Orthodox (or if you prefer mainstream) economics isn't very useful because its assumptions are rooted in ignorance of both human biology and anthropology.
And this fundamental set of errors is compounded by the backgrounds of the sort of people who choose to work in the field -- there's a surfeit of math and physics and a dearth of biology. It's simply a fatal combination for a project which aims to predict and/or organize human group behaviour.
Well... the addiction to commodification and consumption cannot be separated from the comfort/convenience impulse. In the quest to commodify everything, businesses constantly have to push at the frontier of 'convenience' and comfort. They must constantly make you feel like something you previously didn't find inconvenient or uncomfortable is in fact inconvenient and uncomfortable
Thanks, Brett, for this very insightful effort to reveal the deeper essential context in which we exist today. It seems clear to me that humanity as at an existential crossroads. Will we transcend our addition to materialism?
Hi Thomas. At some point we may be forced to. Perhaps a tipping point approaches where 1) we hit resource limits but also 2) emotional or mental limits: endless production for endless consumption is really exhausting, and people get burned out, or overstimulated into numbness. Perhaps this translates, at some point, into a new cultural movement that is just bored, or sick of, endless new stuff, and maybe that's the point of transcendence you mention
These essays are very well done: clear and well thought out. Really remarkable. Thank you!
I'm really glad you find them useful Jay. Thanks for your support
Orthodox (or if you prefer mainstream) economics isn't very useful because its assumptions are rooted in ignorance of both human biology and anthropology.
And this fundamental set of errors is compounded by the backgrounds of the sort of people who choose to work in the field -- there's a surfeit of math and physics and a dearth of biology. It's simply a fatal combination for a project which aims to predict and/or organize human group behaviour.
Agreed - it's got that mechanistic vibe rather than organic emergent vibe
Our desires for comfort and convenience, whilst overdone, are reasonably easy
to understand. But our addiction to commodification and consumption seems like a sickness.
Well... the addiction to commodification and consumption cannot be separated from the comfort/convenience impulse. In the quest to commodify everything, businesses constantly have to push at the frontier of 'convenience' and comfort. They must constantly make you feel like something you previously didn't find inconvenient or uncomfortable is in fact inconvenient and uncomfortable
Thanks, Brett, for this very insightful effort to reveal the deeper essential context in which we exist today. It seems clear to me that humanity as at an existential crossroads. Will we transcend our addition to materialism?
Hi Thomas. At some point we may be forced to. Perhaps a tipping point approaches where 1) we hit resource limits but also 2) emotional or mental limits: endless production for endless consumption is really exhausting, and people get burned out, or overstimulated into numbness. Perhaps this translates, at some point, into a new cultural movement that is just bored, or sick of, endless new stuff, and maybe that's the point of transcendence you mention
Very in depth interesting read! You put in plain English things I sense without being able to formally explain. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the support Souki. Glad you find it helpful