Optimism in a time of pessimism.

Back in 1974, Stewart Brand’s advice was to “stay hungry, stay foolish,” as a way of bringing a beginner’s mind to new challenges. He still follows that advice, and he now says, “The phrase allows you to open your mind and explore. It means putting aside the explanations provided by social constructs and ideologies.”

Brand is a biologist, political activist, and former editor of the Whole Earth Catalog, which has been described as the internet before there was an internet. In a recent interview in the online magazine The European, Brand offers his optimistic view of the future of humanity in spite of predictions of global apocalypse. He says, “We need a combination of confidence and curiosity. It is a form of deep-seated opportunism that goes to the core of our nature and is very optimistic. I haven’t been killed by my foolishness yet, so let’s keep going, let’s take chances.”

If that knocked your socks off, just wait until you see our next cool topic, It’s not gloom and doom if it helps to frame the problem. And if you want to peruse all of the previous sock-knocking blog entries, visit the Knocked My Socks Off archive. (links to another blog site)

Reference

Brand S.  Look at the world through the eyes of a fool. The European. https://www.theeuropean-magazine.com/268-brand-stewart/269-life-the-universe-and-everything. Published May 30, 2011. Accessed June 15, 2011.