cumulation is a bad model of intellectual life. every idea has to be constantly reinvented, remade as something fresh and real and relevant, live in contemporary minds. that is most of the work. 1/

it’s great that the growing frontier of firsts paves the way for somewhat — only somewhat — easier reinvention and transformation down the line. it’s like how the goose at the apex of the migration wedge does experience a bit more air resistance. 2/

but it’d also be a mistake to credit that vanguardist as having done most of the work. all the geese do the work. in intellectual life, successful reinvention, resurrection, reintegration require a great deal of creativity. /fin