An Exciting Time to Be Alive: Reflections on the TED Conference

Posted on March 7, 2012 by zoeweil
Image TED.com screenshot

I had the opportunity to attend a live streaming of the TED conference on February 29. The line-up of speakers was exciting. I learned about liquid metal battery technology from Donald Sadoway that will enable wind and solar energy to be stored, making their use more convenient and realistic. I learned about new autonomous flying robots that will be able to act as first responders and do search and rescue in emergencies from Vijay Kumar. Climatologist James Hansen offered a “feed and dividend” solution to our climate change challenges, while Reid Hoffman and Lior Zoref demonstrated the power of networks and crowdsourcing for collaboration and innovation.

What I love about TED is the opportunity to learn so much so quickly. Obviously, in 18 minutes, the maximum length of a TED talk, I don’t learn anything deeply or thoroughly; but each of the speakers is easy to find on the web for follow up should I wish to dive into a particular topic or idea.

In the midst of looming catastrophes (global warming, extinction of species, the continuing growth of the human population and all that such growth requires, resource depletion, etc.), there is a simultaneous emergence of the ability to learn from and collaborate with people across all borders and to innovate and create systemic change more quickly and efficiently. While atrocities persist, so does the exponential growth of people embracing human rights (women’s, children’s, gay, disability, etc.), animal protection, openness to and acceptance of new ideas, and more. TED is one example of this, with people coming together to learn, share, and exchange ideas for a better world. It’s an exciting time to be alive and to contribute.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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The World Needs More Heroes

Posted on February 16, 2011 by zoeweil

I’ve blogged about Phil Zimbardo’s work a number of times. His newest TED talk shares his goals and approach for creating more heroes through the Heroic Imagination Project (on whose board of advisors I’m proud to sit). Take a look at Phil’s brief talk, and consider what you can do in your own life not only to be an ordinary hero yourself, but to promote ordinary heroism among others.

I found the stark contrast between the two juxtaposed slides of Hitler, arm raised, standing above his followers, and Gandhi, arm similarly raised, standing among his, both unsettling and profoundly provocative and thought-provoking. Since, as Zimbardo argues and has provided evidence for throughout his distinguished career in social psychology (see the Stanford Prison Experiment), circumstance is a primary factor in our behavior, we are compelled to create the circumstances that will promote ordinary heroism.
That is our great task. And our great opportunity.

 

For a world populated by ordinary heroes,

 

Zoe Weil, President Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times and Claude and Medea, Moonbeam gold medal award winner for juvenile fiction about middle school ordinary heroes

 

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Filed under: changemakers, citizen activism, courage, goodness, heroes, integrity, responsibility, videos | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Barry Schwartz on Practical Wisdom and How We Need This in Schools

Posted on January 10, 2011 by zoeweil

I’m a big fan of Barry Schwartz, and his recent TED talk on our loss of wisdom just adds to my appreciation of him and his work. Take a look:

Many of the issues he addresses in his short talk – teaching to tests, imprisoning people for non-violent acts – are ones I’ve written about in my blog, and Schwartz’s talk dives to the crux of the problem: We are beholden to rules rather than wisdom, and in order to live moral lives we may need to bend rules while we also work toward changing unwise systems.

Systems analysis ought to be a primary subject in schools so that our students can become effective system-changers, developing solutions that transform both grossly unjust and simply unwise systems into ones that are healthy, restorative, humane and wise.

There are numerous systems within schools that are unwise – and Schwartz points out one in his talk that represents a true travesty of education: teaching and attending to only those kids who might pass standardized tests, while ignoring everyone else – and I can think of little else that would be more valuable to our children and our world than educating them in such a way that they have the critical and creative thinking skills to identify, assess, and transform those systems that harm both them and our world.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of The Power and Promise of Humane Education and Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life

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Bring on the Learning Revolution: Another TED Talk by Ken Robinson

Posted on September 1, 2010 by zoeweil

Here’s another great talk on education by Ken Robinson:

What do you think?

Zoe Weil
Author of The Power and Promise of Humane Education and Most Good, Least Harm

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Moral Behavior Doesn’t Depend on Religion: Sam Harris’s “Science Can Answer Moral Questions”

Posted on April 16, 2010 by zoeweil

I just watched a new TED talk given by author Sam Harris, titled, “Science Can Answer Moral Questions.” I recommend watching it and considering his (to my mind reasonable, to others quite provocative) perspective.

When I was a freshman in college, a friend of a friend had gone off to travel the world. He wound up at the Western Wall in Jerusalem where he was befriended by an Orthodox Jew who invited him to a Yeshiva to study Judaism. Having grown up as a secular Jew, he was compelled to learn about the religion of his ancestors. And he became an Orthodox Jew himself. He returned to our college for a visit, and I had the opportunity to meet him. Because I was Jewish (and secular) he was eager to proselytize, so he spent many hours with me talking about Judaism in particular and religion in general.

One of his arguments for religion was this: if there is no God, there is no reason why he shouldn’t rape or murder. I found this reasoning utterly preposterous. Moral behavior need have nothing at all to do with religion, as evidenced by all the atheists and agnostics in the world (me among them) who strive with great effort and commitment to lead lives that do the most good and the least harm. And science can lead us toward moral behavior even as religion sometimes leads us away from it.

