Evolution & Innovation

What is it about us that most consistently, uniformly and unashamedly makes us always want more than what we have? Why does the grass always look greener, and nowadays more springy, soft and carpet-like; on the neighbour's patch of land? What is it about the human spirit that keeps us driven, determined and obsessive-compulsive about finding new and better ways to do things and to own things?

Today we shall look at this side of humans that will be the death of any and all alien races that try to conquer us (that's the tag line all movies promote) - that never say die attitude that keeps us striving higher, till we reach rarefied heights where no oxygen exists, and then we use air tanks.

It is also what drives the innovators and designers in us, and keeps us moving towards achieving the space bending drive that will qualify us to join the Galactic Federation, before we realise there is a whole galaxy and universe that is much greener and awaiting conquerors.

When it comes to innovation, it is the sum of all things that adds up to that something that drives the human spirit. It is cliché to say it, but there is no bad or good label that can or should be applied to innovation. The winglet (or wingtip) fixed at the end of fixed wing aircraft wings help save fuel and lessen drag and improve lift for commercial aircraft, but they also enable robot drone planes to have more range, and fly silently and be able to assassinate targets much more efficiently.

It is all about human purpose right?

To put it bluntly, the mind that has ran the gamut of human expression, endeavor and experiences; is also the mind that is predisposed towards becoming a great innovator. The combination of wealth, anger, happiness, sadness, lust, greed, pride – all add up to a formative or summative, or perhaps both, set of parameters that enable the innovative mind.

It would be nice to be able to say for sure, but none of us is in a position to say for sure. Just like the idiot savants who can memorise numbers, telephone books and dates and there is no rational, precise explanation for them, so too does innovation not have a definite equation. We can say there is an increased likelihood for the behavior to be exhibited, but that is about all that can be said.

Where do we go from here if we actually do acknowledge that ‘innovative behaviours’ are the sort of outcomes we would like to see as a result of the type of education systems, business place practices and environments that nurture, support and create such an outcome?

Innovative behaviours are defined as thinking that is critical, creative, inclusive, entrepreneurial, and reflective. It shows leadership, risk-taking, decisiveness and intuitive choice making. It culminates in outcomes that build upon current ways of doing and using, and is able to see what the world wants and needs.

Has human evolution prepared us for all of these?

Darwin knew a good thing when he saw it, and he realised very quickly after Galapagos that it did not matter what anyone did. Nature will ensure the survival of the fittest, and even if human beings for the first time are able to negate the effects of the environment, it still is the environment that ensures the survival of the fittest. It does not matter that the definition of the ‘fittest’ keeps changing daily even.

What I am trying to say in my special way (long winded and philosophy in abundance) is that in spite of our education systems and evil practices that place financial gain as the bottom line, the only thing that matters is what the masses decide the environment should be. If everyone thinks it is okay to let the earth go to hell and we move underground, then so be it. If everyone decides we should let SMS language be the formal language of earth, so be it. Nobody has control except the masses.

As human beings, we have been programmed by evolution to choose what works best for us, and part of what works best is to see what most people want. Which is why so many men choose to shave their heads now, since the masses believe that bald men are studs (which happens to be true). Just like the voluptuous woman is the woman to be now, since that is perceived as the current nurturing form, in these troubled financial times. That make voluptuous hot, and skinny unhealthy.

So…we may as well accept that we really do know to accept what needs accepting, and are even programmed for it. We may hate it, but we will recognize great innovators and innovations. The problem still is that the world needs innovators, not people who use innovations since we are all programmed to do so anyway.

What if the point is reached that people become lazy and just wait for handouts? Innovators need competition too in order to continuously innovate upon innovations and inventions.

That is the big point. How can we create environments that nurture and catalyse innovative behaviours? Why cannot we implement that is education systems and business environments and even government ones too? What is blocking us from doing so, if we are all so strongly programmed for it?

Conspiracy theories?  A few masterminds sitting at the top of the world determining how few [people receive just enough information so the world goes on at a pre-programmed pace? Preset limiting factors at work so 0.1% of the world can control 99.9%?

Perhaps it really does not matter, since circumstances will dictate the natural flow and order of things as determined by free markets. That is a farce of course, since there is no such thing as a free market, not with commodities and money exchange fix-a-lots hard at work manipulating everything to maximise profits.

At the end of the day, what I would like to think is that we need to set up environments for very young people that would evolve those innovative behaviours, as opposed to the ones that restrict them now. Then let the innovators loose and let whatever happens, happen.

Nature is the second greatest innovator, after the high heels guy.

Innovate that baby!