By Alexander Perepechko

Published on March 26, 2015

The x axis and y axis are respectively the time and development (figure 5). In the epoch of Modernity (the last 500 years), the technosphere has demonstrated an exponential growth (see my February 17, 2015 post). No exponential curve of economic growth can continue indefinitely. The technosphere has limits of growth and approaches a critical barrier. At the same time, the anthropos remains constant. As a result, the gap between development of the technosphere and development of the anthropos – the anthropotechnological scissors – increases. At a certain point this gap reaches a critical width and a civilization destroys itself. This phenomenon is called the Peters paradox (or, Peters barrier) after Thomas Peters, the first author of the book In Search of Excellence (1982), which is celebrated in the theory of elites. Peters and his colleagues researched organizational effectiveness. Results of their research were used and developed in the area of elite studies. There is a hypothesis that both the development of the technosphere and the development of the anthropos arrive at trifurcation points with three options for each (figure 5).

The development of the technosphere has three options:

a) Apocalypse is self-termination of the human race owing to uncontrolled exponential growth.

b) Counter-Modernity bears a resemblance to Pre-Modernity (a society prior to Modernity regulated by religion, tradition, and rules of estate corporation in rural society). However, unlike Pre-Modernity, Counter-Modernity is unnaturally imposed upon a society in the time of Modernity (see Kurginyan, 2012: 108).

c) Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Continue reading Why did Obama not find ways to reach consensus among clashing political elites? (Part 4) →