Buckminster Fuller with Amanda Joy Ravenhill

Who are the great thinkers of the past and what can we learn from them? In this episode we cover the life and work of Buckminster Fuller, who was an architect, inventor, futurist, and prolific writer. Our guest is Amanda Joy Ravehill, former Executive Director of the Buckminster Fuller Institute.

The conversation explores:

• Who was Buckminster Fuller? [2:38]
• Buckmister Fuller's archive, The Chronophile[4:26]
• Converting from a zero sum to a win for all game dynamic [6:16]
• Amanda's tattoo of Buckminster Fuller [7:48]
• "You never change things by fighting the existing reality" [9:43]
• Four characteristics of design science: comprehensive [11:18]
• Four characteristics of design science: anticipatory [15:10]
• Four characteristics of design science: design [16:30]
• Four characteristics of design science: science [17:33]
• Polymaths vs. specialists [18:33]
• Knowledge as wealth [20:08]
• Bucky and universal basic income [21:27]
• The need for the dissolution of nation states [24:08]
• Spaceship earth metaphor [24:58]
• Paradigm shifts and the role of art [27:12]
• The concept of the trim tab [31:10]

 

Bucky works and ideas mentioned in the episode:

• Inventory of World Resources, Human Trends and Needs
• Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth
• Synergetics
• Grunch of Giants
• Education Automation
• Dymaxion Map

Other mentions:

• Moral Politics, George Lakoff
• Don't Think of an Elephant, George Lakoff
• Design Science Primer, Medard Gabel and David Heeney
• Wendell Berry