[deanCommie]

For those that accept the author's premise and thought experiment. What's the recommended alternative?

Let's take a humanist approach and say the biggest problems humanity need to solve right now that we aren't doing enough on are life extension and energy generation/storage/distribution. Even 5 years ago, "AI" might've been on the list, but that seems to be booming with progress, and between CRISPR/mRNA we also seem to be making incredible progress on disease cure/prevention. Meanwhile, with longer lifespans, and cheap available energy who knows what other advances we might unlock.

OK, how do you proceed with maximizing scientific progress?

[hasmanean]

Focus on the problem, not the solution.

If the problem is that our civilization is using too much energy, the solution may not be fusion power. It might be redesigning suburbs (a design problem) or making people adaptable enough to live with one another in close quarters (a social problem) or making it easier to switch houses and move close to where they work (an economic problem).

The best spur to innovation is when you are getting results. Redefining the problem you solve is one way to get that.