Engines of Creation

Written by: Christian Mastrodonato
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  • Summary

  • We live in a complex world, constantly changing without clear patterns. How to navigate it? Let me be your travel guide in exploring how successful products, organisations and ideas come to life. Together we’ll understand how even apparently simple creations emerge from complex systems behaviours intertwining psychological, social and technological elements. The journey will be transformative, as we’ll learn how to become modern leaders by embracing complexity and thriving with it.
    Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
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Economics Management & Leadership Science Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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Episodes
  • Episode 16 | On Innovating Democracy | Interview with Claudia Chwalisz

    Episode 16 | On Innovating Democracy | Interview with Claudia Chwalisz
    Sep 24 2024

    In this captivating episode, we delve into the intricacies of democratic innovation with Claudia Chwalisz, founder and CEO of Democracy Next. Claudia's organization is pioneering a global platform aimed at transforming governance by incorporating principles of sortition and deliberation, not just in government, but across various institutions like schools, universities, and workplaces.

    We discuss the importance of moving away from the oversimplification of complex issues, a prevalent problem in current democratic systems. She explains how creating deliberative spaces, such as citizens' assemblies, allows for a deeper engagement with complexity.

    One of the key highlights is the role of face-to-face interactions in these deliberative processes. She argues that while technology can enhance these processes, it cannot replace the depth of in-person engagement.

    In discussing the evolution of democracy, Claudia touches on historical perspectives and the need for continuous experimentation and innovation in governance. In fact societies have always experimented with different forms of governance, challenging the notion of a static, inevitable democratic system.

    We also touched on the concept of social acceleration, as theorized by Hartmut Rosa. She believes that creating intentional spaces for deliberation can help address feelings of alienation and disconnection, ultimately leading to a more resonant and cohesive society.

    Join us for this enlightening conversation that challenges conventional views on democracy and offers a fresh perspective on how we can create a more inclusive and effective system of governance.

    References

    The Dawn of Everything - David Graeber and David Wengrow

    Social Acceleration: A New Theory of Modernity -Hartmut Rosa

    Resonance: A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World - Harmut Rosa
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    46 mins
  • Episode 15 | On Summertime Reflections | Reading and Listening Recommendations

