We live in the land of constant change, right? Yet, if we are constantly on the move and trying to keep up with the Jone s's. What kind of real changes are happening. We see it in our politics, fashion, consumerism - deep changes rarely occur. We repeat patterns and rarely shift the dominant paradigm towards lasting change. You might have watched the “Devil Called Prada”, this is a story about how external forces control fashion for the most part. How much of our daily lives is in reaction or because of what larger organizations or consumerism decides? I see a sea of North Face backpacks when I go on campus, and I'm not sure that's because it is just the best bag out there. Is there some advertising, status, or something that has made this the dominant bag on campus?
It happens in larger issues. It seems to me we are just recapturing some of the movement of environmentalism that seemed so unshakable in the late 70's. It is spurred not by the massive good will, but largely in response to the scarcity of resources. When our trips to the mall are threatened, then people pay attention. Food prices and good prices are rising, so it is impossible to not ask what can be done. Crisis causes change.
So if the lasting changes that come about are from external forces, what does it take for a society to move forward without that? We've certainly seen movements, like the women's movement and the continuing fight against oppression. Yet, these to are fights that come out of groups of people being kept from their inherent rights. What sort of change can happen absent of large pressures? Is it possible for change to bubble up simply because it is the best possible course?
I'm curious to see what people think...
I'm an archaeologist, so I've often asked this question. What makes people change? It is too big of a question to answer after all these years of studying.
Historically, I can't think of one single thing of massive innovation that was not driven by need, but I can think of a few that were driven by curiosity then adopted due to a growing need.
Look at the history of technology. Edison invented the light bulb and there may or may not have been wide spread need for it. Arabs designed the eyeglass or telescope for seeing long distances, but it developed into a need for astronomy where it became really big.
The history of technology goes back and forth between need and noticing that this object can fulfil another "need" or desire. How many can you find?
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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You're my new hero both because you mentioned history and because you're an archaeologist. ;) And I have to agree. Need tends to drive innovation more often than not. When curiosity drives innovation, it tends to turn into a need in some way. I'd probably argue that in a historical context, need and curiosity are often as closely, if not more so, linked than is need/desire.
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Like writing? So do we!
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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This would be the first time my unique love of history, archaeology, psychology and technology would have gotten me anywhere. =P
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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I think you've struck on another core instigator. Innovations for innovation's sake. Some people are called to push themselves into the dark of night to invent or write something that no one else might understand at that time. I would say genius is a motivator of societal change.
I'm not a huge history buff so I'm not sure of a list of inventions. But, it is interesting how some great changes happened by accident. For instance, the discovery of antibiotics.
So, as you said human curiousity and I'll add the adjectives of innovation and genius can be catalysts for change. There must surely be more. Love? Hate?
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
From what I've read and studied in the three history of technology classes which covered different periods, I have not seen much in the way of the psychology of the inventors. How it is portrayed in the books and biography of the inventors seems to be that they noted something, then started to tinker with it.
A few great inventions came out of greed. I can't remember all the details at the moment, but I remember reading that a when alchemist were trying to turn lead into gold, they also found many new other chemicals. Then, natural curiosity took over and they wanted to know what the properties of the chemicals were, what they could do, and how they could be used for human uses.
Most things, I would have to say, have a touch of greed to them. It may not be a selfish greed, but that of the human race. Most of the time in academia we have a tendency to ask, "How can this benefit us?" Us here meaning the human race.
I've seen a few examples where science has been elevated by hate when it comes to finding a better weapon in the case of war. Or is that fear? I'm not sure how you would classify it. One side hates their enemy so the developed a missile. The other side fears (hates?) their enemy so they rush to build a BETTER missile.
I've also seen a couple cases where science was elevated by love. A few doctors and medical students have professed to going into the profession so they could help out those that they loved. I've met many researchers that have the same reason. One young man I met on a plane was studying breast cancer because his mom suffered from it. He told me he would never with that on another woman if he could help it.
Love, compassion, hate, fear, greed, and curiosity are the ones that I can find the most for the reasons why things are invented.
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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For there to be change, there must be a perceived need for change. With so many eyes and hearts and minds and the myriad points of view, it is difficult to find accord in even the most basic of things. In this moment, for some there is a need for change and in others there is none. Some wish to move in one direction, and others in the opposite. What we have seen in the past is that great and singular forces pressed upon a societal audience produce –for just a moment- a mostly unified societal response. Then the moment passes as our individual responses from individual perspectives amplify our differences over time.
We have also seen the power of a unified perspective and singular response. We have seen the end to segregation through the civil rights movement but before this we saw the Nazi conquest. Activism for change is not, of itself, a virtuous thing. What we need for a lasting change across a society is a unified perspective of the needed change and the path to achieving it. But what is it that we need for a change worthy of its creation? What do we need to ensure a virtuous act and not simply to add to our world’s long history of misguided deeds?
I believe that there is a single answer to how we can unite our vision, unite our response, and guide our historic transformation along a path virtue. If we look to the root of what divides us and brings us harm, we can see the root of that thing needed to bring us into benevolent unity.
Considering our history and the divisiveness of the current times, what makes us think that, in this moment, our desire for change and the direction of this desired change is a virtuous thing?
How personal is your answer, how personal should it be?
"Be the Change You Want to See in The World." Gahndi.
If change doesn't start with self then it certainly doesn't happen in the larger context.
I think our times are not necessarily any less divisive than other times. Change happens whether we are a part of it or not. It is whether we want to take part in it that can make a difference. I am not willing to leave the power of change to the current paradigm.
To answer where the authority for change comes, I believe that is definitely personal. No one can really Know Know that it is right for anytime. But, I am a person that would rather act on my ethics and instinct than sit by also.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey