Update
New paper: Wisdom and Wanting What's Good
A new paper asks how modernity weakened our capacity to want what's good, and how we might revive it.
Rufus Pollock 4 min read
Rufus Pollock
Researcher, writer and entrepreneur; co-founder of Seeds of Renaissance and Life Itself.
A researcher, writer and entrepreneur exploring the meeting point of culture, consciousness, and systems change. Rufus trained as a mathematician and economist at the University of Cambridge and spent over a decade building open digital infrastructure. His work is an expression of a commitment to renew our civilisation’s foundations.
More about who is behind Seeds of Renaissance on About.
Blog posts
Video
Ivan Illich, the philosopher of enough
Dougald Hine and Rufus Pollock on 100 years of Illich and why his ideas feel more prophetic than ever.
Rufus Pollock 44 min video
Update
Things are falling apart. We're exploring why and what we can do, together
Join the Introduction to the Metacrisis and a Second Renaissance course starting Wednesday to understand our converging crises, their roots and discover what's emerging.
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 3 min read
Update
Join the Second Renaissance Conference Online 5-7 Dec: Transformation in a Time of Metacrisis
A three-day online gathering for transformative ideas, practice, and collective renewal including talks by Rebecca Henderson (HBS), John Vervaeke and Thomas Hübl
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 4 min read
Update
Second Renaissance Gathering & Festival, 5-7th September 2025
A first of its kind micro-festival for those called to a second renaissance. A weekend of connection, music, art and discussion at the Life Itself Farmhouse, SW France
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 3 min read
Update
From Polycrisis to Metacrisis: a short introduction
Our new white paper on the polycrisis and metacrisis: what they are, how they are distinct, how they are related and why it matters.
Rufus Pollock 4 min read
Update
A Second Renaissance Oasis is Emerging
The Oasis is a home and waystation for those who resonate with the vision of the Second Renaissance and want to help bring it into being. Find out more at our live event today.
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 2 min read
Update
Seeds of a Second Renaissance Newsletter
Going forward, this site will be focused on publishing a monthly newsletter of curated ideas and news from the Second Renaissance ecosystem
Rufus Pollock 2 min read
Essay
Getting Over Our Allergy to Religion
Religion plays an important role in any effort to make a radically wiser, weller world. However, today there is widespread allergy to religion, at least in the West. Is there a way forward?
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 16 min read
Video
A Second Renaissance, Metamodern Approach to Tech
How integrating wisdom, mindfulness, and collective action can shape technology in service of a wiser world
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 3 min read
Essay
Wisdom: a practical capacity for making good choices
Wisdom is a practical capacity to choose a good path — and act on that choice.
Rufus Pollock 1 min read
Video
Stephen Markley on The Deluge and the Second Renaissance
In this interview Rufus Pollock speaks with Stephen Markley, author of The Deluge, to explore the urgent themes raised in his latest novel.
Rufus Pollock 2 min read
Update
Berlin Launch - Art of the Second Renaissance - September 2024
Join us for the Berlin Launch of the Art of the Second Renaissance Initiative and Manifesto on Thursday 26th September at 7pm
Rufus Pollock 3 min read
Update
Wiser Technology: Technology and a Second Renaissance Part II
A wiser, more mindful approach is central to a second renaissance metamodern take on technology
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 1 min read
Essay
Technology as God: Technology and a Second Renaissance Part I
Technology as God encapsulates our current relationship to technology in late modernity
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 5 min read
Update
Second Renaissance Virtual Work Space Call
Connect, collaborate and create in our first virtual work space call - 13 August 2024
Rufus Pollock 2 min read
Video
Christopher Alexander: second renaissance visionary
Brown bag talk in the research group about Christopher Alexander as a pioneering second renaissance (aka integral, metamodern etc) thinker and practitioner
Rufus Pollock 1 min read
Update
Exploring a Second Renaissance together: two session online course 31 July & 1st August
Join us in a new short online course focused on supporting your own exploration and discovery using dialog and discussion.
Rufus PollockSylvie Barbier 4 min read
Update
Map of Second Renaissance Changemaking Ecosystem
Based on the tales of distant lands gathered from various travellers
Rufus Pollock 2 min read
Update
Launching the Second Renaissance project
An introduction to this moment of civilisational crisis and awakening - and the emerging ecosystem related to it
Rufus Pollock 5 min read
Essay
Second Renaissance: what's in a name?
We outline the reasons that led us to adopt the term second renaissance for this moment of civilizational crisis & awakening - recognising that it is but one framing for what is going on in the world
Rufus Pollock 8 min read