    Episode 15 | On Summertime Reflections | Reading and Listening Recommendations
    Aug 12 2024
    Hello everybody, Welcome to Engines of Creation podcast, I’m your host, Christian Mastrodonato. In this podcast I bring together my knowledge in complex systems. with my experience in leading technology innovation and new product development, to explore how successful products, organizations and ideas emerge. Greetings from the Italian Maritime Alps, apologies if you may hear in the background the sounds of fresh water springs or birds singing, but while working on an incredible line up of interviews that will be available to you over the upcoming months, I thought why don’t share some ideas on what to read and listen during these vacation period? I’m sure many of you, as I do, take advantage of the summer break to refresh your minds with new and interesting ideas. So in addition to all the interesting episodes that Engines of Creation offers you, and please share this podcast to anyone you think might enjoy it, here some of the interesting ideas of I’ve been recently discovering and I’m happy to share with you. So let’s go! The first reading worth to share is a longstanding friend sitting on my bedside table, Epictetus. I’ve been slowly reading his complete works for quite some time now, and while, at least for my personal preference, it does cater for an occasional deep reading of one of his discourses versus a single gulp of all his writings, the summer is usually a period where I can spend a bit more time in company of this old friend. For the ones, many possibly, who never heard of him, he is one of main representatives of the Late Stoics, that is the ones mainly active during the Roman Empire period, others being Marcus Aurelius and Seneca (who btw was a man). Personally I’m reading the Complete Works, but I’d say if anybody is interested should at least look at its discourses. His teachings really force the reader to think deeply about what she often takes for granted, that is what she can control, and therefore really matters, and what she can’t, and therefore shouldn’t bother with. Just to give a taste, one passage that deeply resonated with me lately was Why, do you not know, then, that the origin of all human evils, and of baseness, and cowardice, is not death, but rather the fear of death? I’ve compared this passage discussing it with a friend of mine (a real one I mean, not Epictetus ) as a Mic Drop, very true and very uncomfortable. it is interesting to note how recently Stoic philosophy has had quite of a renaissance, most likely one of the reasons this book has ended up in my reading list, and I believe Stoics have a lot to teach us, but to be honest some recent interpretations of Stoicism are at least shallow, if not questionable, so my suggestion is to read the real ones and make up your own mind :) If you tell me, as I probably could have said some years ago, philosophy books are hard and I don’t really understand them, well, while I hope you are going to change your mind, I think you can absolutely start into Stoicism by reading Marcus Aurelius’s meditations. This might actually be the book that is going to change your mind about reading philosophy books. Written as a personal notebook not meant to be shared with others, is a very accessible treasure trove of deep thoughts and a great entry point to Stoicism. Give it a go and you won’t regret it. Now moving into more recent times, but still with an interesting time perspective, I’m in the midst of reading Life After Google by George Gilder, a book suggested to me by Jeff Skelton, ICIS Managing Director. George Gilder is a very provocative writer, with a very distinctive style. Why did I say the time perspective of this book is interesting? Well, This book has been written in 2018, and the main thesis of the book is that blockchain is a foundation of a new model of economy and society. Many people would therefore probably have dropped this book after 5 pages, since think I’d be rich if I’ve been given a penny every time I have heard blockchain has failed over the last couple of years. But even assuming that Blockchain did fail, that might be a conversation for another time with a proper expert as guest, many of the reasons because the Big Data business model are flawed and dangerous are still valid, and many of the reasons why a economic and societal values enabled by blockchain can be a great option are still true ( whatever technology we want to use to build it, or not to use as my previous guest Aki Järvinen would argue). So I think this book is a useful refresher that we can build a different worldview if we want, even more useful in the days of Huge Data business models enabled by Large Language Models and Generative AI. Of course it wouldn’t be an Engines of Creation episode if we didn’t mention complexity at least once. And I believe one of the foundational books of the modern definition of complexity is Stuart Kauffman’s At Home in the Universe. The main scientific (possibly ...
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    11 mins
  • Episode 14 | On Examining Technology | Interview with Aki Järvinen

    Episode 14 | On Examining Technology | Interview with Aki Järvinen
    Jun 17 2024

    In this thought-provoking episode, we venture beyond the typical paths of our podcast with Aki Jarvinen, a technologist and designer who brings a unique perspective to the intersection of technology, ethics, philosophy and spirituality. Aki's rich background spans game design, interactive media, and immersive technologies, and he shares his journey from Finland to the UK, weaving in his philosophical musings along the way.

    Aki introduces his newsletter, "Unexamined Technologies," inspired by Socratic philosophy, and discusses the importance of examining our relationship with technology. He highlights the concept of technological somnambulism, where society sleepwalks through technological advancements without fully understanding their implications.

    The conversation delves into the magical qualities attributed to technology and the dichotomy between makers and users. Aki emphasizes the need for a more nuanced approach to technology development, one that incorporates ethical and spiritual considerations. He proposes the idea of "critical technical awakenings," where technologists are encouraged to integrate spiritual traditions and ethical frameworks into their work.

    We explore the possibility of creating a new foundation for civilization that respects nature and acknowledges the limits of technology. Aki suggests that indigenous thinking and spiritual traditions can guide us in building technologies that promote human flourishing and harmony with the environment.

    Throughout the episode, Aki underscores the importance of self-inquiry, introspection, and a deeper understanding of our inner selves. He argues that true happiness and peace arise from within and that our current technology-driven culture often distracts us from this truth.

    The episode concludes with a discussion on the characteristics of leaders who can navigate the complexities of technology and ethics. Aki advocates for leaders who embrace systems thinking, resilience, and a compassionate approach to both people and the planet.

    Join us for this enlightening conversation that challenges conventional views on technology and offers a fresh perspective on how we can create a more balanced and meaningful relationship with the digital world. So, let’s go!

    References:

    • Aki Järvinen - Unexamined Technology Newsletter
    • Langdon Winner - Technology as forms of life
    • Hans Jonas - The Imperative of Responsibility
    • Jan M. McGilchrist - The Master and His Emissary
    • Duogald Hine - At Work in the Ruins
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    55 mins

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