At TEDGlobal 2010, author Matt Ridley argues how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. According to Ridley, it is not important how clever individuals are, what really matters is how smart the collective brain is. Resistance is futile.

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  • P.S. This is what Matt Ridley's new book is about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOQGiveUxf8&feature=player_embedded A bit exaggerating perhaps ;)

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  • Very interesting research! It is refreshing to see things from this perspective for someone like me who likes investigations about 'change of meaning' and 'identity'. Roberto Verganti has done interesting work by defining design driven innovation btw. @ Koert: Just like the milk-supermarket example. Also the word 'album' (collection of songs) when we use music as an example. @ Martijn: could you please explain why you find this difference fundamental?

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  • Thanks Koert. Actually, yes I did watch the complete video but I thought Matt Ridley's story was more about evolution of ideas (and I perceived a fundamental difference between his story and your 'next nature' concept - I think evolution 'flows' in tiny little steps, while next nature evolves with fragmental large steps). But okay, your answer makes sense - though you didn't even mention the 'stoneaxe' vs. the 'computer mouse' in your initial post... so I guess your (former missing) link made me post my question ;-) PS. Strange, now I can actually see in your post that the video lasts 16 minutes - did you re-post it?

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  • I tried to think of something -- a tool object -- that I could make instantly and entirely without the help of others. It would be something that I could mould and handle with my own hands and fingers. I found some: 1) I can take a small stick and draw signs in the sand or clay. 2) With a bigger stick I can kill a warthhog or cow to eat and clothe myself. 3) With branches I can build a hut and a fence. So when armageddon comes, I know what to find first. All lifes necessities regained with one tree. ;-)

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  • @Martijn: How this relates to next nature? Did you look at the whole video? Anyone who compares as Stone Axe, with a computer mouse has some next nature thinking going on, don't you think? In particular the argument that one individual could never make or even understand an everyday object like a computer mouse says a lot on how we, as a collective, have caused an environment that for the individual becomes so intricate and complex that you can only relate to it as a natural phenomenon. Hope this answers your question. Check out the related posts if you need more context. They have been handcrafted for your convenience.

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  • ... interesting! But (how) does it relate to 'next nature'??? PS. By the way, how long is this video? (16 minutes)

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