Why greatness cannot be planned
Subtitle: the myth of the objective
By: Kenneth O. Stanley, Joel Lehman
Contributors: Lehman, Joel, author
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 141
ISBN-13: 9783319155234
Subjects: Biology; Philosophy; Goal (Philosophy); Artificial intelligence
Description: Why does modern life revolve around objectives? From how science is funded, to improving how children are educated -- and nearly everything in-between -- our society has become obsessed with a seductive illusion: that greatness results from doggedly measuring improvement in the relentless pursuit of an ambitious goal. In [this book], Stanley and Lehman begin with a surprising scientific discovery in artificial intelligence that leads ultimately to the conclusion that the objective obsession has gone too far. They make the case that great achievement can't be bottled up into mechanical metrics; that innovation is not driven by narrowly focused heroic effort; and that we would be wiser (and the outcomes better) if instead we whole-heartedly embraced serendipitous discovery and playful creativity. Controversial at its heart, yet refreshingly provocative, this book challenges readers to consider life without a destination and discovery without a compass.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Questioning Objectives.-Victory for the Aimless; title: The Art of Breeding Art; title: The False Compass; title: The Interesting and the Novel; title: Long Live the Treasure Hunter; title: Unshackling Education; title: Unchaining Innovation; title: Farewell to the Mirage; title: Case Study 1: Reinterpreting Natural Evolution; title: Case Study 2: Objectives and the Quest for AI.