Fred, Sam and RalphFred, Sam and Ralph

The simultaneous cultural The simultaneous cultural beginning and ending of beginning and ending of

civilizationcivilization

The Dawn of TimeThe Dawn of Time

Cultural CharacteristicsCultural Characteristics

Fred has a work ethic and also has a Fred has a work ethic and also has a conscienceconscience

Sam is a capitalist that dreams of a better Sam is a capitalist that dreams of a better lifelife

Ralph has been and always will be Ralph has been and always will be clueless clueless Never Asks a Question Never Asks a Question

Relationships and EconomyRelationships and Economy

Fred and Sam are friendsFred and Sam are friends Fred and Sam do not know about the Fred and Sam do not know about the

existence of Ralph and vice-versaexistence of Ralph and vice-versa Their entire economy is based on the Their entire economy is based on the

harvesting of trees.harvesting of trees. Trees provide food, clothing and shelterTrees provide food, clothing and shelter Trees are harvested with a stone axeTrees are harvested with a stone axe

Primitive Tools create Primitive Tools create equilibriumequilibrium

Sam’s GoalsSam’s Goals

Improve Fred’s productivityImprove Fred’s productivity Give Fred Leisure TimeGive Fred Leisure Time Invent the Internet to make use of Fred’s Invent the Internet to make use of Fred’s

leisure timeleisure time Make MoneyMake Money But how to do this?But how to do this?

Sam Get’s a Clue!!!Sam Get’s a Clue!!!

Seizing the OpportunitySeizing the Opportunity

R&DR&D

• Sam drags the meteorite to his R&D cave and after two weeks triumphantly emerges with

Now its time for MarketingNow its time for Marketing

►This extraordinary invention that will This extraordinary invention that will save all of Fredkindsave all of Fredkind

►So Fred test markets the Iron Axe and So Fred test markets the Iron Axe and cuts down a shitload of trees (since cuts down a shitload of trees (since Fred doesn’t know what else to do)Fred doesn’t know what else to do)

►But Fred is cursed with a conscience But Fred is cursed with a conscience and is compelled to think about the and is compelled to think about the long term consequenceslong term consequences

A DilemmaA Dilemma

Progress versus SustainabilityProgress versus Sustainability

The Fred/Sam DialgoueThe Fred/Sam Dialgoue

►Sam’s says the iron axe is great, will Sam’s says the iron axe is great, will create a whole new Fredcreate a whole new Fred

►Fred says the iron axe has a fatal flaw Fred says the iron axe has a fatal flaw and is not a gift at all but instead is an and is not a gift at all but instead is an instrument of doominstrument of doom

►Fred Wins – convinces Sam that the Fred Wins – convinces Sam that the iron axe is a bad ideairon axe is a bad idea

Poor Idea ManagementPoor Idea Management

Sam walks to the metaphorical end Sam walks to the metaphorical end of the world and discards the iron of the world and discards the iron axeaxe

Whoops!!!Whoops!!!

The Iron axe lands in the land of The Iron axe lands in the land of Clueless RalphClueless Ralph

In an instant, Ralph discards his In an instant, Ralph discards his stone axe for this randomly stone axe for this randomly discovered iron axediscovered iron axe

Ralph can not think aheadRalph can not think ahead

Double Whoops!!!!Double Whoops!!!!

The resource is gone leaving Ralph to The resource is gone leaving Ralph to merely wonder what happened to all merely wonder what happened to all the treesthe trees

Moral?Moral?

• Are we the culture of Ralph's Are we the culture of Ralph's destined to someday look at the destined to someday look at the world and wonder what happened?world and wonder what happened?

• Can we acquire the wisdom of Fred?Can we acquire the wisdom of Fred?• Did we once have that wisdom and Did we once have that wisdom and

have now lost it?have now lost it?• Who is the real hero here, Sam or Who is the real hero here, Sam or

Fred?Fred?