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+Christopher Butler
+[3]Information [4]Contents [5]Now Menu Close
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+© Christopher Butler.
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+Christopher Butler
+log
+
+The Productive Afterward
+
+Summary
+
+JA Westenberg's essay on the merits of optimism is a helpful reminder.
+
+Published on February 25, 2026 by Christopher Butler
+[SOT]
+
+[11]This, from JA Westenberg, is well-put:
+
+    “I’m going to argue that the pessimists have the best narratives and the
+    worst track record. The doom scenarios require assumptions that don’t
+    survive contact with economic history, and the psychological posture you
+    bring to this moment actually matters for how it turns out.”
+
+Westenberg’s essay is about why optimism at a time like the present makes
+sense. It’s exactly the sort of thing—when thoughtfully argued and laden with
+examples—that I need to read, as I tend to articulate optimism while
+internalizing the opposite. I tend to give every catastrophe a hearing, and
+even a momentary “what if this is right” leaves a mark on brain matter. That
+isn’t to say that ignoring all warnings is a good idea, nor is that what
+Westenberg recommends. But it is a helpful reminder that “catastrophist keep
+being wrong.” And one benefit to aging is that you can accumulate many
+directly-lived examples of just that.
+
+I do appreciate the implicit message throughout this piece that reminds me of
+something important: we do experience great changes—the status quo isn’t
+untouchable—but the human drive to do something is both the most reliable force
+in ensuring future technological threats to our way of life and the productive
+afterward.
+
+[EOT]
+
+© Christopher Butler. All rights reserved.
+
+[12]Information [13]Contents [14]Now [15]RSS
+
+References:
+
+[2] https://www.chrbutler.com/
+[3] https://www.chrbutler.com/information
+[4] https://www.chrbutler.com/archives
+[5] https://www.chrbutler.com/now
+[6] https://www.chrbutler.com/
+[7] https://www.chrbutler.com/information
+[8] https://www.chrbutler.com/archives
+[9] https://www.chrbutler.com/now
+[10] https://www.chrbutler.com/feed.rss
+[11] https://www.joanwestenberg.com/everything-is-awesome-why-im-an-optimist/
+[12] https://www.chrbutler.com/information
+[13] https://www.chrbutler.com/archives
+[14] https://www.chrbutler.com/now
+[15] https://www.chrbutler.com/feed.rss