Regeneration: Merging, Hybridising or Simply Coexisting?

Modern world has produced many fractures in the planet and in ourselves. These fractures have split the whole into modules, some of which have become hegemonic over other modules. This first conclusive chapter builds on Mario Bunge’s emergence theory to propose regeneration as a prerequisite for the convergence of separate modules, and that from such convergence desirable sustainable futures might emerge that are translated into planetary well-being. Dialogues – with and without words; between humans and between those and non-human elements of nature – are essential mechanisms to drive regeneration and convergence. They build trust and heal the apparent fractures of the whole. Convergence can express itself in distinct modes, which are presented here. Distinct modules may merge, hybridise or simply coexist with no mutual negative interference. This chapter, first, forwards a discussion on the emergence of sustainability through convergence processes and indicates further levels of necessary regeneration for convergence. Second, it provides examples of existing regenerative processes. To bridge this and the next concluding chapter, it discusses regeneration as a process that anticipates the emergence of new sustainable states and not of any specific, programmatic kinds of futures.