Rediscovering Our Humanity in a Transactional World
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Chapter 1: The Nature of Transactions
During a legal negotiation workshop, the guest speaker, an in-house attorney, posed a thought-provoking question: “How many contracts did you engage in yesterday?”
Laughter erupted as students began to guess the number.
“Four!”
“Ten!”
“Twenty-Five!”
“Thirty-Seven!”
“Zero — I stayed in bed all day.”
The responses highlighted a crucial point. “Let’s agree that we frequently enter into various legally binding contracts every day—at least, those of us who manage to get out of bed,” he said. He illustrated this with everyday examples: grocery shopping, ordering meals at the campus café, and agreeing to terms and conditions online.
“The possibilities are endless—we are inherently transactional beings.”
I was there to present my views, but as I absorbed the discussion, my thoughts wandered. Indeed, we inhabit a transactional realm where nearly every action is tied to an expectation of some external reward, whether financial or otherwise—be it status, reputation, relationships, or privileges.
Initially, I believed this was acceptable and that we should eliminate barriers to our transactional impulses. However, my confidence in this idea has waned.
Is it truly healthy to adopt a transactional perspective towards life? What implications does this have for our humanity?
Section 1.1: The State of the World
The planet is grappling with an array of intricate issues that demand urgent action. Daily, we encounter discussions surrounding environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, inequality, and the necessity of respecting others and their belongings. Over time, the severity and frequency of these challenges have escalated.
I often hear that human actions contribute to these dilemmas, and paradoxically, we hold the key to their resolution. All we need is the commitment to act appropriately.
Yet, to implement effective actions, we must move away from our transactional mindset, a challenging endeavor given the oppressive systems we’ve established.
As an academic, I believe it is our duty to develop innovative, outside-the-box solutions to address global challenges. However, academia tends to prioritize extrinsic rewards—such as grants, paper publications, and speaking engagements—over genuine knowledge exploration. We have become, or are expected to be, machines for producing papers. Our focus is often on “popular” subjects that satisfy the academic community rather than fostering independent thought and rational discourse.
To create meaningful change, we must redirect our efforts towards knowledge discovery and nurture a culture of thinkers, innovators, and dissenters. We need to question the status quo—not only for our benefit but also for future generations and the environment.
We must reflect on what truly matters. Our goal should be to cultivate an academic environment that transcends transactional rewards, promoting authentic knowledge exploration, critical analysis, and impactful change. The world is in dire need of our contributions now more than ever, and it is our responsibility to rise to the occasion.
Chapter 2: The Call for Transformation
However, enacting change is no small feat in a world driven by transactions and external incentives.
We willingly engage in this transactional environment, yet in doing so, we often squander humanity's latent potential. While many of us recognize that intrinsic rewards—such as purpose, meaning, creativity, and curiosity—are equally, if not more, significant than extrinsic ones, a revolution is necessary to ensure their resurgence.
I envision this revolution as a “Nirvana moment,” reminiscent of the iconic grunge band’s breakout hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
The essence of this idea is to cultivate a subculture that challenges and opposes mainstream norms, demonstrating that there are simpler, more meaningful ways to engage with the world.
No one could have anticipated that Nirvana’s “Nevermind” would dominate the U.S. charts in early 1991. Yet, it did.
Why? Because a vast number of people were disillusioned with the status quo; they simply required a catalyst for change.
The pressing question is whether a similar catalyst could positively impact academia. If a cadre of researchers emerged with a mindset akin to Nirvana’s, they could potentially attract an unprecedented following. This could lead to transformative changes and advancements in academia and beyond.
That said, I must remain pragmatic. The music industry and academia are worlds apart, and a revolution akin to Nirvana’s is unlikely to unfold in educational settings anytime soon.
With this realization, I shifted my focus back to the workshop, yet a part of me clings to hope.
In Search of the Third Attractor, Daniel Schmachtenberger (part 1) - YouTube