International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2017

A clash of mentalities: uncertainty, creativity, and complexity in times of upheaval

(Abstract)

Alfonso Montuori

Uncertainty has become an increasingly powerful dimension of human experience in the 21st century. In this paper, the author explores the social and psychological dimensions of uncertainty, in the context of what have been referred to as “postnormal times”. Particularly, in such times of transition, when an old order is failing and a new one had not yet emerged, the need for certainty feeds into authoritarianism. Uncertainty is not merely a scientific or cognitive phenomenon. It strikes at the heart of our being, and our existence on the planet. An appreciation and education for creativity, complexity, and collaboration can mitigate the anxiety caused by uncertainty. Navigation of the complexity of uncertain times also provides us with an opportunity for creation of new ways of being in the world.