Matt Ridley: When ideas have sex

http://www.ted.com At TEDGlobal 2010, author Matt Ridley shows how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. It's not important how clever individuals are, he says; what really matters is how smart the collective brain is.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[Ibrahim Ibrahim]

this is completely true, no body knows nothing, but accumulation,

[sherart]

Sadly, we Americans haven't been taught to rely upon one another, but we have been taught that FEAR is the ruling factor. It's a change of perspective that we need, toward cooperation, community, interconnectiveness. This is occurring in smaller communities, and I believe they are what we will have to rely on if & when the sh*t hits the fan.

[Owlet101]

No, I'm just saying that there are other causes, not just guns. And what do guns have to do with inbreeding? Last I checked they had nothing to do with human genetics.

[roidroid]

So, you acknowledge NO demographic associative links between Bibles, Guns, Slaves, home-schoolin' and inbreedin?

wow, ok.

[Owlet101]

This is a little late to the discussion, but I would just like to add that America isn't the only country that has had slavery, but that doesn't make it right. We're still making up for it.

If you go far enough back everyone's inbread.

I know a lot of people who were home schooled and they are some of the smartest people that I know.

I don't own a gun, but I want one. Not because of fear, but because of sport. I'm not going to go on a killing spree, but nothing is wrong with target practice.

[StoofeH]

If there is no gun shop, then people will make them. Some viet cong even made their own weapons, it might not have been perfect but still deadly and it's far better than a stick. If someone is determined and has the means and money, they will get it.

[Jon Watson]

If there is no gun shop then no one has guns.

[FlatEarthHypothesis]

Matt Ridley also has an excellent presentation on fossil fuels and the "greening of our planet", which is highly worth looking up. I think it was posted under Reason.tv

[varun rathi]

when ideas have sex inovation is born

[Riellysdad]

This is a near perfection explanation and validation of the indespensible need for total free market capitalism. For these ideas to spread,join and spawn new inovations to benefit us all we must have free minds, free trade and security of our person and property under Objective law. Only true free market Capitalism offers that.

[roidroid]

Slavery eh? I suppose that makes sense, this is America we're talking about afterall. Those good-ol' Confederate days seem to be always be right on the edge of conciousness, itching for legitimacy: Bibles, Guns, Slaves, home-schoolin' and inbreedin', Yeehaw!

But seriously, why does everyone have a gun? Fear, they're scared of eachother. Address this problem by fostering community and trust amongst your neighbours.

TL:DR; Large ad-hoc community army vs lone gunman? Come at me bro.