distant tugs

Joshua Greene, cognitive neuroscientist and philosopher, explains why we care most about what is closest to hand.

'Nature endowed us with tuggable heartstrings, a crucial design feature for creatures whose survival depends on cooperation. But nature couldn't foresee that our survival might someday depend on cooperation across oceans and continents, and so neglected to outfit us with heartstrings that are readily tugged from a distance.' (Ht: A&L) more ...

the sharing industry

Charles Leadbeater says the web is changing basic attitudes:

‘In the 20th century we were identified by what we owned. In the 21st century we will also be defined by how we share and what we give away.’

Chris Anderson agrees:

'Altruism has always existed, but the Web gives it a platform where the actions of individuals can have global impact. In a sense, zero-cost distribution has turned sharing into an industry.'

more ...