HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Matt Ridley on The Rational Optimist & "Ideas Having Sex"

Views:931
@ReasonVids

Best-selling science writer Matt Ridley's latest book is The Rational Optimist, which explains why the author is upbeat on the prospects of a planet and a civilization that seems to lurch from one pending political, economic, or environmental catastrophe to another.

Doomsayers have it all wrong, writes Ridley, who argues that prosperity and innovation have outraced even the visions of Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill. He argues:

"The phrase diminishing returns is such a cliché that few people give it much thought. Picking out the pecans from a bowl of salted nuts gives diminishing returns: The pieces of pecan in the bowl get rarer and smaller. The fingers keep finding almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, or even—God forbid—Brazil nuts. Gradually the bowl, like a moribund gold mine, ceases to yield decent returns of pecan.

Now imagine a bowl of nuts that has the opposite character. The more pecans you take, the larger and more numerous they grow. That is the human experience for the last 100,000 years. The global nut bowl has yielded ever more pecans."

Reason's own science correspondent Ronald Bailey talked with Ridley recently in Washington, D.C. They discuss Ridley's book, his hopes for the future, and the policies that can improve - or undermine - the prospects for our future.

Go to http://Reason.com articles by, about, and featuring Matt Ridley.

If you like what you see, then sign up for Reason's first-ever cruise in February 2011, which features Ridley, Bailey, Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Jacob Sullum, and other guest speakers for a week of relaxation and conversation. For details go to http://reasoncruise.com

Shot by Dan Hayes and Meredith Bragg, who also edited the segment.

Approximately 10 minutes.

Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

reason.tv
,
reason.com
,
reason.org
,
reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
matt ridley
,
the rational optimist
,
science
,
red queen
,
libertarian
,
dan hayes
,
meredith bragg
,
ronald bailey
    Thumbnail for The Great Philly Beer Bust or, Step Away From The Unlicensed Ale or I'll Shoot!7:30
    The Great Philly Beer Bust or, Step Away From The Unlicensed Ale or I'll Shoot!
    ReasonVids
    832 views
    Thumbnail for Undercover video shows execs from PornHub detailing their plans to groom our kids and turn straight men gay7:39
    Undercover video shows execs from PornHub detailing their plans to groom our kids and turn straight men gay
    AOUisgay
    444 views
    Thumbnail for Caped Crusader has had enough!0:24
    Caped Crusader has had enough!
    bestofvoatxyz
    1439 views
    Thumbnail for Immeasurable0:15
    Immeasurable
    bestofupgoat
    119 views
    Thumbnail for When The Case Ace Hits 😍 #PokerStars #PCA | PokerStars0:59
    When The Case Ace Hits 😍 #PokerStars #PCA | PokerStars
    invidious
    345 views
    Thumbnail for Men Do Respect Femininity But Most Modern Women Don’t Have It | Live From The Lair24:15
    Men Do Respect Femininity But Most Modern Women Don’t Have It | Live From The Lair
    Terrence Popp
    346 views
    Thumbnail for Interesting trick0:04
    Interesting trick
    AOUisgay
    469 views
    Thumbnail for Can Bitcoin Become the World’s Money? A Soho Forum Debate1:19:22
    Can Bitcoin Become the World’s Money? A Soho Forum Debate
    ReasonVids
    776 views
    Thumbnail for Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews 'harass' 8-year-old girl over dress1:30
    Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews 'harass' 8-year-old girl over dress
    AOU
    2616 views
    Thumbnail for Kooking at Kaladé | Kat Clark1:00
    Kooking at Kaladé | Kat Clark
    invidious
    129 views
    Thumbnail for Atlanta: 'Anti-Jewish Propaganda' Delivered | Zionist Report6:04
    Atlanta: 'Anti-Jewish Propaganda' Delivered | Zionist Report
    invidious
    126 views
    Thumbnail for Частная жизнь Чемезова: не забудьте потушить свет | Радио Свобода53:21
    Частная жизнь Чемезова: не забудьте потушить свет | Радио Свобода
    invidious
    319 views
    Thumbnail for Work smoother with monday.com work OS | Work smoother with monday.com work OS0:56
    Work smoother with monday.com work OS | Work smoother with monday.com work OS
    invidious
    366 views
    Thumbnail for Nighttime Sleep Jazz Music - Soft Piano Jazz Instrumental Music - 24/7 vs Relax of Background Music | Relaxing Jazz BGM1:00
    Nighttime Sleep Jazz Music - Soft Piano Jazz Instrumental Music - 24/7 vs Relax of Background Music | Relaxing Jazz BGM
    invidious
    322 views
    Thumbnail for Vroom...Vroom...safety vehicles are on board to serve you | BillionSurpriseToys  - Nursery Rhymes & Cartoons1:00
    Vroom...Vroom...safety vehicles are on board to serve you | BillionSurpriseToys - Nursery Rhymes & Cartoons
    invidious
    295 views
    Thumbnail for Former NFL Player Mark Campbell Who Contracted Coronavirus, Gives Credit to Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate for Saving His Life  Meanwhile Liberal Media "Doctors" Scream . .  NO! . . Wait for the Vaccine!!!0:27
    Former NFL Player Mark Campbell Who Contracted Coronavirus, Gives Credit to Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate for Saving His Life Meanwhile Liberal Media "Doctors" Scream . . NO! . . Wait for the Vaccine!!!
    AOU
    2242 views
    Thumbnail for Man Walks Away from Girl on Date after she Disrespects.. #shorts | GriffinMind0:48
    Man Walks Away from Girl on Date after she Disrespects.. #shorts | GriffinMind
    invidious
    274 views
    Thumbnail for Trump Kept Mentioning Biden During Debate vs. Kamala Harris | NowThis Impact0:22
    Trump Kept Mentioning Biden During Debate vs. Kamala Harris | NowThis Impact
    invidious
    193 views
    Thumbnail for Second Wave Panic Explodes Across the Globe - #NewWorldNextWeek20:21
    Second Wave Panic Explodes Across the Globe - #NewWorldNextWeek
    corbettreport_uo
    2030 views
    Thumbnail for The Simpsons Larry Burns3:07
    The Simpsons Larry Burns
    clips
    906 views
    Thumbnail for Happy Tree Friends and its intended audience | FunnyMemeSpot0:27
    Happy Tree Friends and its intended audience | FunnyMemeSpot
    invidious
    229 views
    Thumbnail for Peaceful Protest your ass!1:24
    Peaceful Protest your ass!
    AOU
    1585 views
    Thumbnail for Building a 20ft Guillotine1:26
    Building a 20ft Guillotine
    bestofupgoat
    256 views
    Thumbnail for A day at the beach 100 years ago2:10
    A day at the beach 100 years ago
    bestofupgoat
    537 views
    Thumbnail for LIZA ROASTS WILL SMITH | KyleDunnigan1:01
    LIZA ROASTS WILL SMITH | KyleDunnigan
    invidious
    275 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason.tv
,
reason.com
,
reason.org
,
reason magazine
,
reason foundation
,
matt ridley
,
the rational optimist
,
science
,
red queen
,
libertarian
,
dan hayes
,
meredith bragg
,
ronald bailey
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle