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It feels like this takes a very narrow definition of greatness which is more aligned to innovation and "What will make you famous" or "What will be commercially
by cookie_monsta 3y ago
It feels like this takes a very narrow definition of greatness which is more aligned to innovation and "What will make you famous" or "What will be commercially successful".
From plant life and human health all the way up to nation states, there are lots of people doing great work just making sure that things keep running smoothly.
- varelse 3y ago[dead]
- dclowd9901 3y agoThere are also lots of innovations in keeping things running smoothly. And the wonks in those fields recognize those innovations and those innovative folks do tend to enjoy _some_ level of fame or notoriety (if not at a general public level).
- mensetmanusman 3y agoCuriosity is key. I know people who are perfectly content following obscurity with curiosity and the world would not consider them successful by monetary measures.
- andrewstuart 3y agoIMO he’s talking about innovation and creation as “great work”. Sure there’s vast numbers of people doing great work that isn’t innovation and creation. You’re dismissing the insights here too quickly if you’re just wanting to find fault with the intersection of the term “great work” with all the people in the world doing all sorts of different types of great work. This is about creation and innovation as great work.
- masto 3y agoIt’s Paul Graham. He’s a poster child for essays about how there’s one way to do things. If you want to have a successful internet business, code in lisp.
- andai 3y agoBoth are necessary. I think the difference is that Group A (keep things running) without Group B (explore new territory) would have kept us in the stone ages. However, that is not to understate their importance: a humanity consisting entirely of Group B would be much more unstable, and possibly have gone extinct. It's similar to the Rogue Bees: https://www.mrdbourke.com/what-if-you-did-the-exact-opposite-like-the-rogue-bees-do/ https://www.mrdbourke.com/what-if-you-did-the-exact-opposite... Although rogue bees (as a small portion of the population) are actually essential to a hive's survival.
- neon_electro 3y agoCould it be possible that there is also overlap between groups A and B, and the interdependence is what fuels societal progress more than “it’s all group B”?
- hooverd 3y agoA tortured analogy could be line cooks and dishwashers, the line cooks made all the tasty food, but the kitchen would crash and burn without the dishwashers and busboys and prep cooks.
- slothtrop 3y agoThis is contrived. You can do a good job bagging groceries, but no society will ever elevate that to "greatness". Colloquially it's either in reference to mastery, or prolific/high-impact work as society is concerned.
- dzogchen 3y agoIt is a very narcisistic perspective. Which makes sense if you consider the author.
- peteradio 3y agoSeems well aligned with the dictionary definition of great. If you are maintaining the status quo that is pretty much by definition not great.
- badpun 3y agogreat: immense; notable; momentous; exalted; grand If you can dig ditches faster than anyone else, then you're a great ditch digger, and you're doing great work. Similarly, if you're a surgeon who saves much more lives than the average, you're doing great work. Etc.
- tinktank 3y agoAbsolutely. I'm constantly amazed at the clever, resourceful folks beavering away on things that don't have a lot of visibility.
- goodbyesf 3y ago> It feels like this takes a very narrow definition of greatness which is more aligned to innovation and "What will make you famous" or "What will be commercially successful". The guy invests money in and profits from other people doing "great work". So it shouldn't be too shocking his primary focus is on the commercial or the innovative.