Rebecca D. Costa is a leading global expert on "fast adaptation," a concept that explores how societies and individuals respond to rapid change. Drawing on four decades of experience working with Silicon Valley's innovators, her work offers profound insights into the challenges and opportunities of the future. Costa delves into the intricate interplay between biological and technological forces shaping civilization, examining humanity's capacity for resilience and evolution. Her analyses serve as both a warning against societal collapse and a guide toward a more adaptable and sustainable future.
Why does it feel as if our most challenging problems today aren't getting solved? What if our brain has limits that prevent it from solving such complex problems? This title describes the cognitive gridlock that sets in when complexity races ahead of the brain's ability to manage it.
“There can be no greater advantage than certainty of the future. Not in nature. Not in business. Not in governance.” So begins Rebecca Costa’s much-awaited exploration of foresight: “the crowning achievement of human ambition.” According to Costa, advances in Big Data, predictive analytics, genomics, artificial intelligence, and other breakthroughs have made it possible to pinpoint future results with mind-blowing accuracy—cracking the door to what Costa calls predaptation: the ability to adapt before the fact. Never before has the information needed to avert danger, get the jump ahead of others, or prepare for the inevitable been so clearly within grasp. Through fascinating real-life examples, Costa reveals how technology has brought nations, businesses, and individuals to the edge of clairvoyance. Yet, our ability to act on foreknowledge often falls short—causing leaders to squander the advantage of preemption. To counteract this failure, Costa illuminates 12 principles of adaptation, and predaptation, used to succeed in fast-moving environments. In the spirit of the best in popular science, On the Verge is a landmark examination of big-picture forces affecting society today. Costa’s unique sociobiological perspective, combined with her ability to blend humor, breaking science, and insightful personal stories, distinguishes her as one of the most important female thought leaders of our time.
Wieso scheinen die drängenden Probleme unserer Gesellschaft - globale Wirtschaftskrise, Wassermangel, Klimakatastrophen, Hunger und Armut - unlösbar? Rebecca Costa untersucht, ob unsere Gehirne für die Komplexität dieser Herausforderungen geeignet sind. Sie stellt die These auf, dass die aktuellen Probleme die kognitiven Fähigkeiten des durchschnittlichen Menschen übersteigen. Der Versuch, diese Schwierigkeiten erst im Nachhinein zu bewältigen, gefährdet die Nachhaltigkeit und unsere Zivilisation. Costa fordert eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Grenzen unseres Denkens. Sie analysiert nicht nur untergegangene Zivilisationen, sondern betrachtet auch fünf kognitive Hindernisse (Supermeme), die wir überwinden müssen: eingefahrene Denkprozesse, irrationaler Widerstand, persönliche Schuldzuweisungen, falsche Korrelationen und Silodenken. Um diese Hindernisse zu überwinden und gesellschaftliche Probleme anzugehen, kann jeder Einzelne einen Beitrag leisten. Der entscheidende Schritt im „Awareness-and-Action-Ansatz“ ist die Reflexion dieser Einschränkungen, um unsere „Brain-Fitness“ zu verbessern. Durch den gezielten Einsatz von Einsicht und Intuition kann ein Paradigmenwechsel in der Gesellschaft herbeigeführt werden.