There’s this classic story that the enlightenment in Europe happened as a direct result of importing coffee. Prior to this, the safest thing to drink was alcohol and people (including kids) would drink it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Then, coffee is introduced and everything changed.

The process of making coffee involved boiling water (even safer than the distilling process of alcohol), after which you ingested a stimulant (caffeine). People gathered at coffeehouses to discuss ideas, the fog of alcohol wore off and the rest is history.

Pretty simplistic, but it drives home a point:

Removing the obstacle of clear, coherent thought, combined with the exchange of sober ideas, leads to a rapid acceleration of knowledge.

While there is still a case for caffeine, it being the most addictive drug in the world, many of our water supplies are clean. We have many places to gather and share ideas… and we can even do this virtually on a global scale.

So where is our enlightenment?

It’s hiding behind a new fog.

It’s not alcohol that is hindering our thinking (although that may be the case for many), it’s distraction.

To blame one particular entity for our constant distracted state would miss the broader view; too much noise.

While it would be wonderful if we were introduced to a new drink that would block the noise and keep us focused, we will have to settle for the slow, arduous process of self-discipline.