The Power of Collective Learning and Curation: How Humans Got Smart

The Power of Collective Learning and Curation: How Humans Got Smart

In the quest to understand human intelligence and how we became the dominant species on Earth, two seemingly unrelated concepts come together to shed light on our evolutionary journey. Bill Gates, in his article "How did humans get smart?", discusses the "cognitive revolution" that occurred around 70,000 years ago. This revolution gave Homo sapiens the edge to spread across the planet. Similarly, David Christian's idea of "collective learning," as explained in Big History, emphasizes the unique ability of humans to share, store, and build upon information.

The cognitive revolution and collective learning share a common thread - the power of our imaginations. Homo sapiens possess the extraordinary ability to unite millions of strangers around common myths and ideas. Concepts like freedom, human rights, gods, laws, and capitalism exist solely in our imaginations, yet they bind us together and motivate us to cooperate on complex tasks. It is through this collective imagination that we have been able to form societies, create cultures, and progress as a species.

Moreover, the cognitive revolution and collective learning have paved the way for the development of specialized skills and knowledge. This brings us to the concept of curation, as discussed in "The Case for Curation as a Service". Curators act as life preservers for the overwhelming amount of content available on the web. They are domain experts or individuals with a deep passion for a particular topic. These curators dedicate countless hours to sifting through the vast sea of information, separating the garbage from the gems.

The key to good curation lies in prioritizing quality over quantity. Good curators understand the importance of finding the best resources for a given topic and presenting them in a readable manner. Through their efforts, they save us from drowning in an ocean of irrelevant or unreliable content. Just as our ancestors utilized collective learning to thrive, we now rely on curators to guide us through the digital landscape.

The connection between the cognitive revolution, collective learning, and curation becomes apparent when we consider the impact of these phenomena on human progress. The ability to share and build upon information has allowed us to advance in various fields, from technology to art. The shift towards agriculture, often labeled as a "mistake," enabled societies to specialize, leading to the development of written languages, new technologies, and artistic expressions that we cherish today.

Incorporating unique insights into this discussion, we can appreciate the value of curation as an essential aspect of our cognitive evolution. The act of curating not only helps us navigate the information overload but also stimulates our collective intelligence. By relying on expert curators, we tap into their knowledge and expertise, expanding our understanding of the world.