Only the Pronoid Survive
Submitted by WorkCreatively on Sun, 08/29/2010 - 00:29
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Printer-friendly version| Title | Only the Pronoid Survive |
| Publication Type | Web Article |
| Pub Year | 1999 |
| Authors | Rubin, H. |
| Keywords | competition, pronoia |
| Notes |
pronoia"[Helena Cronin's] version of Darwinism shows that altruism and generosity create more rewards than their opposites do. She introduced the CEOs to the flip side of paranoia: "pronoia"--the idea that everyone is not out to get you, but that they are out to love you, or at least to appreciate you, if you reciprocate. According to the new Darwinism, only the pronoid survive--in fact, only the pronoid endure and flourish." competition"Competition Hurries Progress. This false notion suggests that you get better outcomes by eliminating the weaker member of a group. That is supported by another Darwinian misreading: Only the strong survive, and the outcome will be better if you have people of first-rate strength. These assumptions have become the foundation of growth, progress, and capitalism: stronger, better, more. But they are not part of Darwinism. Darwin's insight was that competition can lead to all sorts of new ecological niches. If predators are devouring animals (like you) during the day, you might become nocturnal. If predators are becoming stronger or larger, you could become smaller, more mobile, or less visible. There is nothing vengeful or vindictive about Darwinian theory. Invoking Darwin to justify cutthroat behaviors is wrong." |
| URL | http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/29/paranoia.html |