TED Instead - Practical Wisdom

Barry Schwartz on our loss of wisdom.

Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for "practical wisdom" as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.

So instead of locking down our school systems (scripted, lock-step curricula) trust the wisdom of teachers and students.

We don't trust the judgments of teachers to let them teach on their own... Scripts like these are insurance policies against disaster They prevent disaster, but what they assure in it's place is mediocrity.

Rules and incentives are important and necessary, but practical wisdom goes a long way. What fascinates me about this particular TED video is the basic and simple message that he shares. No whizzbang innovation or futuristic gadget, just a simple message... "it's about practical wisdom."