Game in the Brain

As I reflect on why truly good people—those who are a positive influence on society—seem to be so rare, I can’t help but think it’s because society doesn’t actively demand their qualities. Being a good person requires the constant exercise of decency, patience, compassion, competence, empathy, and conflict management—skills that aren’t cultivated in a culture focused on mere survival or limited growth.

In societies where scarcity is worsening and populations are shrinking, we see people reverting to more basic survival instincts. It’s an environment that doesn’t nurture growth or community-mindedness, often bringing out more self-centered or protective behaviors. However, in a society that’s expanding, like one that has frontiers to conquer or people to build new futures with, the qualities of growth—both personal and collective—become essential. It’s in these environments that those who can grow and help others grow naturally begin to shape society.

This aligns with what Anthrofuturism often discusses, especially in the context of expanding humanity’s reach to new frontiers like the Moon and beyond. Anthrofuturism suggests that humanity’s growth and flourishing are inherently tied to the availability of new frontiers. Without these frontiers—without new horizons to explore—we face stagnation and artificial scarcity, which draws out our survival instincts rather than our more magnanimous, community-oriented qualities.

Frontiers aren’t just physical places but also the ideas and opportunities that allow people to see beyond immediate limitations. With a tangible horizon to work toward—whether it’s the Moon, Mars, or something more conceptual—human beings can expand their capacity for decency and collaboration, becoming better not just as individuals but as a society. In this way, Anthrofuturism underscores that to cultivate a world with more “good people,” we need to actively expand our horizons, creating a social structure where qualities like patience, empathy, and cooperation are essential for growth and success.