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Weekly inspiration #40: Be an optimist

July 12th, 2010 by Nico Luchsinger

Over the weekend, I read a long interview [German only] with author Matt Ridley, who just published his book «The Rational Optimist». In it, Ridley argues that humanity’s progress not only has been remarkable over the last 45’000 years or so, but that the chances that we will continue on that path are very good – and that humanity will therefore be able to solve all the looming problems that lie ahead, from climate change to overpopulation and energy shortages.

I haven’t had a chance to read the book yet, but it has been widely reviewed. Most reviewers try to poke holes into Ridleys overly optimistic view. And there certainly is a lot to critize: Ridley’s argument that the driving force of all human progress is trade, and that periods of slow innovation where caused by governmental overregulation is simplistic at best (especially considering that Matt Ridley was chairman of British bank Northern Rock which went bankrupt in 2008). Ridley also excludes much of the 20th century and its devastating war from his happy history of human progress.

But if Ridley is right or wrong on certain issues is not even the point. I found reading about his book very refreshing, if only because it provides a counterargument to all the doomsayers that seem to be everywhere since the financial crisis started. Of course, we also need the pessimists: They point out the problems we may than try to solve. But it does seem to me that, especially at the moment, we could use some more optimists. We need innovation to tackle challenges – and innovation, I believe, needs optimism.

It might be naive to suggest, as David Eagleman does, that the internet will literally be the solution to most of humanity’s problems. And I’m not sure if Jamais Cascio is right when he proclaims that the humanity (thanks to internet, and drugs) is constantly getting smarter. But each of these statements contains at least some truth – and that’s enough to feel optimistic about the outlook we have.

What makes you feel optimistic? Or do you feel that optimism is misguided?

Nico is one Sandbox’ co-founders. He feels it’s easy to be optimistic when the summer is as beautiful as it currently is in Zurich.