As humanity faces a future of uncertainty, we would be wise to look backwards as we seek to chart a way forwards. What can the history of slave revolts teach us about the power of rebellion to tackle the climate crisis? How might understanding the origins of capitalism spark ideas for bringing AI under control? What could we learn from eighteenth century Japan for creating regenerative economies today, or from the coffee houses of Georgian London for taming social media?
In this talk based on his latest book History for Tomorrow: How the Past Can Inspire Our Future, leading social philosopher Roman Krznaric offers fascinating insights from the last 1000 years of world history that could help us confront the most urgent challenges of the twenty-first century. Krznaric reveals how, time and again, societies have risen up, often against the odds, to overcome crises and fight injustices. History offers a vision of radical hope that could turn out to be our most vital tool for surviving and thriving in the turbulent decades ahead.