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Independent thought
Higher cognitive ability and other psychological factors predict support for free speech
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Where we are in various cyclical theories of history
Overview of Cyclical Theories of HistoryCyclical theories of history posit that human societies, economies, and civilizations don’t progress linearly but instead follow repeating patterns of rise, peak, decline, and renewal. These ideas draw from philosophy, economics, sociology, and historiography, often emphasizing factors like demographics, technology, social cohesion, or generational dynamics. Unlike linear views (e.g., endless…
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Thought of the day
Internal states of mind are meant to be a basis for acting in external reality. This is why you should guard against delusion. When your internal model of reality doesn’t match up with external reality, you can’t act effectively, and bad things usually happen. This requires constant maintenance.
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Psychological Tip of The Day
Confidence has to match competence. Otherwise it’s ego inflation and delusional.
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How to see external reality
Our minds don’t just distort reality—they hide it. Not out of malice, but out of self-preservation. The raw, unfiltered world is too much. It’s chaos, uncertainty, death, betrayal, awe, beauty, loss—all at once. So the mind builds a narrative, a little safe zone made of stories: who we are, what the world is, why things…
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Misc Profundity
Power isn’t in the strike. It’s in the discipline that precedes the strike.
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How to make gerrymandering go away
Gerrymandering relies on two-party predictability Map-drawers (often state legislatures controlled by one party) can carve districts based on predictable voting patterns—Dem vs. GOP. This works because in a binary race, even a 51% edge guarantees total control of that seat. But… — Enter a viable third (or fourth) party: Now the math goes chaotic:…
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Why Projection is a Bad Thing
Projecting the unconscious onto the external world is something we all do to some extent, especially before we’ve engaged in any serious introspection. But doing it habitually or unconsciously can lead to a variety of personal, relational, and even societal problems. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s often a bad idea: 1. You Lose Sight…
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Absurdity Index
ABSURDITY INDEX (AIx) FRAMEWORK 1. Bureaucratic Absurdity (BA) • Red Tape Complexity: Average number of bureaucratic steps for a simple task (e.g., starting a business, getting a permit). • Contradictory Laws & Policies: Cases where laws contradict each other, making it impossible to comply fully. • Bureaucratic Response Time: How long it takes for official…
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Random Acts of Eccentricity 