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Thinking
Summary
This section provides a brief outline of the
topics covered by our think tank and the range of outputs it produces.
We aim to develop thinking, insights and ideas that lead to a better
life for everyone and a more sustainable, just and intellectually
coherent world. This work ranges across various subject areas but
some key topics of interest are summarised below:
1.
The Search for a Better Future
The 'Movement for Global Change' is the
loose title we give to the range of organisations and individuals
that are seeking a similar vision of a better future to ours - one
that is sustainable, just and intellectually coherent (see 'Our
Values'). This includes causes such as the environment, poverty,
human rights, animal rights and political reform.
Our work supporting this movement can
be split into various components, including:
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Examining
our current position - considering
the positive and negative aspects of life in the modern world.
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Creating
a vision of a better future -
considering the vision of the future we should be seeking, the
challenges of setting such a vision, the changes required to
reach it and the credibility of the vision that the 'movement'
is currently seeking.
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Considering
how to pursue this vision in the most effective way -
for example, how to most effectively gain change in the attitudes
and behaviour of individuals, groups and societies.
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2. The Search for a Better
Life
Within this topic area we consider the
subjective experience of life, explore the conditions needed for
an enjoyable and fulfilling life and promote these conditions. This
potentially covers a wide range of individual subjects, including:
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The
Subjective Experience- exploring
the profound experience of existing as a human being, how to
articulate this experience (e.g. literature, ideas of spirituality,
rationalist responses etc.), defining its parameters and how
to get the most of it.
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The
Good Life - exploring what a 'good life' consists of,
the conditions and skills people require for such a life, the
barriers to such a life in the modern world and how these barriers
can be overcome. |
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How
to Think Clearly - includes general guidance on how to
think more clearly and how to navigate through complex topics
or situations in life, using tools such as 'mental perspective'
and 'mental maps'. May also feature specific guidance on particular
issues, for example moral questions.
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3. The
Search for Clarity of Thought
We believe that perspective, clarity of thought and intellectual
independence are among the 'mental tools' that human beings need
if we are to live better and happier lives in the modern world.
These mental tools are important for us all - from the ordinary
individual trying to live well in the modern world through to the
political leader attempting to make wise decisions. These skills
are needed in the world now more than ever.
In the think tank, we aim to develop greater
clarity of thought ourselves, through research and the development
of accessible intellectual foundations and models for thinking.
We also aim to use this thinking in all our work as an organisation,
enabling us to produce clear thinking, unusual insights and creative
solutions on any issue. Finally, we promote the development of these
skills in the world and pass our own learning on to others through
papers, thinking tools and initiatives.
See the 'Workshop'
page to see some of our background thinking,
'Papers' and 'Reports' to
see some of our insights and 'Initiatives'
to view some of the schemes we have designed.
4. Other
Issues
In this area of work we explore a variety
of areas of interest and concern to us. These may include moral
and political debates, key social and global issues, or any number
of other things.
Particular areas of interest for us at present
include Sustainability, Social and Global Justice, Belief and Religion,
Oppression and the need for Intellectual Coherence and Freedom.
Click <here>
for further examples of think tank topic areas.
Outputs
Through our various outputs we seek to make our thinking available
and accessible to everyone - from interested individuals to practitioners
in charities through to policy makers. The output of the think tank
includes:
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Papers
- a range of papers, articles and commentary - most of
which are free of charge. See 'Papers'
page; |
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Reports
- major reports on key issues - distributed to key decision
makers (e.g. government, charities) in order to influence their
policy and decision making. See 'Reports'
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Consultancy
- our thinking feeds into our consultancy
services; |
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Conferences, Talks, Courses and Events - for example,
'Perspective Weekends' - a residential course in a rural location
to help people stand back from the fuss and involvement of their
normal lives and gain some perspective on life; |
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Publishing - we will publish
output such as journals and books to spread our ideas, educate
society at large and encourage more dialogue on the issues we
are exploring. Books may also provide an opportunity to explore
particularly important or thorny issues in greater depth;
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Broadcasting
and Journalism - we aim to contribute to contemporary
debates, in both popular and specialist media, for similar reasons
to those noted in the 'Publishing' section above. |
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Initiatives
for Social and Global Change - our thinking can sometimes
enable us to identify a need for a new scheme or initiative.
We develop proposals for such schemes, and when appropriate,
incubate the initial development of the scheme within CS. See
'Initiatives' page. |
Click <here>
for further examples of think tank outputs.
Commissions
Should you wish to discuss the possibility of commissioning some
work, to arrange presentations or broadcasting or to order papers
(copies of most papers are available upon request) do get in touch
with us using the details in the 'Contact' page.
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