What I appreciated about Sam Harris’ TED talk was how eloquently and unapologetically he reinforces this point. I welcome your thoughts after viewing Harris’ presentation.


Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education

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Filed under: Cultural Issues, integrity, MOGO (Most Good), values | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Practical Wisdom aka Common Sense

Posted on April 14, 2010 by zoeweil

Take a look at this TED talk by Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom:

It’s hard to know where to begin blogging about a talk that covers so much ground, and which offers great examples, stories, and humor about why we so desperately need to engage our practical wisdom (and cultivate it among our children) if we want to be able to actually embody all the other good qualities that are necessary for a healthier world.

Barry Schwartz tells one story that I hope will spark your interest in watching the whole talk. A father has taken his son to an event, and his son wants some lemonade. The father goes to get it, and the only lemonade available is “hard lemonade.” The father has no idea that this is alcoholic lemonade (it’s easy not to know if you don’t watch TV and are of an “older” generation), and brings it to his child. A security person sees the child, calls the police, and an ambulance whisks the boy to the emergency room of a hospital where he is found to have no measurable alcohol in his blood. Nonetheless, the department of health and human services puts the boy in foster care for three days, and when he returns home a judge requires that the father move into a motel. Schwartz bemoans the lack of practical wisdom evident in this example. Some would simply call it a lack of common sense.

The talk is especially important for teachers/humane educators. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind

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When It Comes to MOGO Choices, There is No Happiness Paradox

Posted on August 14, 2009 by zoeweil

Recently I watched Barry Schwartz’s talk at TED.com, “The Paradox of Choice”, in which he elucidated the surprising truth that, beyond a certain point, freedom of choice doesn’t make us happier. In fact, it makes us less happy. This isn’t big news, and the plethora of cartoons that Schwartz displayed that supported his central point attests to the fact that we actually all know this truth, even if marketers don’t. Excess choice leads to high expectations (bound to be dashed) and an overactive sense of responsibility for those dashed expectations.

But in the context of MOGO, choices are very important. In fact, the concept of MOGO is based on choice. The MOGO (most good) principle asks us to make choices that do the most good and the least harm for ourselves, other people, animals, and the environment. It places responsibility on the individual to consider the effects of one’s choices and to, wherever possible, make those that are MOGO. Where MOGO choices aren’t obvious or available, the principle asks us to work for their development by engaging in democracy and helping to change systems.

Is this principle – demanding so much choice of us – a recipe for dashed expectations and disappointment? Is the MOGO principle likely to decrease our happiness by laying on a burdensome mantle of responsibility?

NO!

The MOGO principle is empowering. It demands personal responsibility, but by taking responsibility, by doing good, by thoughtfully assessing our choices with MOGO in mind, we begin to make choices that are personally life-enhancing, contribute to a better world, help others, and create community. We tend to become less engaged with marketers’ overabundance of unimportant choices and more engaged with our own values, increasing our integrity and inner peace.

Choosing MOGO is liberating, not a recipe for disappointment.

~ Zoe

Zoe’s been busy with IHE’s student residency, so this is a repost, originally posted 1/14/09.

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Filed under: Inner Peace, MOGO (Most Good), positive choices, responsibility, systemic change | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

When It Comes to MOGO Choices, There is No Happiness Paradox

Posted on January 14, 2009 by zoeweil

Recently I watched Barry Schwartz’s talk at TED.com, “The Paradox of Choice” , in which he elucidated the surprising truth that, beyond a certain point, freedom of choice doesn’t make us happier. In fact, it makes us less happy. This isn’t big news, and the plethora of cartoons that Schwartz displayed that supported his central point attests to the fact that we actually all know this truth, even if marketers don’t. Excess choice leads to high expectations (bound to be dashed) and an overactive sense of responsibility for those dashed expectations.

But in the context of MOGO, choices are very important. In fact, the concept of MOGO is based on choice. The MOGO (most good) principle asks us to make choices that do the most good and the least harm for ourselves, other people, animals, and the environment. It places responsibility on the individual to consider the effects of one’s choices and to, wherever possible, make those that are MOGO. Where MOGO choices aren’t obvious or available, the principle asks us to work for their development by engaging in democracy and helping to change systems.

Is this principle – demanding so much choice of us – a recipe for dashed expectations and disappointment? Is the MOGO principle likely to decrease our happiness by laying on a burdensome mantle of responsibility?

NO!

The MOGO principle is empowering. It demands personal responsibility, but by taking responsibility, by doing good, by thoughtfully assessing our choices with MOGO in mind, we begin to make choices that are personally life-enhancing, contribute to a better world, help others, and create community. We tend to become less engaged with marketers’ overabundance of unimportant choices and more engaged with our own values, increasing our integrity and inner peace.

Choosing MOGO is liberating, not a recipe for disappointment.

~ Zoe

Filed under: Inner Peace, MOGO (Most Good), positive choices, responsibility, systemic change | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

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