No limits to learning

History shows that in the past human learning has been largely successful: human learning processes viewed at an aggregate global level have been adequate to meet the challenges as they presented themselves.

Abstract

History shows that in the past human learning has been largely successful. Throughout its cultural evolution, humanity has adapted to its environment — successfully if often unconsciously — shaping its surroundings in ways that ensured survival of the species and that gradually increased the well-being of larger and larger numbers of its kind. Some societies thrived by developing their human learning potential, compensating for inhospitable climate, poor geographic location, or a lack of natural resources. Others, even some with great wealth and power, were too slow to learn: unresponsive to impending changes, they disappeared. But on balance, human learning processes viewed at an aggregate global level have been adequate to meet the challenges as they presented themselves.