Thanks so much for this thoughtful and clear breakdown, it’s one of the most useful framings I’ve seen for thinking about strategy in the face of paradigm shifts.
The distinction between the “normal(ish)” and “transformed” eras is especially helpful, and I appreciate the caution around assuming continuity in our current levers. The idea that most of today’s advocacy tools may simply not survive or translate post-shift feels both sobering and clarifying. The point about needing a compelling story for why any given intervention’s effects would persist beyond the shift is well taken.
I also found the discussion of moral “lock-ins” particularly resonant. The idea that future systems could entrench either better or worse treatment of animals, depending on early influence, feels like a crucial consideration, especially given how sticky some value assumptions can become once embedded in infrastructure or governance frameworks. There’s probably a lot more to map here about what kinds of decisions are most likely to persist and where contingent choices could still go either way.
I’m exploring some of these questions from a different angle, focusing on how animal welfare might (or might not) be integrated into emerging economic paradigms (I hope to post on this soonish) but this post helped clarify the strategic terrain we’re navigating. Thanks again for putting this together.
Thanks so much for this thoughtful and clear breakdown, it’s one of the most useful framings I’ve seen for thinking about strategy in the face of paradigm shifts.
The distinction between the “normal(ish)” and “transformed” eras is especially helpful, and I appreciate the caution around assuming continuity in our current levers. The idea that most of today’s advocacy tools may simply not survive or translate post-shift feels both sobering and clarifying. The point about needing a compelling story for why any given intervention’s effects would persist beyond the shift is well taken.
I also found the discussion of moral “lock-ins” particularly resonant. The idea that future systems could entrench either better or worse treatment of animals, depending on early influence, feels like a crucial consideration, especially given how sticky some value assumptions can become once embedded in infrastructure or governance frameworks. There’s probably a lot more to map here about what kinds of decisions are most likely to persist and where contingent choices could still go either way.
I’m exploring some of these questions from a different angle, focusing on how animal welfare might (or might not) be integrated into emerging economic paradigms (I hope to post on this soonish) but this post helped clarify the strategic terrain we’re navigating. Thanks again for putting this together.