> "...suboptimal considering the capabilities and resources at our disposal..." Rather than seeing this state of affairs as 'suboptimal'--like a problem which

> "...suboptimal considering the capabilities and resources at our disposal..." Rather than seeing this state of affairs as 'suboptimal'--like a problem which can be optimized--I see this as an expression of entropy. Not something to be solved, but contended with. > "..people tending to think about certain things only in relative terms is another example in 'the small set'." Relative thinking as an expression of 'the small set'?? Relative thinking is comparison _within_ a set of options or a framework. In other words someone believes it's permissible to lie or cheat while playing a game, because it's just a game. Harm relative to the seriousness of a game, makes the lie permissible. Whereas any act of deception is a violation of morality. Is this a characterization of your 'small set' behavior? > 'To me, it is unmistakably obvious that The Problem is with the way the human mind currently works...' Are you Skynet? There is no 'problem' with the way the human mind works. > "...and until people are able to realize this, I think we will have to be satisfied with our marginal improvements approach to the world." Better men than you or I have devoted their life's pursuits to these problems. In the end they are dead and never went to Burning Man or rode a motorcycle or went sky diving or river rafting on the Snake river. HA! All kidding aside, what compelled me to respond here is your concept of 'small set'. Reading your comments again, I realized that I'm quite fascinated with _small sets_. It's a great pursuit in design to develop this small set. Taking a problem--problem's context, it's relative importance, levels of engagement, call to action, the ambiguity of language, cost of goods, practicalities and possibilities of production, given budget to make an idea reality--by a process of great alchemy and inspiration reveal the _small set_ solution. Designing the _light switch_ of a solution to a problem. This is not possible without 'small sets'. IMHO