Author: Ulf Ehlert

Post-factual innovation?

When I learned that the Oxford Dictionary had identified 'post-truth' as the Word of the Year 2016, I really felt like I was slapped in the face. For somebody with a passion for science and knowledge, it just hurts. But it is true, the one new concept that dominated public discourse in 2016 was that thing … Continue reading Post-factual innovation? →

Where did growth come from?

... or more precisely, where did the idea of growth come from? That's one of the questions I've been fascinated with for a long time. And reading Joel Mokyr's recent A Culture of Growth, I feel like getting closer to an answer. Before and after the Industrial RevolutionWith the benefit of historical hindsight, and at a high … Continue reading Where did growth come from? →

Where from? Where to?

Looking for a good read for the upcoming festive season, I was actually stunned to find a small number of very recent publications that broadly cover the essential questions of humanity: Where do we come from? Where are we going to? The following presents something like my personal reading list that will keep my busy into the New Year: just four thought-provoking books … Continue reading Where from? Where to? →

The Third of the Grand Revolutions

There's a lot of talk about the Digital Revolution and the effects it had, has, might have. Let's take a step back to put things into perspective: Could it be that this revolution is a lot larger than we usually think? Are we currently experiencing the beginnings of a major transformation not only of our technological base, but of the very … Continue reading The Third of the Grand Revolutions →