The Evolution of Ideas

I recently read a book called Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea, where the author takes us on a tumultuous journey through the evolution of Zero, from ancient times all the way to the present.  It reads as almost a murder mystery, with tales of theft, murder, deceit and riches... quite unbelievable for a concept that seems so simple in our modern world! The truth is, the discovery of Zero changed our world in unimaginable ways. Mathematicians and scientists who understood the power of it were ruthless in their desire to own the concept, and to have their name associated with it.

Equally ruthless was the Catholic Church, which sought to suppress the existence of it, and the Islamic faith which interpreted zero as the existence of God (it's the reason that Muslims are not allowed to personify God). 

The book planted the seed for a question that continues to grow as I engage in more and more collaborations:

 
What does it mean to "OWN" and idea?

This is a hot topic. Patents and trademarks and copyrights have shot through the roof in recent years, with corporations snapping up the rights to words, concepts, seeds, and even DNA in a mad dash of ownership greed. But this concept of ownership is also in play in the world at large. 

Take, for instance, the music world, where the concept of ownership has been a hotbed of discussion for many years. Sampling is a major tool of music composition... you can sample anyone's music, under 3 seconds, no matter how recognizable, and not have to pay for it or credit the composer. Jazz musicians quote each other in their solos all the time. Styles are emulated, music is downloaded for free and shared, and almost always, the artist/composer/producer is not properly renumerated for their creative work. Is that a fair way to do business? One of the reasons I walked out on the music business because it became so difficult to make any kind of living unless you literally pimped yourself, so a new model is desperately needed (but as yet I haven't invented it)!

In the business world, perhaps it's a cliche idea that ideas are "stolen" and repurposed, and yet it's a very important conversation. People are very careful to trademark and copyright their books and ideas (in general), and yet you just can't patent everything. Sometimes a great idea comes along that slips into the mainstream before anyone can lay claim to it. Who owns it then? At what point does a word or idea become "common knowledge"? What do we owe those people who introduce us to the idea or word, before it becomes common knowledge? 

I can't answer all these questions. I do believe that there are some powerful words and concepts that, if given widespread distribution, can empower humanity, and therefore to restrict those words/concepts is to restrict our very evolution. But I also think that credit needs to be given where it is due. If you read a book, or a blog, or watch a movie and are struck by an idea that would add great meaning to your work, it's respectful to open up a conversation with the person who introduced you to the idea; find out the relationship of the person to the word/concept before you turn it into your own. Ask permission to adopt it, if that person exists in your sphere of influence.

The evolution of ideas is IMPERATIVE to our survival; and indeed it may take many generations of people grappling with concepts in order to achieve brilliant answers, as it did with Zero. Some people may be a better megaphone for an idea than others. But, instead of creating competition and lack (very old paradigm!), let's collaborate and let go of the stumbling blocks that prevent us from progressing into our brilliant future. 

Instead of OWNING ideas, let's ASSOCIATE with ideas.... the more people who associate and add their flavor to an idea, the more powerful it becomes. If you've got a particularly wonderful idea, then by working together to promote that idea we have the ability to achieve Critical Mass (the most resilient energy of our times). 

We need powerful, innovative ideas more than ever! The collaborative evolution of ideas is #NewParadigm; it's what will bring us the answers we need to survive the crisis we're currently facing.