reduction to gain space

reduction to gain clarity

reduction to gain peace of mind

reduction to gain time

reduction to live

Since I was a small kid the idea to amass precious items and wealth as the pinnacle of desirability has surrounded me. Do I need all of it? No. Do I think living without possessions is nobler? No. Do I think reflecting on why I’m doing something is desirable? Yes.

Since the war in Europe ended over 70 years ago everything got better. Europe has been rebuilt and better than before. Growth is good and therefore every development curve must ideally move towards the sky. And they do for some, but they do not globally and not always.

Essential goods like food, medicine and hygiene articles are less and less equally distributed. Resources become less and pollution more. The reasons for this are multi-factorial and can not be solved with one or two measures, particularly as many issues contain contradictory positions: “The economy” needs more sales, while the planet needs a reduction in the use of plastic, of resources and probably of production per se. A great number of people want to live in large urban cities, because that is largely where one can get paid work, but many people find that cities get too crowded, which is supposed to unleash unrest. What is more, governments can hardly intervene in a regulative way without violating civil and human rights and the freedom of choice arising thereof. The choices of consumption are left to the individual.

The reductionist is deliberating on where increase makes sense and where decrease releases more energy, clarity and excitement.