The Myth and Meaning of the Lone Inventor

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The Myth and Meaning of the Lone Inventor

April 15, 2010. By Peter Lloyd

The Lone Inventor is not unlike the Lone Ranger. Neither exists. And yet you may have come across the claim that all or most of our most significant inventions have come from the sweat of individuals, be they tinkers, lone wolves, non conformists, mavericks, or mad scientists. The claim has two sides—one true and the other false.

The False Side
I recently examined a long list of important inventions—from aspirin to xerography—purported to be the solo work of one inventor. My skeptic alarm went off, so I dug a little deeper. Many of the claims were suspect indeed. Some of the inventors had one or more partners, some invented in commercial laboratories, others were funded or supported by patrons.

Thomas Edison, who gave us the light bulb and one of the longest lists of inventions, depended on his lab team. Art Fry, who gave us Post-Its, led a team at 3M. Guys like Leonardo da Vinci invented with the support of patrons, universities, or scientific academies. Not only did they all have help inventing, they all relied on the inventors and researchers who preceded them.

On a hike through the history of invention we'd find almost all the components of any new invention in the work of previous inventors and quickly conclude that every invention depends on its forebears.

A review of James Burke's Connections could serve as our map. We'd learn that the lever, the wheel, fire, and all the principles of science we're invented or discovered long ago. And all inventions that followed depended on them. The inescapable conclusion: No inventor has ever invented anything alone. Every invention is a collaboration.

The True Side
At the same time, I'm the last person to downplay or diminish the absolute necessity of one individual's creative passion in the business of invention. Every invention needs a creative champion. No invention ever lacked one and no committee ever invented anything worthwhile. If you doubt that, launch an invention start-up and call it The Invention Committee. See who signs on.

If you want invention, put a creative powerhouse on it and stay out of the way. Charles Kettering described the alternative, "If you want to kill any idea in the world, get a committee working on it."

Both of the Above
Invention cannot happen in a vacuum. Individual invention happens with the help of hundreds. The spirit of invention requires the inventive drive of the individual in a supportive environment.

Peter Lloyd is co-creator with Stephen Grossman of Animal Crackers, the breakthrough problem-solving tool designed to crack your toughest problems.

171 Right Brain Workouts are available in the 134-page paperback Right Brain Workouts: Aerobic Exercises for the Creative Side of Your Brain.

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