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Questions and Answers
What effect has the information revolution had on governance according to Homer-Dixon?
What effect has the information revolution had on governance according to Homer-Dixon?
- It has complicated the coordination of solutions to problems. (correct)
- It has shifted power from individuals to states.
- It has simplified the roles of governments.
- It has reduced the number of governing bodies.
Which of the following best describes modern technological developments?
Which of the following best describes modern technological developments?
- They have remained mostly unchanged over time.
- They have only impacted communication technologies.
- They have increased the pace and intensity of human interactions. (correct)
- They have decreased human interactions.
How does population growth affect resource consumption according to the content?
How does population growth affect resource consumption according to the content?
- More people lead to increased consumption of energy and materials. (correct)
- The influence of technology negates the effects of population growth.
- Fewer people consume fewer resources.
- Population growth has no significant impact on resource consumption.
Which of the following describes the first phase of a synchronous failure?
Which of the following describes the first phase of a synchronous failure?
What characterizes the architecture of a synchronous failure?
What characterizes the architecture of a synchronous failure?
In the second phase of a synchronous failure, which processes are primarily involved?
In the second phase of a synchronous failure, which processes are primarily involved?
What is a misconception regarding the number of problems we confront today?
What is a misconception regarding the number of problems we confront today?
How has technological power changed over time according to the content?
How has technological power changed over time according to the content?
Which event does Homer-Dixon use to illustrate features of the ingenuity gap?
Which event does Homer-Dixon use to illustrate features of the ingenuity gap?
Which types of ingenuity does Homer-Dixon classify?
Which types of ingenuity does Homer-Dixon classify?
What does Homer-Dixon suggest about capitalist markets in relation to innovation?
What does Homer-Dixon suggest about capitalist markets in relation to innovation?
How does Homer-Dixon differentiate between ingenuity and innovation?
How does Homer-Dixon differentiate between ingenuity and innovation?
Which type of ingenuity does Homer-Dixon claim is necessary for technical ingenuity?
Which type of ingenuity does Homer-Dixon claim is necessary for technical ingenuity?
What factors does Homer-Dixon identify that affect the requirement for ingenuity?
What factors does Homer-Dixon identify that affect the requirement for ingenuity?
What is one of the beliefs held by economic optimists according to Homer-Dixon?
What is one of the beliefs held by economic optimists according to Homer-Dixon?
How does Homer-Dixon characterize the relationship between ingenuity and a society’s capacity to innovate?
How does Homer-Dixon characterize the relationship between ingenuity and a society’s capacity to innovate?
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Study Notes
Ingenuity Gap and Illustrations
- United Airlines flight 232 serves as a key illustration of the ingenuity gap concept.
- Contrasts with other examples like the accident at Three Mile Island, which was incorrectly chosen.
Types of Ingenuity
- Ingenuity is categorized into four types:
- Biophysical
- Technical
- Social
- Geopolitical
Market Capitalism and Innovation
- Efficiently operating markets are believed to encourage innovation.
- Capitalist markets can produce an adequate supply of ingenuity but are criticized for primarily benefiting the wealthy and powerful.
- There are instances where capitalist markets fail to generate sufficient ingenuity.
Ingenuity versus Innovation
- All innovations require some level of ingenuity, yet not all ingenuity translates directly into innovation.
- No systematic correlation exists suggesting that all ingenuity results in innovation.
Prerequisites for Ingenuity Types
- Social ingenuity is essential for fostering technical ingenuity.
Factors Affecting Ingenuity Needs
- Several factors influence the necessity for ingenuity:
- Changing values
- Increasing number of surprises
- Decreasing resources
- Extended time horizons
Economic Optimists' Perspective
- Economic optimists tend to overestimate society's ingenuity requirements while underestimating the capacity to provide this ingenuity.
Current Problems Compared to the Past
- The complexity and frequency of modern issues surpass historical challenges due to:
- The information revolution enhancing individual and subgroup power, complicating governance.
- Rapid technological advancements increasing interaction density and environmental stress.
- Population growth leading to greater energy and material consumption.
- Augmented technological capabilities for production, invention, communication, and destruction.
Characteristics of Synchronous Failure Architecture
- Synchronous failures are defined by:
- Multiple simultaneous stresses affecting systems.
- Ramifying cascades of effects.
- Long fuse, big bomb scenarios.
- Consequences often transcend a single system.
Phases of Synchronous Failure
- The initial phase involves slow processes primarily affecting a single system.
- The subsequent phase features fast processes impacting multiple systems simultaneously.
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