John: What is the opposite of The Long Night, i.e. a healthy ecosystem with multiple competing sense-making networks? And, is such an ecosystem even possible, or can their only be one "alpha predator" that emerges based on winner take all dynamics, similar to those that exist in tech?
I'm working on that. I've spent most of my time trying to a) figure out what is happening, b) what the downsides are, and c) and how families/individuals can mitigate the impact of collapse. Part o the solution is a new way of thinking that looks up and out (to counter the downward/collapse mindset we are currently in). The other is more thinking on the "network state" or "networked communities" which something I need to spend more time on (I haven't done much on it in a decade).
Thanks. Your perspective has been invaluable with regards to "a". Seriously.
It seems like you (and China IRL) have already provided the answer to "b", i.e. The Long Night. I'm not totally sure what you mean by "collapse", but presume you mean civilizational entropy leading to permanent decay, with an unknown speed of arrival (somewhere between Dmitry Orlov's experiences with the the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the "slow burn" of John Michael Greer. )
I tend to think that Balaji's "network state" ideas overfit theory to a limited data set of Israel and Singapore. They are really interesting, but simultaneously feel detached from facts on the ground.
Your final point about a new narrative that "looks up and out" to me is THE question. Ancient religions simply do not have the narrative horsepower to drive civilization forward anymore. The West is basically running on the fumes of Christianity. Our scientific, rationalist minds, seem to preclude "divine revelation" as a source of new narratives, unless it is a legitimate global miracle. And, it seems naïve to pin our hopes on aliens landing to shake things up a bit.
So, how do we refill the narrative gas tank to progress again? Will sending humans to Mars be enough? Because, that may be the only jolt coming our way in the foreseeable future.
Have you spent any time thinking about how networks amplify dysfunction? i.e. the 'accepted truth' is something that is unenforceable or technical impossible to implement in reality and thus the network then produces dysfunctional outcomes where viewpoints or ideas in the past might be shut down, examples might be anything from mass shooters to current aspects of the failing energy policy in the EU.
Yes. I call this lockdown -- where the consensus prevents dissent by controlling the technological infrastructure, the long night. A stagnant society unable to dove problems or progress.
John: What is the opposite of The Long Night, i.e. a healthy ecosystem with multiple competing sense-making networks? And, is such an ecosystem even possible, or can their only be one "alpha predator" that emerges based on winner take all dynamics, similar to those that exist in tech?
I'm working on that. I've spent most of my time trying to a) figure out what is happening, b) what the downsides are, and c) and how families/individuals can mitigate the impact of collapse. Part o the solution is a new way of thinking that looks up and out (to counter the downward/collapse mindset we are currently in). The other is more thinking on the "network state" or "networked communities" which something I need to spend more time on (I haven't done much on it in a decade).
Thanks. Your perspective has been invaluable with regards to "a". Seriously.
It seems like you (and China IRL) have already provided the answer to "b", i.e. The Long Night. I'm not totally sure what you mean by "collapse", but presume you mean civilizational entropy leading to permanent decay, with an unknown speed of arrival (somewhere between Dmitry Orlov's experiences with the the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the "slow burn" of John Michael Greer. )
I tend to think that Balaji's "network state" ideas overfit theory to a limited data set of Israel and Singapore. They are really interesting, but simultaneously feel detached from facts on the ground.
Your final point about a new narrative that "looks up and out" to me is THE question. Ancient religions simply do not have the narrative horsepower to drive civilization forward anymore. The West is basically running on the fumes of Christianity. Our scientific, rationalist minds, seem to preclude "divine revelation" as a source of new narratives, unless it is a legitimate global miracle. And, it seems naïve to pin our hopes on aliens landing to shake things up a bit.
So, how do we refill the narrative gas tank to progress again? Will sending humans to Mars be enough? Because, that may be the only jolt coming our way in the foreseeable future.
Have you spent any time thinking about how networks amplify dysfunction? i.e. the 'accepted truth' is something that is unenforceable or technical impossible to implement in reality and thus the network then produces dysfunctional outcomes where viewpoints or ideas in the past might be shut down, examples might be anything from mass shooters to current aspects of the failing energy policy in the EU.
Yes. I call this lockdown -- where the consensus prevents dissent by controlling the technological infrastructure, the long night. A stagnant society unable to dove problems or progress.