We, as humans, often yearn for a future devoid of tasks and challenges—a time when peace reigns, and humanity achieves ultimate success. However, such a future is not only unrealistic but also somewhat disheartening. In this discussion, I assert that our true source of happiness lies in the pursuit of success rather than its attainment. The pursuit is filled with challenges and rewards, while the end result can often feel anticlimactic. This sentiment echoes the familiar saying: “the journey is more significant than the destination.” But what if the concept of a destination is merely an illusion?

Take the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) as an example—a pivotal invention in our history. Its inception in the 1860s gave rise to the automotive sector, which today is a colossal industry. Consider these statistics:

• In 2020, the automotive industry produced a staggering 91 million vehicles¹.
• By 2022, it was projected to provide jobs for 15 million individuals in India, which ranks as the fourth-largest vehicle manufacturer².

Imagining a world without automobiles is challenging; they are integral to global trade, economies, employment, tourism, and personal transportation.

However, there's a critical side to this industry:

• It is responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S.³ and 17% of total global emissions.

In fact, it ranks as the second-largest contributor to global warming, trailing only behind manufacturing and construction, which account for 24% of total GHG emissions. While it's hard to envision our current world without the ICE, our survival may depend on moving away from vehicles reliant on this technology. What was once a remarkable innovation has turned into a significant threat.

A similar narrative unfolds with plastics. Following World War II, plastics became prevalent due to their affordability and ease of production. They played a crucial role in combating the spread of communicable diseases during a time of inadequate sanitation; single-use plastics like disposable cups and straws helped reduce the reuse of items that could carry germs.

Plastics also proved beneficial during the COVID-19 crisis, as many establishments restricted the use of personal reusable containers to minimize contact.

The World Economic Forum acknowledges the essential function of single-use plastics in our COVID-19 response:

> “There is no denying that single-use plastic has been a lifesaver in the fight against COVID-19, especially for frontline health workers. It has also facilitated adherence to social-distancing rules by enabling home delivery of basic goods, especially food.”

Although plastics provided solutions in the past, we are now acutely aware of their detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and the planet's well-being.

Thus, while plastics addressed specific issues previously, they have since become problems themselves.

II.

Many contemporary dilemmas, from climate change to security issues, stem from innovations that were once deemed effective. This cyclical nature of human problem-solving leads us to identify an issue, create a solution, which in turn spawns further challenges. With each solution we devise, new problems arise.

Not all challenges are manufactured, however; many are discovered. As we tackle current issues, we uncover previously hidden problems.

Consider space exploration. Humanity's drive to launch objects into space was initially fueled by a desire to enhance technology like GPS and satellite communications, rather than for exploration itself. Currently, 95% of rocket launches are aimed at deploying satellites that improve life on Earth. If we hadn't developed the capability for space launches, serious exploration would remain a mere dream.

Take In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as another example. Initially developed in the 1970s to combat female infertility, IVF has now expanded to detect and prevent genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and diabetes.

Similarly, integrated circuits (ICs) originated from attempts to create smaller hearing aids, yet today they are foundational to countless technologies, from smart devices to spacecraft.

David Deutsch encapsulates this phenomenon in his book The Beginning of Infinity:

> “Science continues to make progress even, or especially, after making great discoveries, because the discoveries themselves reveal further problems.”

III.

The process of discovery inherently exposes challenges that were previously unnoticed. This concept is best illustrated through a visual representation similar to that used to explain the COVID-19 spread.

Each dot in the GIF symbolizes a problem we've resolved, revealing that each solution leads to the discovery of additional issues.

For instance, the concentration of power culminated in the 2008 financial crisis, erasing nearly $2 trillion from the global economy. The Bitcoin whitepaper emerged in response to this crisis, introducing a decentralized system via blockchain that addressed the power imbalance. However, as a result, new challenges arose—cryptocurrency-related crimes, environmental concerns of mining, and more.

Thus, solutions not only resolve existing problems but also generate new ones. As David puts it:

> “We will never run out of problems. The deeper an explanation is, the more new problems it creates.”

Ultimately, the quantity of problems we face is infinite. This leads to an important insight David emphasizes early in his book:

How should we respond to this reality? Should we feel content knowing we will always have fascinating challenges to tackle? Yet, it can be disheartening to recognize that no matter our efforts, problems will persist. The key lies in another insight David presents:

He elaborates:

> “It is inevitable that we face problems, but no particular problem is inevitable. We survive and thrive by solving each problem as it arises. Since human ability to change nature is limited only by physical laws, none of the endless stream of problems will pose an insurmountable barrier. An equally vital truth about people and the physical world is that problems are soluble. By ‘soluble’ I mean that the right knowledge can resolve them.”

IV.

Human knowledge resembles the Big Bang; it continuously expands, encompassing the universe's problems and their solutions.

We will perpetually face challenges, but we will also endlessly create solutions. This cycle is infinite. Much like Sisyphus pushing the boulder uphill, we find beauty in this never-ending loop. Without it, humanity would be stagnant. If problems ceased to emerge, each resolution would draw us closer to a state of zero challenges—which would be disheartening.

Infinity divided by two is still infinity. Likewise, we will always be at the brink of infinity, regardless of our advancements, which is the essence behind The Beginning of Infinity.

Ultimately, there is no destination; the journey itself is what matters.

Footnotes & References [1] Source. Note that 2020 production figures are not included due to anomalies caused by COVID-19. [2] Source: Analysis by KPMG India [3] Source: Environmental Protection Agency [4] Source: Wikipedia [5] Source: HBR [6] Source: Embryo Project Encyclopedia [7] Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Harini for reviewing drafts of this. All opinions expressed by the author are personal.