The dominant narrative shaping our modern world have largely orbited around digitalisation, urbanisation, and sustainability. However, the past 15 years have witnessed several crises challenging these postmodern ideals. Examples include interbank crashes, post-America crisis, pandemics, media-driven polarisation, significant climate events leading to massive migration, global inflation, among others.

It’s not merely an cognitive progression into a new post post-modern era that’s forming in the wake of these crises. Beyond the supposed geopolitical shift with the US being challenged as the dominant world power, and the gradual economic decline of the US, Europe, and Russia, the focal point seems to be shifting towards more immediate and human-centric concerns.

A Highly Risk Exposed Middle Class

The cost of living is shooting up worldwide at an unseen rate, with noticeable increases in housing prices alongside rising healthcare, energy, food, and education costs. While this change offers nothing new for the working class, it largely impacts the middle class who previously maintained a high quality of life, albeit at a cost. As living costs rise, it limits household spending abilities and diminishes their perceived quality of life. But more critically, it pushes previously secure middle-class households into a domain of heightened risk, accentuated by the dwindling availability of low interest rate loans which were once a channel for wealth accumulation. The changed economic landscape, marked by elusive job security and the menacing reality of job loss, further heightens the risk exposure of the middle class, plunging them into a stressful cycle of high costs (relative to income), uncertain asset values, and a looming threat of short and long-term income loss.

On the other side of the economic spectrum, the gap between the super-rich and the rest of the population is expanding. The unprecedented centralisation of capital and thereby also power is speeding up, potentially increasing the vulnerability of the middle class as the super-rich stand ready to capitalise on their losses.

High risk is often said to come with high potential reward. But the kind of risk that the middle class now faces offers no reward other than to keep what they already have, while the potential downside is far greater. Although history suggests a self-correcting nature of such disparities, the correction often comes at the steep cost of societal upheaval or revolution.

For me it seems obvious that the middle class needs to prioritise adjusting their risk exposures immediately.

Psychological and Existential Well-being

The rising mental health concerns, feelings of alienation, and existential dread unfolding nowadays highlight a discord between individual well-being and the overarching societal framework steeped in ideals of productivity and efficiency. The relentless chase and crippeling expectations of these ideals, often at the expense of human connection and mental well-being, amplifies this dissonance. The resulting strain appears as stress, loneliness, and a pervasive lack of presence, highlighting a pressing need to redefine societal norms and values.

The present era, marked by financial insecurity and technological intrusion, is a breeding ground for stress. The ongoing pressure to conform to societal ideals of productivity often leads to chronic stress, which in turn, has severe effects on both individual and societal health. This constant stress not only leads to various health issues but also frays the social fabric by nurturing a culture of anxiety and distrust.

Despite our era of digital hyper-connectivity, a paradoxical epidemic of loneliness prevails. The superficial connections fostered in the digital realm seldom replace the depth and warmth of real human interactions, leaving many grappling with a sense of isolation. This lack of authentic community bonds and experiences worsens feelings of alienation, with harmful repercussions on mental and physical health.

The modern-day hustle, fueled by digital distractions and a relentless chase for efficiency and productivity, often robs individuals of the serenity found in living in the ‘here and now’. This lack of presence, a collateral damage of contemporary societal ideals, not only diminishes personal satisfaction but also adversely impacts the quality of interpersonal relationships and community cohesion.

It’s evident that our current path is at odds with fostering a sense of belonging, purpose, and mental stability. It calls for a change in ideals and shift of focus to human well being.

Technological Parameters

There are factors that needs to be concerned when framing this, here are the ones I think is important to consider.

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a clear threat to job security, notably within the middle-class segment. The hopeful narrative of new job creation is increasingly overshadowed by a ‘horselessness’ scenario, likened to the redundancy of horses with the onset of automobiles. This narrative highlights a societal shift towards fewer employment opportunities, placing the middle class dangerously close to the whirlpool of economic instability. This scenario not only exposes the middle class to financial risk but also potentially worsens psychological and existential distress, given the often intertwined relationship between economic stability and mental wellbeing.

Moreover, the unyielding demand of the digital age, marked by social media omnipresence and the burgeoning ‘always online’ culture, casts a long shadow over societal mental health. The relentless quest for attention, nestled within the heart of this digital epoch, often comes at the cost of real human connections and life experiences, thereby potentially worsening feelings of alienation and existential dread.

The commodification of artificial conflict further aggravates societal discord, adding layers of complexity to an already turbulent landscape. This aspect of technology, where conflict is artificially induced and exacerbated, needs a thorough examination and strategic management to mitigate its adverse impacts on society.

The looming threat of techno-feudalism is another significant concern under technological parameters. In a techno-feudalistic society, a small elite controls and governs the primary technological and digital resources, much like how feudal lords controlled land and resources in the medieval era. The middle class, and society at large, could find themselves at the mercy of this techno-elite, who have the potential to dictate terms, manipulate digital platforms, and control information flow to serve their interests. The monopolisation of digital assets, platforms, and data by a select few not only poses a grave threat to economic equality but also to democracy, freedom, and the very fabric of society. The potential for techno-feudalism intensifies the urgency for regulatory frameworks that ensure fair distribution of digital resources, uphold data rights, and promote digital literacy to empower individuals in the face of technological advancements.

Reshaping Ideals

I am now thinking about urbanisation, digitalisation and sustainability as aspirations that can be seen as desirable outcomes instead of Ideals. These things will never happen if we don’t first manage to handle more imminent and human centric issues. 

Mitigating the risks associated with daily living involves creating conditions where either the potential benefits are substantial, or the potential downsides nonexistent. Structuring societal frameworks in such a manner that they foster a conducive environment for individuals to thrive, rather than merely survive. I believe that this is done with a combination of tactical reshaping of the risk profile and a shift in ideals of what constitutes a high quality of life. 

Similarly, valuing mental and existential well-being calls for a re-evaluation and potential dismantling of existing societal constructs that mandate individual adaptation, often at the cost of psychological wellness. It beckons a shift towards more compassionate and understanding frameworks that acknowledge the unique circumstances, capabilities, and aspirations of individuals.

Meanwhile mitigating the risks from technological parameters such as an AI powered horselessness scenario, the built in addictiveness of an attention based economy, artificial conflict amplification and techno-feudalism.

I don’t want to make any conclutions in this text. But I am curious what thoughts it gives you? Please engage in the comment section.