Ideas worth spreading

When ideas have sex

2,638,613 views | Matt Ridley • TEDGlobal 2010

At TEDGlobal 2010, author Matt Ridley shows how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. It's not important how clever individuals are, he says; what really matters is how smart the collective brain is.

At TEDGlobal 2010, author Matt Ridley shows how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. It's not important how clever individuals are, he says; what really matters is how smart the collective brain is.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Matt Ridley

Rational optimist

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Matt Ridley argues that, through history, the engine of human progress and prosperity has been, and is, "ideas having sex with each other."

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.