As our expertise grows, we tend to reinforce “The Way We’ve Always Done It” — a concept more elegantly known as Cognitive Entrenchment. While some facets of our mental frameworks serve us well, others may start to hold us back. When applied at a societal level, these norms become traditions that become hard to optimize.
An experiment in lateral thinking:
Imagine the opportunity to populate Mars tomorrow. Would we replicate Earth’s processes, or could we reinvent entirely new systems? What if we eliminated outdated practices and asked: What truly makes sense in this new context?
- Would we still rely on Western-style toilets, flushing pulped trees with dolphin print?
- Would we continue rewarding knowledge workers primarily for time spent rather than the results they achieve? In today’s world of automation, does this make sense?
- What about our approach to governance? Would we maintain rigid structures based on geography and central authorities, or could we adopt more decentralized models that empower communities directly?
- Would we still rely on so many middlemen in our operations, or could eliminating intermediaries lead to greater efficiency and independence?
- Would we keep the current trade-off for “free” internet services — accepting them in exchange for personal data instead of money? Or is there a more balanced model?
TWADDI can be both good and dangerous. On one hand, it’s natural to build on what works. On the other hand, it can trap us in routines that no longer serve our needs.
The world changes. Iteration encourages reflection and lateral thinking.