Tim Ingold 'Rethinking Intergenerational Relations'

Professor Emeritus of Social Anthropology at the University of Aberdeen, Tim Ingold visits the Emerging Tech Lab this November to present his talk 'Rethinking intergenerational relations'.

The root of much of our difficulty, when it comes to facing the future, lies in the way we have come to think about generations, as layers succeeding one another. Historically, this is anomalous, yet it is mostly taken for granted as an unquestioned backdrop to discussions of evolution, life and death, longevity, extinction, sustainability, education, climate change, and a host of other matters of intense contemporary concern. This talk suggests that a return to the idea that life is forged in the overlap of generations, in ongoing relations of collaboration, might not only ameliorate some of our anxieties, but also offer a lasting foundation for coexistence. But it will also mean having to abandon some or our most cherished convictions, including our faith in the inevitability of progress, and in the ability of science and technology to cushion humanity from environmental impacts. A perfect world is not around the corner, nor will our troubles ever end. Nevertheless, for as long as life continues, there is hope for generations to come.

This talk will be followed by a conversation.