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Date: August 6, 2020
Theme: Wisdom from the past
Prompt: What important lessons have we forgotten, misplaced, or turned away from over time? How might these practices and beliefs be (re)applied for the benefit of modern life?
Thought-starters:
- “Amish Technology: Reinforcing Values, Building Community” in IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, Summer 2007
- “What the Modern World has Forgotten about Children and Learning” by Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post, August 19, 2016
- “The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter” posted by The Worth House on Medium, December 13, 2018
- “Why Silicon Valley Fell in Love With an Ancient Philosophy of Austerity” by Jacob Rosenberg in Mother Jones, January/February 2020 issue
- “Is Intermittent Fasting ‘Natural’? History Experts Respond to the Controversy” by Ali Pattillo in Inverse, July 26, 2019
- “A History of Wood and Craft in Japanese Design” by Blaine Brownell in Architect Magazine, June 16, 2016
Pre-work: Think of at least one example of a past belief, practice, or system that has fallen out of favor that’s making a comeback or could benefit the world today. Challenge yourself to think across disciplines, e.g. work, personal life, community, organizations, government, etc.
Facilitation questions
- What did you like or dislike about the articles? What struck close to home?
- Thinking across personal life, business, government, and academia:
- What are other examples of concepts, idea, or practices that are valuable but fell out of favor?
- What concepts, ideas, or practices seem to be coming back into vogue?
- Why do we lose sight of wisdom from the past?
- When can or should something come back?
- What drives (re)adoption of an older idea?
- What might you change in your life or work based on this conversation?