Page 103 - The Fourth Industrial Revolution
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Towards a new cultural renaissance
As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, “the future enters into us...in order to
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transform itself in us long before it happens.” We must not forget that the
era we currently live in, the Anthropocene or Human Age, marks the first
time in the history of the world that human activities are the primary force in
shaping all life-sustaining systems on earth.
It is up to us.
Today we find ourselves at the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution,
looking forward and, more importantly, possessing the ability to influence
its path.
Knowing what is required to thrive is one thing; acting upon it is another.
Where is all this leading and how can we best prepare?
Voltaire, the French philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment era who
lived for many years just a few miles away from where I am writing this
book, once said: “Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a
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ridiculous one.” Indeed, it would be naive to claim that we know exactly
where the fourth industrial revolution will lead. But it would be equally
naive to be paralysed by fear and uncertainty about what that direction might
be. As I have emphasized throughout this book, the eventual course that the
fourth industrial revolution takes will ultimately be determined by our
ability to shape it in a way that unleashes its full potential.
Clearly, the challenges are as daunting as the opportunities are compelling.
Together, we must work to transform these challenges into opportunities by
adequately – and proactively – preparing for their effects and impact. The
world is fast changing, hyper-connected, ever more complex and becoming
more fragmented but we can still shape our future in a way that benefits all.
The window of opportunity for doing so is now.
As a first and vital step, we must continue to raise awareness and drive
understanding across all sectors of society, which is what this book aspires
to achieve. We must stop thinking in compartmentalized ways when making
decisions – particularly as the challenges we face are increasingly
interconnected. Only an inclusive approach can engender the understanding
required to address the many issues raised by the fourth industrial
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