Psychologists, philosophers, politicians and pundits frequently tout the importance of seeing the “big picture.” Put another way, the argument goes, in order to progress, we need the “big picture.” But what if “big pictures” are neither helpful nor possible?
This problem raises some thorny political and philosophical questions. Is this a moment when global accountings are possible? Or desirable? How do we deal with the anxiety that is created by the lack of a “big picture”? What could we see—and possibly create—without the “big picture” approach.