2023-05-29 08.38.02 - realism oil painting  of a humanoid robot (similar to iRobot)
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Inspired by Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophy that emphasizes self-reliance, inherent benevolence, and a profound, spiritual bond with nature. It suggests that we all harbor limitless potential for personal evolution and enlightenment—a perspective that fuels my vision for THINKERER.

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I value each person's unique journey towards self-realization and the cultivation of their inner wisdom. I'm devoted to creating a space that inspires introspection, stimulates personal growth, and nurtures our innate capacities for compassion and empathy. I believe that this personal transformation can lay the groundwork for a broader societal shift.

DALL·E 2023-05-29 10.30.38 - expressive oil painting representing the transcendentalist mo

Vision of Civic Sustainability

My vision of civic sustainability envisions a world where people are not just equipped, but also enthusiastic about contributing to a better society—a society that values dialogue and collaboration, prioritizes understanding and empathy, and cherishes our planet.

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