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About this quote

What does it mean?
Fuller claims there is a minimal set of essential knowledge needed to run the planet for everyone's benefit. Understanding these concepts could ensure long-term health and satisfaction for all.
In plain terms
We only need a small set of essential knowledge to run the planet well for everyone.
What can you take from it?
Identify and apply essential knowledge to improve global well-being.

Where it applies

  • education reform
  • policy planning
  • sustainability initiatives

Putting it to work

  • Teaching core systemic concepts
  • streamlining decision knowledge
  • prioritizing essentials

Questions to consider

  • What knowledge is truly essential for survival?
  • Who decides what is essential?

Another view

The quote assumes a universal agreement on what constitutes essential concepts.

More from Buckminster Fuller

  1. Lack of knowledge concerning all the factors and the failure to include them in our integral imposes false conclusions.

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  2. We must start with scientific fundamentals, and that means with the data of experiments and not with assumed axioms predicated only upon the misleading nature …

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  3. We are in an age that assumes the narrowing trends of specialization to be logical, natural, and desirable. Consequently, society expects all earnestly respons…

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