Obsolescence

noun

the process of becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used; becoming antiquated, out of date, old-fashioned, no longer in general use, or no longer useful, or the condition of being in such a state.

“computers are infamous for their rapid obsolescence”

Cognitive

adjective

relating to relating to the mental process involved in knowing, learning, and understanding things.

“the cognitive processes involved in reading”

In the realm of economic design, human activity has long embraced the practice of planned obsolescence – the deliberate creation of products with a limited useful life. This drives the wheels of innovation, pushing us towards new and novel solutions in technology and daily living, underpinning the model of consumerism considered crucial for economic growth.

This innovation starkly contrasts with how we, humans, cognitively, understand and  adapt, innovate, or change  – or fail to do any of those – with our own thinking.

The term “cognitive obsolescence” coined by Bill Rees emerges as a powerful concept to describe this phenomenon. It highlights an ironic evolution: while we can design products that evolve at an ever-accelerating pace, human cognition does not keep up with the same speed in terms of fostering life-affirming behaviours that would benefit our survival and well-being in the long term. This concept challenges us to reflect on the fundamental paradigms of human thinking and learning. It succinctly highlights why there is an essential need to ‘unlearn and relearn’.

Our brains, honed by millennia of evolution primarily for survival and reproduction within relatively stable ecological contexts, now face challenges associated with the complexity, speed and scale of interconnection and impact that are vast and complex. The rapid changes in our environment, society, and technology demand adaptive capacities that our biological evolution has not kept pace with. The global climate crisis, unprecedented biodiversity loss, and the unsustainable consumption of natural resources are symptoms of this larger problem, manifestations of our failure to adapt our thinking. They are not the cause.

We construct technologies and systems that, while sophisticated, often spring from simplified, reductionist thinking. Our solutions to complex problems, like climate change or social inequality, often involve technologically advanced but fundamentally simplistic approaches that fail to address the systemic nature of these issues. These solutions frequently benefit those who already hold power and resources, exacerbating inequality and ignoring the deeper, systemic changes needed to avert ecological and social collapse. The cognitive gap between the systems we have, even if unwittingly, established and our ability to foresee and respond to the future are antithetical to our collective resilience and adaptive capacity.

Whilst we continue to innovate and design in ways that render our own creations obsolete, we must turn this innovative spirit towards our cognitive frameworks. There is an urgent need for cognitive renewal, for fundamental shift in how we think about and respond to the world. To the best of our biologically-limited abilities, we must begin to think in complex systems terms. This shift requires more than just technological innovation; it demands a radical transformation of our education systems, public discourse, cultural norms, and economic structures. Education systems must support the reconfiguration of our neural pathways, essentially the unwiring and rewiring of neural connections. This means they have to pivot from imparting static knowledge to fostering dynamic learning skills, from an emphasis on rote memorisation and standardised testing towards one that prioritises critical thinking, emotional intelligence, systemic understanding, and cognitive flexibility. These are skills that help us grapple with complexity and ambiguity.

In a world of accelerating change and complexity, cognitive obsolescence is not an abstract concept but a pressing reality that demands our urgent attention. Overcoming cognitive obsolescence is not just about adapting our brains. It is more about fundamentally transforming the social, economic and political contexts within which our brains operate.

How can we most effectively support and sustain new ways of thinking and behaving that are better attuned to the complexities of the 21st century and the biophysical limits of our planet?

This is a collective endeavour, requiring both individual effort and societal engagement. Public discourse should encourage deeper engagement with global issues, moving beyond the inane and superficial. We must redefine success metrics to align with ecological realities and human well-being, rather than mere consumption and growth. Perhaps most crucially, we need to reframe our economic goals and personal aspirations so that society evolves to operate within the planet’s biophysical limits

To read more about Cognitive Obsolescence, you can see Bill Rees’ original paper here. You can also see his slides form the conversation on May 8th here and the synthesis of that conversation, including its chat comments, here.

Resilience Revisited is an occasional blog series reflecting on the need for a deeper understanding of the concept of resilience, one that inspires an exploration of its complexities and a conscious, intentional shift towards achieving strong resilience – and sustainability – individually and collectively.  It is a way of articulating my thoughts on my PhD journey. Whilst it is my primary authorship, it comes from the synthesis of many thought contributions for which I am immensely grateful. The instigator of this particular post – and the person who coined to term ‘cognitive obsolecence’ – is William Rees! Shared conversations with him along with Sean Bellamy Gerard (“Gerry”) Salole and Shaun McInerney have explored the relationship between this notion and the critical need for #unlearning when #reimagining – education, philanthropy, lifestyles …. and more. You can join them in a conversation to explore this notion further on May 8th. Register in advance here.

Posted in Resilience, Thought Piece, Uncategorized

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