WHAT TO SAVE AND WHY

What does a sanctuary for Hawaiian crows have in common with a troop of robots programmed to perform the Mori haka or recreations of World Heritage Sites built in Minecraft A family heirloom An endangered species An ancient piece of pottery A threatened language These things differ in myriad ways but they are tied together by a common thread they are all examples of things that call out to be saved The world is brimming with things worth saving and we have limited time and resources How do we decide what to save Why do we make these choices Philosopher Erich Hatala Matthes explores these questions as they surface in radically diverse contexts from museums to TikTok and from National Parks to the corner of your attic Matthes illustrates the deep relationship between the things we might save and our sense of self If our cares and concerns are a fundamental part of our identity then what we care for and preserve will play a significant role in shaping and maintaining our understanding of who we are In a world in which everything that we care about is subject to powerful forces of change from climate disturbance and armed conflict to social transformation and the wear and tear of time the terms on which we confront change will be key to whether and ho