Society is full cargo cults driven by mimicry and immitation rather than true understanding. We should know better.
Thanks for sharing this with me. Cargo cults are a concept that, once understood, can be seen everywhere.
Indeed!
Awesome piece. I will feature this on Risk+Progress’s “Worthwhile reads” page: https://www.lianeon.org/p/worthwhile-reads
Mimicry is certainly an important part of human nature and, much of the time, mimicking the successful is beneficial to an individual or society.
But perhaps, mimicry without the faintest understanding of what one is trying to emulate is counterproductive.
Yes, this is more or less exactly my point with this article. Mimicry is a great shortcut, but the more complex the behavior or behaviors we mimic, the more likely it is to not work, or to mislead us.
Thanks for sharing this with me. Cargo cults are a concept that, once understood, can be seen everywhere.
Indeed!
Awesome piece. I will feature this on Risk+Progress’s “Worthwhile reads” page: https://www.lianeon.org/p/worthwhile-reads
Mimicry is certainly an important part of human nature and, much of the time, mimicking the successful is beneficial to an individual or society.
But perhaps, mimicry without the faintest understanding of what one is trying to emulate is counterproductive.
Yes, this is more or less exactly my point with this article. Mimicry is a great shortcut, but the more complex the behavior or behaviors we mimic, the more likely it is to not work, or to mislead us.