Naill Ferguson gives a provocative talk about his thesis that there are six “Killer Apps” that made western civilization so successful over the last five centuries.
The killer apps he suggests are:
- Political and economic competition
- The scientific method
- Property rights (linked to voting)
- Modern Medicine
- Consumer based economies
- Protestant work ethic
There’s a PBS series about it as well.
The Intelligence2 podcast, recommended by Mr. Schmidt, is a great resource for talks like this one. They have a nice archive.