How To Embrace Protopia, a Term Coined by Kevin Kelly

Protopia is harder to visualize.

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“Protopia” is a term coined by Kevin Kelly, which describes a state of continuous improvement, where things are getting better, but not necessarily perfect.

Kevin Kelly, the founder of Wired magazine, coined the word Protopia in 2010, but “he mainly saw it as an ‘improved future’ through incremental technological innovation”.

"The concept, which Mr. Kelly debuted in his 2010 book, “What Technology Wants,” refers to a society that, rather than solving all its problems (as in a utopia) or falling into dire dysfunction (as in a dystopia), makes incremental progress over a long period of time — thanks to the ways in which technological advancement is enhancing the natural evolutionary process."

Embracing protopia means accepting that progress is a never-ending process, and being willing to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances.

What is the meaning of Protopia?

One answer can be found in another neologism — protopia — incremental progress in steps toward improvement, not perfection.

Protopia is the idea that while the world is far from perfect, it is constantly moving towards a better future.

As the futurist Kevin Kelly describes his coinage: Protopia is a state that is better today than yesterday, although it might be only a little better.

To embrace Protopia, you can…

1. Focus on progress, not perfection: Perfection is an illusion, and chasing it can be a frustrating and unproductive pursuit. Instead, focus on making progress and improving continuously.
2. Embrace experimentation: Try new things, take risks, and learn from your mistakes. Experimentation is key to discovering new ways of doing things and making progress.
3. Cultivate a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset, which means believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and dedication. This mindset allows you to embrace challenges and learn from failures.
4. Collaborate Protopia. By working with others, you can tap into a broader range of ideas and perspectives, and learn from…