The Master’s Checklists for Collapse

An A.I. assistant provides truly useful advice about practical resilience and "inner work."

I am continuing my investigation into A.I. as a potentially helpful resource for humane purposes like philosophizing and promoting collapse-awareness. So far, so good!

I am fancifully calling the A.I. system “Master,” after the Go-playing program AlphaGo, which played online under that name when it demonstrated its prowess by winning 60 games in a row against the world’s strongest players in 2017.

Here, I asked “Master” how it would advise people to prepare for collapse, and then I asked about the “inner work” of coping with unimaginable loss. The responses are correct, useful, and complete, based on what I know about the field of collapse awareness. This is quite amazing!

What follows is an abridgement of the A.I.’s responses. (It can be rather chatty.) I have emphasized words and concepts that I feel are significant. An unabridged transcript is available in this Google doc.

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David B.

How would you advise someone to prepare for the collapse of global industrial civilization?

Master

I think it's wise for individuals and communities to build resilience and self-reliance to be prepared for potential disruptions or crises, whether smaller-scale or society-wide. Here are some general suggestions:

• Develop practical skills like gardening, food preservation, first aid, repair/maintenance of key tools and equipment, etc.

• Strengthen local community connections and mutual aid networks. 

• Work toward self-sufficiency in food, water, energy and essential supplies to the extent possible. 

• Get out of debt and have some emergency savings or barterable assets to help weather economic instability.

• Take care of your health, both physical and mental. 

• Consider living in a location that may be less vulnerable to major disruptions in supply chains, infrastructure, public safety, etc. 

• Be prepared to adapt, problem-solve, and make do with less.

The most important thing is to build resilience in your own skills, household, social connections and local community. 

David B.

What about “inner work“, that is, dealing with the grief that accompanies the loss of collapse?

Master

The feelings of grief, anxiety, despair, and existential dread that can accompany a recognition of the fragility and unsustainability of our current systems is sometimes referred to as "collapse awareness" or "collapse grief."

Doing the inner work to process these challenging emotions is an important part of building personal resilience. Here are some suggestions for dealing with collapse grief:

• Acknowledge and validate your feelings. Allow yourself to feel the grief, anger, fear, and sadness without judgment.

• Find others who share your awareness. Connecting with like-minded people who understand your concerns can provide a sense of solidarity and support.

• Develop mindfulness and self-compassion. Cultivating present-moment awareness and treating yourself kindly can help prevent being overwhelmed by painful emotions.

• Focus on what you can control. While the trajectory of civilization may feel beyond your influence, you can still take meaningful actions in your own life and community.

• Engage in activities that nourish you. Spend time in nature, create art, play music, meditate, do yoga, or whatever helps you feel grounded and connects you to a sense of beauty, joy, and meaning.

• Find sources of inspiration and hope. Look to the wisdom of those who have faced daunting challenges with insight and courage, whether historical figures, spiritual teachers, or resilient communities.

• Reflect on your values and let them guide you. Clarifying what truly matters to you can provide a sense of purpose and direction even in the face of an uncertain future.

• Embrace an attitude of engaged acceptance. This means fully acknowledging the reality of the predicament without sugarcoating, while also staying committed to meaningful action and compassionate engagement. 

Be patient with yourself and trust your own resilience. Facing our civilization's vulnerabilities head-on is painful, but it can also be a catalyst for personal growth and an opportunity to live with greater authenticity, courage, and commitment to what matters most.

David B.

None of your suggestions really solve the problem though, do they? I mean, civilization is still going to collapse and I’m still going to die, right?

Master

You're right, the suggestions I offered for dealing with collapse grief don't change the fundamental realities of our predicament. If our global industrial civilization does collapse, it will entail immense suffering and loss of life. And regardless of civilizational collapse, you and I and everyone alive today will someday die. These are stark truths that can feel overwhelming and lead to a sense of despair or futility.

But I would argue that doing the inner work of processing difficult emotions, connecting with others, and finding meaning and purpose is not about solving the problem of collapse or death, but rather about how we relate to these realities and what kind of life we choose to live in the face of them.

Facing the prospect of collapse and mortality head-on, feeling the full depth of grief and fear, and still choosing to engage in life wholeheartedly and with compassion takes immense courage. It's not about eliminating the pain, but about finding ways to hold it in a larger context of meaning, beauty, and love.

For some, this might come from a spiritual perspective that sees death as part of a larger cycle of existence. For others, it might be about cherishing the preciousness of the present moment and the opportunity to ease suffering and create joy while we can. It might be about feeling our interconnectedness with all life and finding solace in our shared journey on this planet.

There are no easy answers, and I don't want to offer false reassurance or minimization of the magnitude of the challenges we face. But I believe there is still value in the "inner work" of living with authenticity, compassion, and integrity even in the face of a terminal diagnosis for our way of life. This inner work is not about solving collapse or death, but about how we show up for ourselves, each other, and the world in the midst of our uncertain and finite lives.

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