I absolutely agree. IMO people often consider their choices to be too much a product of their mind and not enough a product of the environment. It's amazing how blinded people can be to very basic options and alternatives. By and large, we live the lifestyles that we were born into, without examination that would lead us to significant disruptions. I'm not saying that I am above this in any way, either. However, where we do have data and history to draw on, we can design our world with a bias for outcomes that we would prefer. I do strongly believe that we can help build a more rewarding and connected society by changing the spaces that we live in and move through. And, I am only half-joking about Hubski. :)I guess I feel like secular society needs to combat this in some way. We need to either re-design the infrastructure of our societies to promote integration and improve social life or we need to actively foster an inclusive community identity to replace what religious institutions provided in past centuries.
Haha, I have grown to love Hubski. It is a great community. And I really agree that "we can build a more rewarding and connected society by changing the spaces that we live in and move through". Very well said. I've thought about it often, and have had an opportunity to live in a lot of difference places and spaces, but I am still unsure what is the best social arrangement for individuals and society as a whole. It would make for a great discussion!