The Great Simplification #14 – John Gowdy: “Superorganisms, Crazy Ants, and Fire Apes, Oh My!”

| September 12, 2022 | Leave a Comment

The Great Simplification

Item Link: Access the Resource

Date of Publication: April 13

Year of Publication: 2022

Publisher: The Great Simplification

Author(s): Nate Hagens

In this episode, we meet with Ecological Economist, John Gowdy.

Gowdy explores the revolution in biology and its significance in society. How do different cultures manifest human nature? What role has agriculture, and specific crops, played in how societies developed?

Further, Gowdy discusses the relationship between capitalism, surplus, and The Superorganism. Does human agency matter to the Superorganism? What role do blind evolutionary mechanisms play in the development of our society?

About John Gowdy

John M. Gowdy is Professor of Economics and Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He is the recipient of the Herman Daly Award for contributions to ecological economics.

Listen to the podcast here.

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