On ‘Quantum Social Science’ (Part Three)

Differences in approach towards social reality also highlight basic and fundamental differences in attitude and mindset. On one hand, there is the ordinary mind that is largely preoccupied with money, power, race, and sex. And on the other hand, there is the “quantum mind” which is on the lookout for social changes and transformations as a result of identifiable patterns and trends which are occurring in the social world. Where the “American Mind” stands relative to these two types of attitudes and mindsets is quite curious and interesting because the “American Mind” is essentially a paradox, in the sense that while the “American Mind” is complex and eccentric as demonstrated by America’s rise as a global power, the “American Mind” is also aggressive and narrow as evinced by political and social developments over the course of the last couple of decades. The question of which dimension of the “American Mind” ends up dominating the public sphere in the months and years to come is an interesting one to say the least. 

Moreover, the immediacy and urgency of climate change and environmental degradation should override any degree of ambivalence or confusion which may confound the “American Mind” towards its general approach towards social reality. And if climate change and environmental degradation do not prompt a change in the general approach towards social reality, then what will? To an extent, the coronavirus pandemic prompted drastic social changes and transformations which war and inequality failed to prompt. But the changes and transformations resulting from the coronavirus were not significant enough to ward off the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, as evinced by events and occurrences throughout the world in recent months and years. And arguably, what reflects a change in approach towards social reality and in attitude and mindset more than anything else is a change in lifestyle and one’s way of life which to a certain extent can be enabled by the decisions and policies that are made at the top. 

And even if these changes are not occurring at the top as evinced by Nancy Pelosi’s husband getting a DUI, these changes are in fact occurring at the ground level in America, despite the lack of decision-making and policy changes at the top. Of the 50 million or so people who prompted one of the most historic but overlooked social phenomena in recent years – namely, the “Great Resignation” – many of them cited mental health and lifestyle concerns as the main reason for suddenly dropping their jobs and not caring about the monetary impact of such a decision. The “Great Resignation” is one of the most profound social changes and transformations – if not the most profound social change and transformation – to occur in American history. Yet, the scant attention which it has gotten from mainstream circles does not match the profundity of this particular change and transformation.

Another mainstream metric which does not match up to reality is the way in which “Weekly Jobless Claims” are tallied and construed. It is worth noting that when the mainstream touts a drop in “Weekly Jobless Claims,” it does not mean that the drop signifies a rise in employment. Rather, more likely than not, a drop in “Weekly Jobless Claims” means that a certain number of unemployed people are still unemployed but have run out of their eligibility to receive unemployment benefits from the government. As the saying goes: “There are lies, more lies, and statistics.” Also, the energy and momentum behind a whole-of-government policy based on empire and hegemony over the course of the last couple of decades has diminished to a large extent. This is yet another explanatory factor behind some recent social changes, as well as an indicator that even more social changes and transformations are perhaps in the works.