TED Talks Daily The cosmic war between monotony and creativity | David Deutsch
Oct 14, 2019
David Deutsch, a theoretical physicist, explores the thrilling clash between monotony and creativity. He proposes that for billions of years, the universe has seen little novelty, but humanity's ability to generate explanatory knowledge could change that. Deutsch discusses how creativity can transform our lives, challenging the stifling effects of routine. He critiques historical views of suffering as a cosmic battle and argues for a deeper understanding of human existence, positioning us not as cosmic playthings, but as active users of universal forces.
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Pre-Enlightenment Pessimism
- Before the scientific revolution, people held low expectations for progress.
- This pessimism, exemplified by Kohelet's words, reflected a world lacking significant novelty.
Suffering and Staticity
- Human suffering is linked to a lack of progress.
- Sources of suffering only persist until knowledge is created to prevent them.
Of Human Bondage
- Somerset Maugham's novel describes the history of mankind as a cycle of birth, suffering, and death.
- This reflects the insignificance of individual lives in a world without progress.
