Michael Green

The aim of this work is to answer two questions: According to the humanities, what kind of world do we inhabit, and what strategies can the humanities provide for surviving and thriving in this world? We inhabit a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, which in our current situation manifests itself in international instability due to the decline of Western empires, social instability due to racial conflicts, financial instability due to an unstable currency, and economic instability due to the transition into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Such volatility creates emotional scars, and the humanistic strategies for managing these scars are:

Self-Reliance, 

Creative Problem Solving, 

Adaptability, and 

Resilience. 

(SCARs)

It is a series of dialogues and conversations among philosophers, literary figures, movie characters, the dollar, a smart can opener and a smart refrigerator, and more. It is ripe with satire and irony. 

S
Self-Reliance
In respect to one's self itself
1. Self-restrain-the self in relation to the world. Avoid unhealthy entanglements.
2. Self-knowledge-the self directed inward. Be true to oneself.

In respect to one's emotions
3. Emotional force. Cultivate serenity or level-headedness. Avoid  emotional intoxication, i.e.,, irrational exuberance 
4. Emotional objects. Cultivate serious mindedness. Avoid the pursuit of trivialities and incidentals.

In respect to one's drives
5. Drive force. --Cultivate meaningful or solicitous commodification . Avoid obsesssive andnvoracious commodification.
6. Drive object--Pursue natural, healthy and self-affirming objects. Avoid self-destroying and artificial drives.

In respect to one's actions
7. Actor: Cultivate self-command
8. Actions: Be straightforward and down to earthnesswithout unnecessary frills.
9. Outcome: Pursue the plain, simple life.

C
Critical and Creative Problem Solving
1. Categorizing and Clarifying Meaning 
2.  Analyzing , Assessing, and Evaluating Claims and  Arguments 
3. Generalizing From Experience and Creating and Testing Hypothises
4. Creating and Evaluating Explanations
5. Reasoning  Autonomously through Self-examination and Self-correction
6. Analyzing Problems, Creating Possible Solutions, and Evaluating, Selecting, and Creatively Implementing a Solution

A
Adptability requires:
1. Memory -history--knowledge of the past
2. Understanding-knowledge of the present, personal and discursive
3. Docility-the ability to be taught
4. Reasoning-drawing consequences from this knowledge
5. Astuteness-the ability to grasp the situation and whzat is needed to adapt
6. Foresight- concerns  foreseeing challenges facing the implementation of an goal of an adaptive action
7. Caution- taking steps to avoid or mitigate risks from implementing the means of an adaptive action 
8. Circumspection- on-going monitoring of the circumstances of an adaptive action

R
Resilience requires: 
1. Firmness of mind and identity, 
2. Patience to endure the pains of disappointment and to accept that that which you most cherish to achieve may be long delayed. 
3. Confidence and hope to initiate and sustain the actions needed to bounce back, 
4. Constancy to avoid distractions and extrinsic obstacles so as to maintain focused activity, 
5. Perseverance to overcome the obstacles inherent in a well-considered plan of action, and 
6. Humility to face the world and one’s limitations are they are.”