Regenerative Systems
Extractive systems exhaust resources by removing them faster than they replenish. These systems are parasitic, while regenerative systems are symbiotic. Regenerative systems protect and enrich what they depend on.
Consider a few regenerative examples:
A regenerative economy would protect the natural energy systems that power it.
In a regenerative system, social media would protect opportunities for offline connection.
A company born from a culture of open ideas and debate would safeguard democratic ideals that gave rise to that culture.
A creator who builds on a rich cultural lineage would be grounded in and support the community of that lineage.
Viewed through the lens of a purely capitalist economic system, regenerative systems often seem impossible. Extractive behavior is more competitive, which means that well-meaning attempts at regenerative behavior are doomed to fail.
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These posts are meant to be conversational. Let me know what you think on Twitter https://twitter.com/joshpitzalis/status/1508265434604535809
Learned about the idea of regenerative systems in a foundational course over at the Center for Humane Technology.
Shoutout to Drew Farwell for the thumbnail.