It’s been several days since my last essay, and while I was planning on finishing a riff on of Russian polymath Vernadsky’s noosphere concept, I am instead nursing a hangover incurred from several hours of dancing with a group of very friendly and energetic Colombian exchange students. That actually got me thinking about some of the differences between Latin and Western civilizations, and whether the centrality of the Dance in Latin American culture may point the way to identifying the Spenglerian civilization-symbol of Latin culture. I’ll probably write something about that soon, unless -
Loved it! I left a comment on youtube for the algo, but I'll paste here as well : Libertarianism isn't a system that is imposed. Right brain engagement is needed to see that any shifts towards a more libertarian society will be culturally driven. The more widespread the assumption that intiating force against the innocent is immoral, the more society will thrive. Getting wrapped around the axel about how this works in specific circumstances is what the LHB is good for. These thought experiments shouldn’t be attacked as indictments of libertarian ideology as they are strawmen. The way the market will solve a problem can never be known ahead of time, this is what entreneurs are for and only some will succeed in each new speculation regardless of how skilled.
I agree that the will to fight is lacking due to a crisis of moral legitimacy within the military, this spiritual crisis is not appreciated to the extent it needs to be. I’m spending a lot of time thinking about this as it is my job to optimize human performance in the population and without a robust spiritual foundation my efforts will be met with limited success at best.
Fear of death is indeed the death of freedom. Belief in God isn’t required to identify a purpose greater than merely continuing to breath. Those of us with children and an understanding of the existential threats facing civilization will not hesitate to sacrifice our lives to secure a better future for our families, if it comes to that. I think traditional theism isn’t as powerful a motivator in this regard as it isn’t nested with biological reality (yes, I am a McConkey fanboy now).
The suspicion that the universally negative health outcomes promulgated by large corporate interests is intentional is understandable, but based on an assumption that maintaining optimal health in the industrial age is easy. It isn't easy, it is very difficult. Since we have a system that incentivizes big ag and big pharma profits with health not even being a consideration, we can expect disastrous health outcomes. You don’t have to try very hard to destroy human health, you just have to put the organism in an environment it didn’t evolve to deal with. Social media, hyperpalatable calorie dense foods, pornography, pharmaceuticals, and environmental toxins produced secondary to a myriad of products that make life more convenient all conspire to destroy the health of the unwary. The fact that our bodies and minds are able to weather such an onslaught at all is a testiment to the resilience of human beings.
I agree a teleological competition is taking place, but as a McConkeyite I like to use the perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral mechaism (PCBM) framework to explain how the battle lines are drawn. There are two distinct collections of PCBM traits that are mutually exclusive. The camps I put these collections into is American and anti-American (but libertarian and woke is just one of many possible substitutes for the names). The coalitions of individuals that express these PCBM traits employ particular strategies to spontaneously align with mutually supportive conspecifics. The result is an ongoing cold war that we are certain to win at some unknown cost. Unlike much neoreactionary commentary I’ve seen, I think this escalating into a kinetic conflict is all but impossible.
I believe what dissidents (or the hydra) will converge on is a very broad conception libertarianism with a general appreciation of the non-aggression principle (NAP) unifying an otherwise wonderfully diverse popular majority. Since woke idiots sullied the name of libertarianism this appreciation for the NAP could also be called Americanism (just look at the declaration of independence). Without a robust RHB synthetic perspective, it is difficult to see that the state is never necessary, and so it will always assert itself to the greatest extent allowed by the culture. Developing a culture of individualism with an appreciation for the value of collectives as voluntary emergent phenomenon will result in the largest possible coalition of conspecifics to supplant complete pathocratic capture. If such a culture is able to grow to a critical mass in prominence, the circulation of elite would be accelerated as they would find it much more difficult to consolidate their power using institutionally legitimized coercion.
Congrats on being invited onto Mind Matters! I've missed the show for a few weeks but have to listen now!!
Harrison asked me about having a discussion with them but I chickened out - I feel those guys are way too intelligent for me lol (plus I've got a distinctive voice, my own popular podcast, and I just don't want my other podcast listeners to put 2 and 2 together - need to remain incognito), so I've great respect for you having been on the show (even without hearing it yet).
Speaking of incognito - yes another squirrel - looking forward to that piece on why anonymity is an important thing in cases like yours.
I'll definitely check out the podcast. It's fascinating to me that one's thought processes really are very different while writing vs while speaking. I know that difference is obvious to anyone who's done both, but if you start digging into that distinction, you quickly find yourself confronted by deep questions about identity and the nature of the mind and all that. Even just speaking, there's even a difference between the part of your mind or personality that's activated while giving a prepared speech vs riffing off-the-cuff. Anyway, I've enjoyed pretty much everything you've written, so it'll be interesting to hear you expressing your thoughts through a different medium.
Really enjoyed listening to the podcast. I appreciate hearing a bit of your history and writing process. The fluid exchange of ideas made the hour and forty minutes go too fast and made it easy to overlook the obvious technical sound issues.
