The Idea

Contributed by @philhagspiel |  Edited and curated by @philhagspiel

Things can become better as a result of risk and failure.

World View

Mindset

Taking Action

While things or systems typically take damage from shocks and distortions, antifragility describes the ability to grow from such impacts.

While robustness and resilience are concepts that describe how things can withstand randomness, uncertainty or failure, 'antifragility' means that things, systems or even people can literally benefit in such contexts.

Antifragility was popularized by statistician and philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb and is being applied in computer science, physics, engineering, urban planning and many other fields.

On a personal level, antifragility refers to the ability to learn from smaller errors, correct course and respond to shocks with an increase in ability and capacity.

“How can you think yourself a great man, when the first accident that comes along can wipe you out completely.”

— Euripides

Explore

➞ In this one-hour talk, Nassim Taleb explains the concept in a more technical way (especially the Q&A at the end is insightful).

➞ This Wikipedia article gives a great overview of the concept in general.

Resources

If this idea resonates with you, some of these resources might add value to your life.