Rethinking Challenges Through Enabling Structures

Intractable challenges are often the result of a lack of imagination. That is, our solutions are constrained by existing systems and structures that likely created the problem in the first place. To dream up novel solutions that allow us to realize higher values, we need to build structures that enable and extend our imaginations.

And sure, I'm talking about macroeconomic, climate, and political challenges.

But I'm also talking about our day-to-day work and family lives.

Footnotes:

• Read the written version of this episode.
• "The WPA Federal Music Project in New Mexico" by Charles Cutter
• "The New Mexico Federal Music Project: Embodying the Regional Spirit of Roosevelt's New Deal" by Audra Bellmore and Amy S. Jackson
• Professor YouYoung Kang speaks about the Federal Music Project at Scripps College (YouTube)
• "Transcript: Mark Zuckerberg Announces Major Changes to Meta's Content Moderation Policies and Operations" by Justin Hendrix, TechPolicy.Press
• "Values Aren't Chains; They Are Wings" by Tara McMullin

Find more episodes and essays at whatworks.fyi.