Welcome to Philosophy For The Future! I’m John McCone.
If You Care About Our Future, You’ll Care About This Blog
I’ve started this website to feature books and blog articles I’ve written on topics relating to philosophy, technology and economics. The overall aim is to provide you, the reader, with a broad perspective on where society is heading, the wider effects of technological change on our lifestyles and the economy, and the best philosophy to shape our future as it unfolds. I’ve got a resume type background bio on my blurb site and this personal introduction mainly focuses on my interests, philosophical outlook, and writing.
“We regularly talk about Artificial Intelligence, but most experts are more concerned with the technology rather than the sociology” – George Galloway
My interests range widely. I have a degree in Physics and a Phd. in nuclear fusion, but I’ve always been generally interested in how the world and society works and I’ve read introductory technical books on chaos and non-linear dynamics, biochemistry, economics and, most recently, a number of philosophy books.
I’ve always marveled at the technological ingenuity of modern society, but feel that, despite achieving incredible ends, we frequently don’t put enough thought into deciding exactly which ends to pursue. Nuclear missiles, for example, simultaneously demonstrate incredible intelligence and incredible stupidity. It seems that today’s society is filled with experts who work inside institutions, pursuing narrowly defined goals with incredible effectiveness, but that, while their approach to accomplishing their tasks may be brilliant, the tasks themselves can often be pointless (like selling strawberry flavoured soap) and sometimes damaging (like chemical weapons).
The renaissance is over. Today intellectual activity is high compartmentalized. Yet, while no one can be a world leading expert in every field, I’m convinced there is a desperate need to fit the jigsaw pieces of modernity together. This is why I wrote The Philosophical Method. This book builds upon a foundational theory of knowledge, to obtain a theory of ethics and then, by combining ethical consideration with practical ones, produces concrete guidelines for running economic and political systems. The book is lightly referenced (although I’ve referenced the major players like Rawls, Hobbes, Mill, etc.,) as it is not humanly possible to comprehensively reference a book that covers the breadth of subjects areas dealt with by The Philosophical Method, but I have made every effort to present my argument therein as clearly and rigorously as I can.
I intend to continue my future work as a writer in that spirit. My aim is to range over a wide variety of important issues but to connect them together in a clear, coherent way.
I intend to produce 3 types of content:
- Books
- Booklets
- Blog Articles
…on philosophy, technology and economics. I have published one booklet entitled The Countryside Living Allowance. While The Philosophical Method is a large book which, through rigorous reasoning, lays out what would constitute a perfect society and world order, it suggests so many changes from our current status quo that it would be hard to know where to start. The Countryside Living Allowance, conversely, focuses on a single, simple policy that could be practically implemented and would be tremendously beneficial, raising wages, eliminating poverty and bringing about full employment.
To the best of my ability, I strive to combine the idealistic with the practical. This is not easy, yet we need both. If you constantly look into the distance, you’ll trip on a banana skin, yet if you wander around looking at your feet all day, you’ll soon get lost.
I’m now working on a second large book, The Perfect Economy, where I lay out the optimal system for tax, welfare and fiscal regulations. Among other things, I advocate a Land Value Tax and Universal Basic Income and draw heavily from the ideas of, the classical economist, Henry George.
The topics of my blog will principally cover
Behind this diversity of topics is a single theme: a keen interest in all issues that reduce suffering, promote prosperity and protect civilization from collapse.
You can also find interviews with me on the features page of my website.
Sign Up For Analyses On Our Future
If you’re a big thinker who feels we must avoid narrow-minded, knee-jerk reactions and, instead, respond to the future in a philosophically coherent way, based on a clear perspective, if you enjoy hearing about new things and broadening your horizons, then sign up to my mailing list (left side bar) to become a subscriber and receive announcements of important new blog articles, books and other publications.
Happy Browsing!
John