I returned to the real world of working and no longer have the luxury of reading as much as I did. Listening to this encourages me to go back and read your substacks I have missed.
Loved it! I left a comment on youtube for the algo, but I'll paste here as well : Libertarianism isn't a system that is imposed. Right brain engagement is needed to see that any shifts towards a more libertarian society will be culturally driven. The more widespread the assumption that intiating force against the innocent is immoral, the more society will thrive. Getting wrapped around the axel about how this works in specific circumstances is what the LHB is good for. These thought experiments shouldn’t be attacked as indictments of libertarian ideology as they are strawmen. The way the market will solve a problem can never be known ahead of time, this is what entreneurs are for and only some will succeed in each new speculation regardless of how skilled.
I agree that the will to fight is lacking due to a crisis of moral legitimacy within the military, this spiritual crisis is not appreciated to the extent it needs to be. I’m spending a lot of time thinking about this as it is my job to optimize human performance in the population and without a robust spiritual foundation my efforts will be met with limited success at best.
Fear of death is indeed the death of freedom. Belief in God isn’t required to identify a purpose greater than merely continuing to breath. Those of us with children and an understanding of the existential threats facing civilization will not hesitate to sacrifice our lives to secure a better future for our families, if it comes to that. I think traditional theism isn’t as powerful a motivator in this regard as it isn’t nested with biological reality (yes, I am a McConkey fanboy now).
The suspicion that the universally negative health outcomes promulgated by large corporate interests is intentional is understandable, but based on an assumption that maintaining optimal health in the industrial age is easy. It isn't easy, it is very difficult. Since we have a system that incentivizes big ag and big pharma profits with health not even being a consideration, we can expect disastrous health outcomes. You don’t have to try very hard to destroy human health, you just have to put the organism in an environment it didn’t evolve to deal with. Social media, hyperpalatable calorie dense foods, pornography, pharmaceuticals, and environmental toxins produced secondary to a myriad of products that make life more convenient all conspire to destroy the health of the unwary. The fact that our bodies and minds are able to weather such an onslaught at all is a testiment to the resilience of human beings.
I agree a teleological competition is taking place, but as a McConkeyite I like to use the perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral mechaism (PCBM) framework to explain how the battle lines are drawn. There are two distinct collections of PCBM traits that are mutually exclusive. The camps I put these collections into is American and anti-American (but libertarian and woke is just one of many possible substitutes for the names). The coalitions of individuals that express these PCBM traits employ particular strategies to spontaneously align with mutually supportive conspecifics. The result is an ongoing cold war that we are certain to win at some unknown cost. Unlike much neoreactionary commentary I’ve seen, I think this escalating into a kinetic conflict is all but impossible.
I believe what dissidents (or the hydra) will converge on is a very broad conception libertarianism with a general appreciation of the non-aggression principle (NAP) unifying an otherwise wonderfully diverse popular majority. Since woke idiots sullied the name of libertarianism this appreciation for the NAP could also be called Americanism (just look at the declaration of independence). Without a robust RHB synthetic perspective, it is difficult to see that the state is never necessary, and so it will always assert itself to the greatest extent allowed by the culture. Developing a culture of individualism with an appreciation for the value of collectives as voluntary emergent phenomenon will result in the largest possible coalition of conspecifics to supplant complete pathocratic capture. If such a culture is able to grow to a critical mass in prominence, the circulation of elite would be accelerated as they would find it much more difficult to consolidate their power using institutionally legitimized coercion.
Congrats on being invited onto Mind Matters! I've missed the show for a few weeks but have to listen now!!
Harrison asked me about having a discussion with them but I chickened out - I feel those guys are way too intelligent for me lol (plus I've got a distinctive voice, my own popular podcast, and I just don't want my other podcast listeners to put 2 and 2 together - need to remain incognito), so I've great respect for you having been on the show (even without hearing it yet).
Speaking of incognito - yes another squirrel - looking forward to that piece on why anonymity is an important thing in cases like yours.
Just recommended your stack to mine, and its vast and gifted readership
I'll definitely check out the podcast. It's fascinating to me that one's thought processes really are very different while writing vs while speaking. I know that difference is obvious to anyone who's done both, but if you start digging into that distinction, you quickly find yourself confronted by deep questions about identity and the nature of the mind and all that. Even just speaking, there's even a difference between the part of your mind or personality that's activated while giving a prepared speech vs riffing off-the-cuff. Anyway, I've enjoyed pretty much everything you've written, so it'll be interesting to hear you expressing your thoughts through a different medium.
Will be linking the video with Mind Matters today @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
Welcome to the "Big Time" LOL!!!!!
The anonymous writer personalities have become my favorite. Looking forward to giving the podcast a listen!
Really enjoyed listening to the podcast. I appreciate hearing a bit of your history and writing process. The fluid exchange of ideas made the hour and forty minutes go too fast and made it easy to overlook the obvious technical sound issues.
I returned to the real world of working and no longer have the luxury of reading as much as I did. Listening to this encourages me to go back and read your substacks I have missed.
Telegram’s stickers are wicked.