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Mitch Skiles

Owner/Contributor, LuxPerci.com

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Can we look at the past when looking for future solutions to modern problems?

I read a book called "The Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb which proposes the idea that the world is incredibly unpredictable. These "Black Swan" events control integral moments in the history of our species; whether that be a stock market crash or 9/11. In hindsight we may see a trend, but at any given moment the future of a new black swan event is impossible to predict. I am wondering that if this is the case, can we still look into the past to find solutions to problems. I did an analysis of Israel while looking for a solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict and found an interesting economic trend when compared to cooperation. (If you would like to read my study visit http://luxperci.com/solution-arab-israeli-conflict/ ) Is this a fair assumption?

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    edward long 100+

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    Aug 22 2012: The past is our repository of available knowledge and experience. To ignore it would be lunacy.

    • Barry Palmer 50+

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      Aug 23 2012: Hi Edward,

      I actually agree with you. Unfortunately, my logic seems to be telling me that we are approaching a point in history in which lunacy is the effective approach to progress. I comfort myself with the thought that I am probably wrong.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 23 2012: Disdain for the past and a giddy delight for all things new is, sadly, not an uncommon behavior in our post-modern world. I join you Barry in doubting that lunacy will ever be the effective approach to progress, although it may become the popular approach.

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