The Pattern Which Connects: Drawing Parallels Between Family Systems and Climate Change Through Bateson's Cybernetic Epistemology

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of Gregory Bateson's cybernetic epistemology and contemporary ecological concerns, linking systemic thinking to global environmental challenges such as climate change. It reflects on two of the author's previous works that connect Bateson's ideas to broader ecological and systemic issues, critiquing the dominant dualistic thinking pervasive in Western societies. The paper considers the role of family therapists in addressing ecological crises, suggesting that systemic practitioners can foster environmental awareness and responsibility in families without coercion, through reflective, nondirective approaches. Drawing from posthumanist and deep ecology frameworks, the author parallels family systems with broader social structures, emphasising the interconnectedness between micro-level family dynamics and macro-level environmental systems. The paper also delves into Bateson's critique of power, Cartesian dualism and the hubristic thinking that contributes to both ecological and societal collapse. Ultimately, the paper calls for a shift in thinking towards a more holistic and humble understanding of humanity's place in the biosphere and encourages systemic therapists to integrate ecological considerations into both their professional and personal lives.