Category: Notes

An interesting lecture that delves into the depths of how we as human associate with time. There are six basic temporal orientations: two on the past (past positive and past negative), two on the present (hedonistic–avoiding pain, seeking pleasure, acquiring knowledge–and riders–believing that their life is fated and there is nothing they can do about it) and two on the future (those who have learned that it is better to work than to play and those who believe in a life after death).

Cohen discusses some of the causes of a lack of empathy, its hindrance as well as benefits.

As we are faced with increasingly more choice, studies are increasingly finding people to be dissatisfied. The dissatisfaction comes, in part, because the increased number of choices overwhelm our ability to analyse the data and thus we make poorer decisions. Additionally, because there are so many choice, it is easy to wonder if you could have made a better choice. Finally, if you make a choice you regret, it is your fault for making the wrong choice because it is likely (or so we think) that the “correct” options were available but you chose the wrong.

Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice (TED)

Carson presents some general work, and some personal works, and discusses some effective design principles.

David Carson: Design, discovery and humor (TED)

It turns out, that empathy is a natural inborn part of the human condition when it is not otherwise trained out of us. Indeed, such things as national, occupational and neighborhood pride are all outcroppings of this natural empathy. Rifkin suggests that we can tap into the natural ability to empathize to build a more peaceful and respondent global community.

Jeremy Rifkin – The Empathic Civilisation (RSA)
RSA Animate – The Empathic Civilisation