Value Diversity: History of diversity & increasing complexity
Modern work demands knowledge transfer: the ability to apply knowledge to new situations and different domains. Our most fundamental thought processes have changed to accommodate increasing complexity and the need to derive new patterns rather than rely only on familiar ones. Our conceptual classification schemes provide a scaffolding to connect knowledge, to make it accessible and flexible.
David Epstein, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
As I open the section and I think about how people perceive diversity, it’s often based on the things that they can see. I can see your skin color. I can see your hair color. I can see your clothes. The things that we believe make us different oftentimes group us in ways that separate us. It is in that see-group mindset that I seek to focus us to Value diversity. We focus on what we cannot see.
Dr. Jordan Peterson says it best when he says, “there are more differences within groups than between them." What people don’t know about their mindset, or their neurodiversity will astonish us.
Throughout the course of human history, the diversity of mindsets and the increasing complexity of societies has been a driving force behind the application of knowledge to new situations and different domains. Understanding the history of mindset diversity and societal complexity is essential for understanding how knowledge has developed and been applied over the ages.
One of the earliest examples of diversity of mindsets can be seen in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia (Sumerian 2900 BC) and Egypt (e.g. First Dynasty 3100 BC). These civilizations were made up of people with their unique perspectives and ways of thinking. The complexity of their societies was evident in the organization of their Nation’s governments (e.g. Sumerian Kingdom or The First Dynasty), the development of writing systems (e.g. Sumerian Cylinder Seals), and the creation of monumental architecture (E.g. Hammurabi’s Code). The diversity of mindsets and the complexity of these societies drove the development of knowledge in fields such as astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and psychology.
As societies continued to develop and become more complex (e.g. Andes, China and Indus Valley), the need to apply knowledge to new situations and domains became increasingly important. The Renaissance (e.g. 15the Century, Reformation, and The Gutenberg Bible), for example, was a period of intense intellectual activity that saw the emergence of new ideas and discoveries across a range of fields. The complexity of society at the time, with the rise of the merchant class, the growth of trade, and the expansion of empires, created new opportunities for innovation and the application of knowledge to solve complex problems.
The Enlightenment (18th Century, Cherokee Republic, Hindustan struggles, and Newton and Leibniz) is another significant period in history that saw a shift in mindset and the application of knowledge to new domains. The Enlightenment was characterized by a focus on reason and rationality, with the belief that knowledge could be used to create a better society. This period saw the development of advances in science, philosophy, and political theory, which have continued to shape the way we think about the world today.
In conclusion, the history of mindset diversity and societal complexity drives the application of knowledge to new situations and different domains. As we move forward into our future, it is essential that we embrace diversity of thought and maintain the ability to apply knowledge to new, complex situations. Doing so will allow us to continue to develop innovative solutions to the challenges that lie ahead.
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