WSJ: Humans: Why They Triumphed

[RJN]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 33138.html

The answer lies in a new idea, borrowed from economics, known as collective intelligence: the notion that what determines the inventiveness and rate of cultural change of a population is the amount of interaction between individuals. Even as it explains very old patterns in prehistory, this idea holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead...

[neufer]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 33138.html

The answer lies in a new idea, borrowed from economics, known as collective intelligence: the notion that what determines the inventiveness and rate of cultural change of a population is the amount of interaction between individuals. Even as it explains very old patterns in prehistory, this idea holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead...

Ergo, the high capacity of humans (unlike other animals) to conspire is basically what makes the world go round.

Conspire, v. i. [F. conspirer, L. conspirare to blow together, harmonize, agree; con- + spirare to breathe, blow.]

Rule 15: "Conspiracy theories are not discussed here."

[owlice]

Good article; depressing comments (on the WSJ site in response to the article).

[geckzilla]

Comments on news articles are almost universally depressing. I want an addon for firefox that somehow detects the comments section on popular media sites and hides them from me.

[owlice]

I looked at them on purpose!

[geckzilla]

I know. It's like a train wreck.

[neufer]

Comments on news articles are almost universally depressing. I want an addon for firefox that somehow detects the comments section on popular media sites and hides them from me.

So do you want ideas to have safe sex or should there be total abstinence

(Can't Neanderthals contribute some to the gene pool?)

• <<There's a cheery modern lesson in this theory about ancient events. Given that progress is inexorable, cumulative and collective if human beings exchange and specialize, then globalization and the Internet are bound to ensure furious economic progress in the coming century—despite the usual setbacks from recessions, wars, spendthrift governments and natural disasters. The process of cumulative innovation that has doubled life span, cut child mortality by three-quarters and multiplied per capita income ninefold—world-wide—in little more than a century is driven by ideas having sex. And things like the search engine, the mobile phone and container shipping just made ideas a whole lot more promiscuous still.>>

[rstevenson]

I noticed a large number of those comments seemed to be back-and-forth jabs at people known to the jabbers. I've noticed the same thing in many blogs -- the mindless seem to be arguing with each other, almost as if they seek each other out for such exchanges.

I don't worry about that sort of thing. The willfully ignorant have always been with us. Yes, they now have ways to yell louder in public, but so do the knowledgeable.

Progress is inevitable, however bumpy the road we travel.

Rob

[neufer]

I noticed a large number of those comments seemed to be back-and-forth jabs at people known to the jabbers. I've noticed the same thing in many blogs -- the mindless seem to be arguing with each other, almost as if they seek each other out for such exchanges.

Sorta like Chris & I.

Progress is inevitable, however bumpy the road we travel.

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