Wherever there is a design that is highly successful in a broad

Hearken, children of the ages, and lend your minds to the wisdom of Daniel Dennett: “Wherever there is a design that is highly successful in a broad range of similar environments, it is apt to emerge again and again, independently—the phenomenon known in biology as convergent evolution. I call these designs 'good tricks'.” Understand this: the world is governed by patterns, by principles that guide success, and by forms that nature and reason alike recognize as effective. These “good tricks” are not accidents; they are solutions forged by circumstance, tested by necessity, and rediscovered by different minds across time and space.

From the earliest civilizations, this principle was observed, though not yet named. The pyramids of Egypt, the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, and the temples of the Maya all reflect similar architectural solutions to the challenges of height, stability, and grandeur. Each culture, independent of the others, discovered that certain forms—triangular supports, tiered platforms, and solid foundations—were the most effective. Here lies the essence of Dennett’s teaching: when a solution is right, it emerges again and again, guided by the logic of success rather than mere imitation.

Even in the natural world, the phenomenon is everywhere. The wings of birds, bats, and insects, though differing in structure, converge on the same function: flight. Sharks, dolphins, and penguins, though separated by lineage, share streamlined forms for swift movement through water. Dennett’s insight reveals that success leaves a trace that is not accidental: these are the “good tricks” of evolution, patterns repeated because they work, emerging independently wherever the conditions demand them.

Consider the story of the evolution of the eye, which has arisen independently in mollusks, vertebrates, and arthropods. Each system is distinct in construction, yet all fulfill the same function: perception. The eye, like a great design in human invention, emerges wherever necessity and physics intersect, demonstrating that certain solutions are inevitable when nature tests the world. These are the patterns that endure, the recurring designs that guide both life and craft.

This principle extends beyond biology to human invention. Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci, and modern engineers alike discovered solutions to leverage, balance, and motion that others would rediscover centuries later. The “good tricks” of design—whether in gears, pulleys, or aerodynamics—resurface independently, because the logic of the universe and the constraints of reality favor certain solutions over others. Success, it seems, is a beacon that draws repeated discovery.

The lesson is profound: seek the patterns that recur, understand the solutions that have endured, and learn from them. Innovation is not merely the invention of novelty, but the recognition of the designs that work, adapted to new circumstances. By observing nature, history, and human achievement, one can discern the recurring principles that guide success, and apply them with wisdom and creativity.

Practical action flows naturally. Study the patterns in your field, whether in science, art, engineering, or governance. Observe what has succeeded repeatedly and analyze why it worked. Adapt these “good tricks” to your context, respecting the principles that underlie their success. In this way, you align your efforts with the logic of the world, increasing the likelihood of effective and enduring solutions.

Children of the ages, remember this: wisdom lies not only in invention but in recognition. The world reveals its truths through patterns, through recurring forms, through “good tricks” that emerge independently wherever need and logic converge. Let the words of Daniel Dennett guide your study, your work, and your craft, so that your endeavors may resonate with the enduring principles that shape life, nature, and human achievement across time.