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Permissionless Society
Overview
What would life be like for us today if people didn’t innovate? How different would life be if innovators needed government’s permission to innovate? Would that permission be based on politics? Would it be based on what politicians think is best for us? This segment looks at the importance of permissionless innovation.
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Lesson Insights
Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government and Business
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings
What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• discuss the debate over permissionless innovation and precautionary permission-based controls;
• explain the benefits and drawbacks of permissionless innovation and precautionary permission-based controls; and
• evaluate the effects of government involvement in technological innovations, such as app-based car services, driverless cars, and medical breakthroughs.
Key concepts and terms covered
Precautionary Principle.
Sample discussion questions
• Adam Thierer said there are lots of efforts to impose permission-based systems on new technologies. What if that had happened in the past? Can you envision people using government to stop electricity and cars because of how dangerous they are?
• Should businesses be allowed to produce self-driving cars? Should government let them? Should people be allowed to purchase and drive self-driving cars? Should government let them?
• Can’t someone find negatives for every innovation?
• What can we consumers do if we don’t like a new product or service?
• If companies move development of some products and services overseas, what does that mean for America?
What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 10-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.
Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.