Distributed creativity hypothesis
- If one has a global network, with very low barriers to entry and participation, and
- If the type of creation involved is in some sense “modular” or built by accretion, and
- If there is a random distribution of interest in particular topics, and
- If there is a random distribution of incentive structures (greed, pride, altruism, desire to display virtuosity, hope of attracting interest, etc.), then
- On any given topic, one will find a lot of motivated people with useful skills
James Boyle, Understanding knowledge as a commons, p. 138
