Health in a post-COVID-19 world
In the previous article in this issue (S Afr J Sci. 2022;118(11/12), Art. #13165), the emergence and spread of COVID-19 pari passu with climate change and planetary degradation were interpreted as late manifestations in the trend towards gradual decline into disorder (entropy) in an unstable and ec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2022-11-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14995 |
| _version_ | 1797987958650830848 |
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| author | Solomon R. Benatar |
| author_facet | Solomon R. Benatar |
| author_sort | Solomon R. Benatar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In the previous article in this issue (S Afr J Sci. 2022;118(11/12), Art. #13165), the emergence and spread of COVID-19 pari passu with climate change and planetary degradation were interpreted as late manifestations in the trend towards gradual decline into disorder (entropy) in an unstable and ecologically threatened planet. In this article, as we contemplate a post-COVID world, the question is whether new insights could generate courageous, prescient leadership towards new paradigms of health, politics, economics, society, and our relationship with nature. A gloomy prognosis is postulated because of the power of many impediments to such changes, both in an increasingly polarised world and in South Africa as a microcosm. Despite many squandered opportunities and a decline in local and global cooperation between all who have a stake in the future, some hope is retained for innovative shifts towards sustainable futures.
Significance:
Precarious local and global instabilities are vivid reminders of our interconnectedness with each other and with nature. Insights into local and global threats and opportunities, call for paradigm shifts in thinking about and taking action towards a potentially sustainable future in a country that has its own unique history and problems but is also a microcosm of the world. The impediments to making appropriately constructive paradigm shifts in many countries with their tendencies to authoritarianism that threaten peace and democracy, are even more complex in South Africa, where opportunities for dialogue and cooperation are diminishing. Retaining some hope, with vision and courage for innovative shifts towards a sustainable economic/ecological paradigm locally and globally, is arguably essential.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:55:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-def5d35746b54744bd2c44026ce04838 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:55:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-def5d35746b54744bd2c44026ce048382022-12-22T04:35:57ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892022-11-0111811/1210.17159/sajs.2022/14995Health in a post-COVID-19 worldSolomon R. Benatar01.Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Senior Scholar, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; 2.Adjunct Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada In the previous article in this issue (S Afr J Sci. 2022;118(11/12), Art. #13165), the emergence and spread of COVID-19 pari passu with climate change and planetary degradation were interpreted as late manifestations in the trend towards gradual decline into disorder (entropy) in an unstable and ecologically threatened planet. In this article, as we contemplate a post-COVID world, the question is whether new insights could generate courageous, prescient leadership towards new paradigms of health, politics, economics, society, and our relationship with nature. A gloomy prognosis is postulated because of the power of many impediments to such changes, both in an increasingly polarised world and in South Africa as a microcosm. Despite many squandered opportunities and a decline in local and global cooperation between all who have a stake in the future, some hope is retained for innovative shifts towards sustainable futures. Significance: Precarious local and global instabilities are vivid reminders of our interconnectedness with each other and with nature. Insights into local and global threats and opportunities, call for paradigm shifts in thinking about and taking action towards a potentially sustainable future in a country that has its own unique history and problems but is also a microcosm of the world. The impediments to making appropriately constructive paradigm shifts in many countries with their tendencies to authoritarianism that threaten peace and democracy, are even more complex in South Africa, where opportunities for dialogue and cooperation are diminishing. Retaining some hope, with vision and courage for innovative shifts towards a sustainable economic/ecological paradigm locally and globally, is arguably essential. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14995new paradigmspost-COVID worldcapacity for changeimpedimentshope |
| spellingShingle | Solomon R. Benatar Health in a post-COVID-19 world South African Journal of Science new paradigms post-COVID world capacity for change impediments hope |
| title | Health in a post-COVID-19 world |
| title_full | Health in a post-COVID-19 world |
| title_fullStr | Health in a post-COVID-19 world |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health in a post-COVID-19 world |
| title_short | Health in a post-COVID-19 world |
| title_sort | health in a post covid 19 world |
| topic | new paradigms post-COVID world capacity for change impediments hope |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/14995 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT solomonrbenatar healthinapostcovid19world |