e-Clippings (Learning As Art)

The Big Question

There is a group known as The Edge. It is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) and according to their official write-up it:

"was established in 1988 as an outgrowth of a group known as The Reality Club. Its informal membership includes of some of the most interesting minds in the world. The mandate of Edge Foundation is to promote inquiry into and discussion of intellectual, philosophical, artistic, and literary issues, as well as to work for the intellectual and social achievement of society."

Here is a little tip folks - they aren't joking when they talk about their members being some of the most interesting minds in the world - its understatement on the order of Bill Gates saying that he is 'well off.' Every year, this group poses a question ot its membership and publishes their answers. These are not small questions as you can see by the list of past questions:

"WHAT QUESTIONS ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF?"

"WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION IN THE PAST TWO THOUSAND YEARS?" ... AND "WHY?"

"WHAT IS TODAY'S MOST IMPORTANT UNREPORTED STORY?"

"WHAT QUESTIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED?"

"WHAT NOW?"

"WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?"

"WHAT ARE THE PRESSING SCIENTIFIC ISSUES FOR THE NATION AND THE WORLD, AND WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE ON HOW I CAN BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THEM?" —GWB

Then there is this year's question....

"A person is smart. People are dumb."

"A person is smart. People are dumb.
Everything they've ever "known" has been
proven to be wrong. A thousand years ago
everybody knew as a fact, that the earth
was the center of the universe. Five
hundred years ago, they knew it was flat.
Fifteen minutes ago, you knew we humans
were alone on it. Imagine what you'll know
tomorrow."
Agent K from Men in Black