Exogenous, Inc. (EXO) is also in the education business. We believe that our ability to recognize patterns has been reduced, if not largely eliminated, for too many of us. Media echo-chambers have driven us to distraction. Trust in the "news" continues to fall (raising the question of just how low it can get and the consequences). Opinion polls have failed us. "Science" has, unfortunately, seriously discredited itself, with the explosion of "irreproducable" results and its naked politicization. Institutions are being held in contempt – by even the most "regular" among us. Many feel the time has come to start over, question our assumptions and attempt to find something worth believing.
This situation is a direct result of the shift in the paradigms (see Paradigm heading) we are now living through. Human affairs, in our view, are driven by "psycho-technological environments." Yes, that's a mouthful – so let's break it down. What we claim is that our psychology is "plastic" and, as we all know, can change significantly from one generation to the next. "Counter-cultures" come and go. "Generation gaps" have become the norm. But what *causes* all this to happen?
We believe that it's the communications technologies we habitually use that shape our behaviors and attitudes. This is particularly the case for the technologies we learn to use for navigating society in our most formative years. In the process – which is also variable by geography and heritage – we develop new "sensibilities" and, as a result different "world-views." This is potentially more perilous than the Biblical "Tower of Babel," since the resulting "identities" can and do find themselves in conflict. As Marshall McLuhan detailed in his "War and Peace in the Global Village," threats to your identity typically lead to violent reactions.
We'd like to avoid that – as much as possible. One approach might be to claim that we all have something in common – such as the "Family of Man" &c – and along the way demote our personal/group identities, along with the sensibilities involved. But that brings in some major difficulties. Judgement becomes mere "opinion" and discourse becomes just more "entertainment." We wind up "amusing ourselves to death," as Neil Postman put it. The resulting "dumbing-down" then takes over and "free speech" becomes an empty slogan since nothing meaningful can be said. As Facebook illustrates. That's not going to last for long, as we're now experiencing as the TELEVISION environment is replaced by a DIGITAL one. Ill-equipped to deal with very real differences, we increasingly find ourselves at each other's throats. No, this will not end well.
One approach might be to claim that we all have something in common – such as the "Family of Man" &c – and along the way demote our personal/group identities, along with the sensibilities involved. But that brings in some major difficulties. Judgement becomes mere "opinion" and discourse becomes just more "entertainment." We wind up "amusing ourselves to death," as Neil Postman put it. The resulting "dumbing-down" then takes over and "free speech" becomes an empty slogan since nothing meaningful can be said.
Instead, education is our approach. Not education about the "facts" or their interpretation but rather about how this whole process works. Education about the *ground* of our experiences. Starting with the psychology involved. Continuing with the basic *causality* involved. A rich appreciation of how all this is illustrated by history is also very important. Humility is required. "Universalizing" is to be avoided. Respect for others is mandatory. Taking responsibility for our actions is the intended result.
Responsibility is crucial -- particularly since the technologies we have developed are often more "powerful" than we realize. But in order for this to happen, we need to reframe those responsibilities so that they are reasonable in our lives. We are not responsible for everything. We are not responsible for those things over which we have no real agency. We are not responsible for "saving the world." We need to draw the limits and they are much closer to our actual lives than many realize.
In addition to the educational services that EXO can provide to our clients, its parent organization CSDL has also organized a multi-year study program that we call "Trivium University" (which is aimed at graduate students) and a free program organized under the name "The School" to offer some insights for a wider audience. We believe that those willing to participate will have an advantage when dealing with a world in crisis. We invite you to explore these opportunities with us.