A friend recently recommended reading the book “This Idea Must Die: Scientific theories that are blocking progress” which brings together 175 of the world’s most brilliant minds to tackle the question: What scientific idea has become a relic blocking human progress? I am yet to read the book instituted by Edge.org, but am captivated by the bold intent of the compilation as I’ve always believed that one of the most important signs of a living society, or for that matter, a group or a company or business is its ability to fairly-and-squarely question/asses even its most sacred “truths”.

Here are some ideas from this compilation that the maestros voted out:

• Steven Pinker dismantled the working theory of human behavior
• Richard Dawkins renounced essentialism
• Sherry Turkle reevaluated our expectations of artificial intelligence
• Geoffrey West challenged the concept of a “Theory of Everything”
• Andrei Linde suggested that our universe and its laws may not be as unique as we think
• Martin Rees explained why scientific understanding is a limitless goal
• Nina Jablonski argued to rid ourselves of the concept of race
• Alan Guth rethought the origins of the universe
• Hans Ulrich Obrist warned against glorifying unlimited economic growth

This year for its 20^th anniversary special the question Edge.org is asking is “WHAT SCIENTIFIC TERM OR CONCEPT OUGHT TO BE MORE WIDELY KNOWN?” – can’t wait to read the compilation!

Related food for thought – which popular “idea” do you think must die in 2017?

P.S. Trump is not an idea. He is a human unfortunately! 😉