There are certain challenges we face that are best solved through self interested behavior, other challenges that can only be solved through collective action and co operation. The secret of our success is the name a book that talks about cultural evolution. Our ability to co operate at larger and larger scales has given us this incredible adaptive fitness. If you'd imagine a lone human confronting any challenge in the primitive world, you know, we'd get killed by a tiger or die from the cold. But you bring us together as a group,. suddenly we are extremely powerful and extremely intelligent.
On this episode we meet with ecological economist and Professor in Community Development & Applied Economics and Public Administration, Josh Farley.
Farley explores the importance of human cooperation in a modern superstructure that incentivizes competition. What role will cooperation play in helping us solve our largest existential problems?
Farley explains the critical social dilemma humans face: How can we grapple with the paradox that individuals are better served to act selfishly, but cooperation among individuals makes everyone better off?
Additionally, Professor Farley helps us distinguish the difference between how a system works, and how we can understand and participate in changing a system.
For Show Notes and Transcript visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/07-josh-farley