Legacy Planning...

Darwin’s theory of evolution, Newton’s laws of motion, Planck’s constant; some guys get lauded in every high school science class, across the world, every year. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Avogadro’s number, Einstein’s theory of relativity; the list of branded scientific axioms goes on and on.

 

These eponymous nuggets of human insight are systematically passed along by the educational system to every new generation. It’s a brilliant form of legacy perpetration.

 

Archemedes’ Principle, Pythagorean’s theorem, Occam’s razor (a razor?)… they give these out like candy. I am wondering, "how hard could it be to get one of my own?"

 

Now, I don’t want to do any hard work or anything. I’m not about to invent the static-electric motor (shout out to John Galt) or map the human connectome. I figure if I toss a few ideas into cyberspace (via this blog post) and you imaginary readers reference my concepts in your conversations and social media posts, the world just might one day associate an important idea with my name. #BulletProofLegacy 

 

Here are options to get the ball rolling:

 

The Fortier Principle of Accidental Genius
Given enough time and vague ambition, a person will eventually say something that sounds profound — entirely by accident. This is how TED Talks happen 

 

Dennis’ Postulate of Selective Memory
People remember things in whatever way makes them feel smarter, kinder, or funnier. The rest is lost to the void. History books work the same way.

 

The Fortier Phenomenon
Any idea, no matter how impractical or absurd, can gain credibility if you present it with a confident tone and a bulleted list. I bet you’re nodding right now.

 

Fortier's Cognitive Load Paradox

The more tabs you have open in your browser, the less you remember why you opened any of them, but you are sure they are all too important to close. It’s a paradox.

 

Den's Feedback Loop

When your smart devices recommend things based on your past choices, which reinforces future choices until your entire digital life is just ads for golf lessons and reels of random people who trip, slip, or bump their heads.

 

Fortier's Mirror Effect

The tendency to believe information more readily when it confirms your own mildly flattering self-perception. “It says people with messy desks are geniuses. Must be true." Fortier’s Mirror Effect.

 

The rest is up to you all. Just go ahead and use these concepts liberally; one or another is bound to catch on. 

 

Immortality, here I come!