John Brockman is a literary agent, which is like saying that Sachin Tendulkar is a batsman. Brockman also runs one of the most thought-provoking and important salons around today – Edge. Basically, the idea is this – gather together the smartest people around (scientists, authors and other kinds of thinkers) and have them dialogue with each other. Though the actual process of discussion are restricted, the results of them are open for our reading pleasure, at the above site.
Each year, Brockman challenges his collection of thinkers with one Big Question that they then talk about. For 2006, the question is:
WHAT IS YOUR DANGEROUS IDEA?
The history of science is replete with discoveries that were considered socially, morally, or emotionally dangerous in their time; the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions are the most obvious. What is your dangerous idea? An idea you think about (not necessarily one you originated) that is dangerous not because it is assumed to be false, but because it might be true?
Some fascinating reading here. Might even be some “disruptive ideas” that you might see reflected in business plans – though that isn’t the main reason I read edge. It is sheer brain candy, and major-league food for thought.
Be warned, though – do not start reading this if you have any urgent work that needs to be done. 🙂
- Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends report - May 28, 2014
- Andreessen-Horowitz raises $1.5B for its new fund - February 1, 2012
- WestBridge launches India “evergreen” fund - November 15, 2011
Talking of edge, this page containing list of books by edge members is also quite interesting.
http://www.edge.org/books/books_index.html
the “24 hour period of absolute solitude” sounds like it could be derived from Vipaasana meditation.
Its a great site. My fav dangerous idea of the list is Leo M. Chalupa’s
” A 24-hour period of absolute solitude”. It sounds more interesting than dangerous.
Thanks for creating awareness about EDGE
Edge is really unbelievable good stuff, it’s a treasure trove of alpha geek thoughts. As quoted in one of the magazine last year, it is like crack , very very addictive.
There are sure some ideas here that can be reflected in b-plans but I have my reservations that they will indeed appear in any plan, atleast in an Indian context.
Moreover one thing that we have to see here is that these ideas are dangerous even to be introduced in research community ( whatever the sphere maybe)