The Evolving Mindset: Unveiling Humanity's Path from War to Creation.
From a zero-sum game where everyone loses to an infinite one where everyone creates.
We are an extraordinary species, driven by an insatiable thirst for expansion and progress, an impulse woven deep within the fabric of our social DNA. Yet, amidst this fervor, why do other creatures—Nerdenatal, apes, even pods of dolphins—each displaying remarkable intelligence, not share our unyielding ambition? What clandestine force lies behind this untapped potential?
In "The Rational Optimist," Matt Ridley unravels the concept of collective intelligence as a paramount force propelling humanity forward in its relentless pursuit of progress, defying the dire predictions that shroud our future: extinction, wars, pandemics, and natural catastrophes.
Cities stand as humanity's most magnificent invention and paramount triumph. They are veritable crucibles of serendipity, where collaboration and innovation waltz in an ethereal harmony, challenging the bleak destiny that looms over us. From ancient Uruk, boasting 60,000 souls, to modern metropolises like New York, London, Tokyo, or Mexico City, cities are the looms upon which the tapestry of human destiny is woven.
In this discourse, I delve into the evolutionary journey of our collective intelligence—how the mindset of our civilization has transformed over time.
Mindset #1: Conquest
Our primal instinct was conquest. Empire A, endowed with four squares of natural and demographic wealth, sets its sights on Empire B, with a mere two squares of resources. But war comes at a cost, and Empire B stands ready to defend itself. This mindset unleashes boundless potential.
Mindset #2: Trade
Then arose a new paradigm, a civilization fueled by trust and trade between empires. Commerce birthed thriving new cities and facilitated the cross-pollination of ideas. Yet, the aggregate resource maximum remains tethered to the sum of resources within Empires A and B.
Mindset #3: Technology
With the advent of the industrial revolution, a cadre from both empires pioneers machines that harness the raw materials of both realms to birth something entirely novel. The productivity surge from this technology begets a multiplicative effect, transcending prior limitations on growth.
Mindset #4: Creation
A burgeoning mindset emerges, emancipating us from the shackles of natural and energy constraints. With the rise of artificial intelligence, we stand poised to achieve feats heretofore unimaginable—from nuclear fusion reactors to novel materials and protein synthesis. The age of creation heralds exponential growth, challenging the very boundaries of our existence.
Between delaying the era of creation and succumbing to inferior mindsets like conquest—fostering warfare, hunger, and despair—lies our destiny, yet unwritten.
Thanks for reading,
Guillermo Valencia A
Co-founder of Macrowise
April 28th , Medellín, Colombia.