Laziness is the driving force behind invention and technological evolution. From the wheel to the world-wide-web, humans have spent a large amount of time devoted to doing more with less, and doing less in general — a constant pursuit of minimalism through complication.

At some point practicality and necessity were overtaken by novelty and profitability, and we are all a product of this shift. Nearly every industry owes its existence to the first ape/human to chuck a sharpened rock at his (or her) intended meal. Apparently our resourceful tendencies have been with us from the start (it’s easier to kill dinner with a rock or stick than with my foot), and have evolved right along with our society (it’s easier to pick up the phone than to walk over to your office).

Whether we are truly better off remains to be seen — perhaps when we can cure medical problems without a knife, transport ourselves without destroying the environment, or resolve worldwide poverty and famine. However we end up, we’ll get there because we are too lazy to do what is necessary today.