How an emerging pattern of material flow could empower innovation

Trade and manufacturing are two cornerstones of the human endeavour, together they shape a society's flow of tangible, material goods. As discussed in a brief history of material flow, trade and manufacturing have evolved only very slowly for most of our history, with the significant exception of the period after the Industrial Revolution. Today I'll present snapshots of … Continue reading How an emerging pattern of material flow could empower innovation →

A brief history of material flow …

Material and its flow determine whether novelty of thought can take shape as novelty of deed, whether an innovative idea is actually pulled through to a tangible reality. Even more than energy does (see energy for innovation). So it's time to talk about the third flow in systems theory (apart from information and energy): What is … Continue reading A brief history of material flow … →

Energy and society – an accident waiting to happen?

Energy, society, complexity and innovation are intertwined through a multitude of interrelations that are sometimes difficult to grasp. In an earlier post, I've offered a storyline to describe this nexus, based on the considerations of Joseph Tainter and Ian Morris. In essence, the energy supply available to a society poses a limit on the complexity this society can … Continue reading Energy and society – an accident waiting to happen? →

Energy and society – some simple charts …

Recently I've presented some ideas on the complex interrelation between energy, society, and innovation. As you might have expected, the textual description of that topic is complex as well; hence I've worked on some simple charts to support the overall storyline. A first simple overview could look like two cycles connected through innovation. On the left, you'll find … Continue reading Energy and society – some simple charts … →

Energy and society – it’s complex

At first glance, it is quite evident that society and its development depend on energy. But it takes a second, deeper look to grasp the complexity of this dependency and how that relates to innovation. Today, I'd like to develop a narrative for the nexus of energy, society, complexity, and innovation, building the storyline around two books I've come … Continue reading Energy and society – it’s complex →