Topics: Interesting Tech, Insights

This Tuesday's New York Times Science Times section had an article about Stewart Brand. Stewart Brand was a counter-culture figure, an environmentalist, and a hacker in his own way. His is probably most famous for the the Whole Earth Catalog.

The Science Times article reports how Brand changed his approach to environmentalism and various other issues over the years. A key theme is the relationship between the romantic and the rational. As he emphasises the rational side of environmentalism, his views sometimes at odds with other streams of environmentalism.

I found the last two paragraphs of the article quite noteable (at least to me):

"I get bored easily — on purpose," he said, recalling advice from the co-discoverer of DNA's double helix. "Jim Watson said he looks for young scientists with low thresholds of boredom, because otherwise you get researchers who just keep on gilding their own lilies. You have to keep on trying new things."

That's a good strategy, whether you're trying to build a sustainable career or a sustainable civilization. Ultimately, there's no safety in clinging to a romanticized past or trying to plan a risk-free future. You have to keep looking for better tools and learning from mistakes. You have to keep on hacking.

Nicely stated.

J.D. Abolins