I agree with this. I am just getting into the 'progress' literature, and I find a lot of ideas with great practical value to me. That said, most seem to come from a very macro perspective. I've been working in the area of funding for 10 years and have made a lot of my own observations, almost all on the personal/relationship level. Things like shared culture/values are important because that can be what empowers people to take a leap together, and it's especially magical when that culture (say of science) is shared among people who, in other aspects of the... (read more)
2SebastianG3y"Things like shared culture/values are important because that can be what
empowers people to take a leap together, and it's especially magical when that
culture (say of science) is shared among people who, in other aspects of their
lives, do not share culture."
I've been thinking a lot about this recently. See for example the recent
discussion on creating demand for innovation.
https://progressforum.org/posts/RhYhhfQ3KTvKhEKF3/to-increase-progress-increase-desire
[https://progressforum.org/posts/RhYhhfQ3KTvKhEKF3/to-increase-progress-increase-desire]
One dichotomy that might be useful is the distinction between invention and
innovation.
Invention, as in the invention of the periodic table, the flying shuttle, and
Euclidean geometry requires a set of conditions that foster freedom, unbridled
curiosity, debate and play. Here taking a leap together to learn something new.
Innovation, as in taking an idea or invention and investing in it to make
something real, profitable, or socially beneficial. Taking a leap together to
get something done.
Not all progress comes from innovation, much of progress, perhaps even the most
important types, come from invention and discovery. These are two sides of the
same system, both necessary, like upper and lower teeth.
In the progress studies community, you can see this divide too. Some people are
more purely interested in investigating how progress happens, others in making
it happen. Two rows of teeth!
I agree with this. I am just getting into the 'progress' literature, and I find a lot of ideas with great practical value to me. That said, most seem to come from a very macro perspective. I've been working in the area of funding for 10 years and have made a lot of my own observations, almost all on the personal/relationship level. Things like shared culture/values are important because that can be what empowers people to take a leap together, and it's especially magical when that culture (say of science) is shared among people who, in other aspects of the... (read more)