Niall Ferguson: The 6 killer apps of prosperity

TED dot com ^ | Sept. 2011 | Niall Ferguson

[bigbob]

Over the past few centuries, Western cultures have been very good at creating general prosperity for themselves. Historian Niall Ferguson asks: Why the West, and less so the rest? He suggests half a dozen big ideas from Western culture -- call them the 6 killer apps -- that promote wealth, stability and innovation. And in this new century, he says, these apps are all shareable.

History is a curious thing, and Niall Ferguson investigates not only what happened but why.

20 minute video at the link

[bigbob]

I consider Prof. Ferguson to be a bit like Rush Limbaugh, in that his often brilliant messages are delivered with full attention to his own brilliance. But he is always stimulating and thought-provoking, and finds unique ways to make the complex understandable...

If you can spare 20 minutes to watch this video, I hope you will agree.

[LS]

Yes, this is from his new book Civilization.

My co-authors Mike Allen, Dave Dougherty and I take a different approach in "Patriot's History of the Modern World," coming out this November. American "exceptionalism" rests on four fundamentals:

1) common law; 2) Christian, mostly Protestant religion; 3) property rights (including land ownership); 4) a free market.

Even many of the western states that Ferguson cites in his book really no longer rely on common law. Virtually all of the world is now based on civil law---a terrifically important difference.

[lula]

Can I find those apps on my iphone?..../sarc

[stevecmd]

Wow ! Looking forward to your new book. I use some of your previous works to guide my kids through their studies. Great tools. Keep ‘em coming.

[kitkat]

Please be sure to let us know when your new book comes out.

[Standing Wolf]

If you can spare 20 minutes to watch this video, I hope you will agree.

I expected an article. I've got nothng against seminar talks, but if you want to engage and persuade me, you need to use real words in black and white.

[iowamark]

Competition
Scientific Revolution
Property Rights
Modern Medicine
Consumer Society
The Work Ethic

[bigbob]

Thanks for the heads-up on the book.

I don’t always agree with Ferguson but always have to admire the eloquence of his presentation and the mental models he uses to stimulate critical thinking. An example from this talk being the illustration of differences in the ability to own property - even between North and South America. I wouldn’t have thought of that before, but now the importance seems clear. I will be interested to see how you treat the same topic, especially with regard to common law, (which I think Ferguson would agree with as the basis for property rights).

Looks like I have TWO good reads ahead!

[p. henry]

All of these attributes are under siege from the progressive movement.

[bigbob]

I thought the “Video at Link” would be sufficient warning that it wasn’t an article.

However, just click the button labeled “Interactive Transcript” and you shall have real words. (Color dependent on your video settings)

We aim to please...

[PGR88]

“Can the West Delete Its Own Apps?”

Yes - we are doing so now.

[OneWingedShark]

Ping For Later

[FewsOrange]

Bill Bernstein in "The Birth of Plenty" credits property rights, the scientific method, capital markets and communications.

[mjp]

Bill Bernstein in "The Birth of Plenty" credits property rights, the scientific method, capital markets and communications.

also innovations in technology of transportation and generation of power

[Excellence]

“The great divergence is over,” as 0bama bows to the Chinese.