Interesting topic, I share your concern when you say:
"This week, we are being asked to think about what it is in humans that prevents us from acting in our best interest against the great problems facing humanity."

The planet is falling apart and the vast majority continues to live "the crazy life" thinking about themselves, not caring that some cities are already flooded and others are going the same way, unproductive lands which leads to famines among others, due to the overheating of the earth, and that is where the quota that corresponds to us as citizens. What are we doing?