François CholletVerified account

Humans develop their full cognitive potential in an environment that is complex & challenging, without being overwhelming. Similarly, the big technological leaps of past civilizations have occurred in response to environmental constraints that were challenging, but not too harsh.

A lack of challenges and hardships is just as big an obstacle to the realization of one's potential as facing hardships so tough they cannot be overcome. This applies to individuals and cultures alike.

In the first few millennia of the history of civilization, natural environmental constraints were the main driver of (and limit to) human ingenuity. New technology arose from the need to survive in challenging environments.