In order to maintain our way of living, we must tell lies to each other, and especially to ourselves

In order to maintain our way of living, we must tell lies to each other, and especially to ourselves

Derrick Jensen, an American author and environmental activist, is known for his radical views on the state of the planet and the need for drastic action to combat environmental destruction. In his work, Jensen often argues that in order to maintain our current way of living, we must tell lies to each other and to ourselves. This idea is rooted in his belief that our society is built on a foundation of exploitation and destruction, and that in order to continue living in this way, we must deceive ourselves about the true cost of our actions.

Jensen's argument is based on the premise that our current way of living is unsustainable and destructive to the planet. In order to maintain this lifestyle, we must ignore the consequences of our actions and deceive ourselves into believing that everything is fine. This deception is necessary in order to continue exploiting the earth for resources, polluting the environment, and perpetuating systems of inequality and oppression.

One of the key lies that Jensen believes we tell ourselves is that technology will save us from the environmental crisis. He argues that the belief in technological solutions to environmental problems is a form of denial, as it allows us to continue living unsustainably without making any real changes to our behavior. By convincing ourselves that technology will solve all of our problems, we are able to avoid confronting the reality of the damage we are causing to the planet.

Another lie that Jensen identifies is the myth of perpetual growth. Our society is built on the idea that economic growth is necessary for prosperity, and that we can continue to consume resources indefinitely without any negative consequences. This belief is a form of self-deception, as it allows us to ignore the fact that our planet has finite resources and that continued growth is not sustainable in the long term.

Jensen's argument is a stark reminder of the need for honesty and accountability in our society. In order to truly address the environmental crisis and create a more sustainable way of living, we must be willing to confront the lies that we tell ourselves and make real changes to our behavior. Only by acknowledging the true cost of our actions and taking responsibility for the impact we have on the planet can we hope to create a better future for ourselves and for future generations.