Social philosopher Ernst Bloch (1885-1977) urged us to break free from traditional deterministic, linear cause-effect logic, and confront the emotions and concerns of individuals. Instead of exclusively mitigating fear, Bloch wrote, we must inspire hope as an active force that fuels exploration, innovation, and liberation from imposed limitations. Bloch studied the anticipatory power of human intention and encouraged us to view the future as an integral part of a continuous process.

Likewise, in safety management, our past memories of accidents should be balanced with forward-thinking consciousness to navigate complex challenges more effectively. Importantly, Bloch wrote that utopian thinking is not about perfection ("zero accidents") or rigid ideals. Instead, we need an open, process-oriented approach to welcome positive change.

Bloch explored events or actions that occur at different points in time, with no overlap, and events that might appear to be happening at the same time, but that don't occur in perfect synchrony, because there are subtle differences or variations in the timing of these seemingly simultaneous events. We can anticipate these issues and promote new practices. The point is that everything can be reinterpreted or adjusted. Even in seemingly rigid situations, there's room for safe-to-fail adaptation.

The forward-thinking philosophy of Ernst Bloch also aligns with the principle of foresight, which allows us to identify subtle signs of impending dangers before they evolve into trends. We can connect seemingly unrelated events to uncover patterns that may not be immediately apparent. We can benefit from the collective knowledge of the workforce, identifying and mitigating risks collaboratively. Ernst Bloch's approach empowers us to challenge the status quo and actively shape a safer world by engaging with the present.

(Bloch's most important book in this regard is The Principle of Hope, https://lnkd.in/gMMCCfux)