Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 15 minutes ago
Apologies for the poor, really just horrible audio. I did not make this video public for 9 years because of how horrible the audio is. And, I can't find the audio recording from my hand recorder... It may have been deleted. But, I don't want to prevent someone who might want to see this conversation from seeing it, such as it is. Instead of watching this, I recommend, highly recommend, you watch the talk linked below. If you wish, you can return to watch this video; and struggle through the worst audio you've probably ever heard on YouTube.
William attended Manistee High School at the same time as my grandfather Ray Wissner. William and I met twice. And, he reminds me of my grandfather as well. This talk of Bill's is critical to understanding our predicament. Please take the hour to watch it
"Where there is no vision, people perish." I've tried to suggest we see with ideas as well as with eyes. Where people lack vision enabling concepts, their vision will remain deficient: that holds for popes, princes, and presidents; and people at large. -- William R. Catton, Jr.
Which is why I (Aaron) think everyone would be served well by reading the novel Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
Fast forward to the 8 minute mark to start Bill's talk.
youtu.be/ca4S8I9MWw4?t=425
William Robert Catton Jr. (January 15, 1926 – January 5, 2015) was an American sociologist best known for his scholarly work in environmental sociology and human ecology. Catton was known primarily for his 1980 book, Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change. Catton wrote three other books, including From Animistic to Naturalistic Sociology and his 2009 book Bottleneck: Humanity's Impending Impasse. In addition, he has authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters and book reviews.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_R._Catton_Jr.
Apologies for the poor, really just horrible audio. I did not make this video public for 9 years because of how horrible the audio is. And, I can't find the audio recording from my hand recorder... It may have been deleted. But, I don't want to prevent someone who might want to see this conversation from seeing it, such as it is. Instead of watching this, I recommend, highly recommend, you watch the talk linked below. If you wish, you can return to watch this video; and struggle through the worst audio you've probably ever heard on YouTube.
William attended Manistee High School at the same time as my grandfather Ray Wissner. William and I met twice. And, he reminds me of my grandfather as well. This talk of Bill's is critical to understanding our predicament. Please take the hour to watch it
"Where there is no vision, people perish." I've tried to suggest we see with ideas as well as with eyes. Where people lack vision enabling concepts, their vision will remain deficient: that holds for popes, princes, and presidents; and people at large. -- William R. Catton, Jr.
Which is why I (Aaron) think everyone would be served well by reading the novel Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
Fast forward to the 8 minute mark to start Bill's talk.
youtu.be/ca4S8I9MWw4?t=425
William Robert Catton Jr. (January 15, 1926 – January 5, 2015) was an American sociologist best known for his scholarly work in environmental sociology and human ecology. Catton was known primarily for his 1980 book, Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change. Catton wrote three other books, including From Animistic to Naturalistic Sociology and his 2009 book Bottleneck: Humanity's Impending Impasse. In addition, he has authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters and book reviews.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_R._Catton_Jr.
