Issue #4 — “Can we be generous in the current climate?”
Issue #4: Can we be generous in the current climate?
Issue Contents
Hue (theory)
Fossil Fuels and Capitalism, A Retrospective
The Human Condition is Contributist
A Contributist Climate Perspective
Hearth (practice)
How a contributist lens can help you overcome anger and annoyance
The Election Watch Party
Reflection Question
Pablo’s Note:
This month’s issue centers on climate.
This month’s Hue is a three-part series showing how the path out of climate change must be contributist — it is authored by the newest contributor to the Pablo Parabola community.
The Hearth entries consider a different climate — our social one, which is increasingly contentious, especially in light of the recent election. The first piece considers how we can overcome anger through empathy, and the second is a short story about a contributist who visits an election watch party.
Thank you for giving us your time, and a special thank you to everyone who chose to contribute.
Pablo Parabola
Hue (theory)
Fossil Fuels and Capitalism, A Retrospective
(Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes)
“Driven by a singular focus on maximizing profits, capitalism has subsumed itself like an overheating snake. Instead of leveraging capital to improve the quality of life, capital has leveraged the lives of the many to serve the wants of the few.”
The Human Condition is Contributist
(Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes)
“Human history emphasizes the inherent generosity within all humanity, giving credence to contributism as the most effective and natural solution for mounting existential dread.”
A Contributist Climate Perspective
(Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes)
“Contributism can subvert this “growth at all costs” paradigm by turning the attention away from materialistic consumption and towards enriching our interpersonal bonds.”
Hearth (practice)
How a contributist lens can help you overcome anger and annoyance
(Est. Reading Time: 6 minutes)
“It is not hard to see how our everyday resentment of one another and lack of generosity feeds into the national dysfunction that has been on display in every recent election year. Is there another way?”
The Election Watch Party
(Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes)
“I mean, he’s always like that, of course. He’s always so sure of himself, even if he’s always right. But I think you triggered something in him. You pressed him in a way he wasn’t used to; you pressed him on his kindness, his generosity of spirit. In return, he was honest, and he listened.”
This Month’s Reflection Question:
In recent times, an attitude of resentment and antagonism towards our opponents (political or otherwise) has begun to feel like the new normal. This posture may make us feel righteous, but it also increases our anxiety and isolation, and further entrenches division. Contributism breaks this cycle by calling us to orient ourselves towards one another instead of away. The next time you find yourself thinking or speaking ill of your political opponents, take a moment to stop and ask yourself, what would it look like to be a contributist here — to assert my right to give?