Tradition is Smarter Than You Are: The Power of Cultural Evolution

Tradition is Smarter Than You Are: The Power of Cultural Evolution

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, it is easy to dismiss the wisdom of tradition. We often believe that our individual intelligence and problem-solving skills are enough to navigate the challenges of life. However, a closer look at the power of cultural evolution reveals that tradition is often much smarter than we are.

Take, for example, the story of a mother who refuses to follow the practices handed down to her from earlier generations. She questions the usefulness of these traditions and believes that she can find better solutions on her own. However, as time goes on, members of her family start to fall ill and experience early death. This serves as a powerful reminder that cultural evolution is not something to be taken lightly.

Humans, as it turns out, are not as intelligent as we think we are. Remove us from the culture and environment we have learned to operate in, and we quickly falter. This is evident when we look at the explorers who ventured into new territories without the knowledge and practices of the local cultures. Despite their problem-solving abilities, they struggled to adapt and survive.

So, what makes tradition and cultural evolution so intelligent? One argument is that customs, traditions, and the like are subject to Darwinian selection. The traditions that have been passed down through generations are those that have proven to be adaptive and beneficial for survival. However, the individuals who follow these traditions often do not fully understand why they work. In some cases, knowing the details of how they work might actually reduce their efficacy.

This lack of understanding is not unique to traditional cultures. Even educated Westerners often struggle to explain their behaviors and customs. We are trained to believe that everything must have a clear and rational reason behind it. As a result, we feel obligated to provide "good" reasons upon request. However, the truth is that many of the traditions we inherit help our survival in ways that are difficult to comprehend.

This concept of legibility is explored by James C. Scott in his book "Seeing Like a State." He argues that in order for a state to effectively rule over a population, it needs to make that population legible. Legibility means uniformity and a clear understanding of the people and resources being governed. However, much of what makes a society successful is tacit knowledge that is rarely articulated or understood. These are the very things that are lost in the quest for legibility.

In the modern world, we are witnessing a shift towards algorithmic search and automation. Google search, for example, has been plagued by the rise of content farms that produce low-quality articles to match popular search terms. This has led to a decline in the usefulness of search results and the need for a new approach.

Some experts propose that the next generation of search will be less algorithmic and more social. They suggest that human curation is the key to combating spam and providing more relevant and valuable content. On platforms like Twitter and Facebook, users share millions of links per day, acting as unwitting curators of the web.

Combining human judgment with the efficiency of algorithms may be the solution we need. Just as cultural evolution has proven to be smarter than individual intelligence, the combination of human curation and algorithmic search can provide the best of both worlds. It allows for the wisdom of tradition and the power of collective intelligence to guide us in navigating the vast amount of information available to us.

In conclusion, tradition and cultural evolution are often much smarter than we give them credit for. They have been shaped by generations of trial and error, adapting to local challenges and ensuring our survival. While it is important to embrace innovation and new technologies, we should not dismiss the power of tradition. Instead, we should seek to understand and appreciate the wisdom it holds.

Actionable Advice:

1. Embrace the wisdom of tradition: Take the time to learn about the customs and practices that have been passed down through generations. Understand that they have been shaped by years of experience and can offer valuable insights.
2. Combine human judgment with automation: When navigating the vast amount of information available to us, use tools that combine human curation with algorithmic search. Seek out platforms where users share links and recommendations based on their own judgment and expertise.
3. Cultivate a mindset of humility: Recognize that our individual intelligence is limited and that there is much we can learn from the collective wisdom of cultural evolution. Be open to new ideas and practices, even if they may seem unfamiliar or different from what we are accustomed to.

In a world that is constantly changing, it is important to remember that tradition and cultural evolution have much to offer. By embracing their wisdom and combining it with the power of modern technologies, we can navigate the complexities of life with greater success and fulfillment.