Utility Maximizer's guide to replicators, networks, game theory, and civilization
First of all, I think you should vote. Some people say, “I don’t vote because I don’t live in a swing state, so my vote doesn’t make a difference.” I find this to be a nonsensical reason for not voting, because your vote never makes a difference, whether you live in a swing state or … Continue reading Your vote will never matter. That’s why you should vote.
The Trump campaign, fooled by randomness, and confirmation bias >The candidate gained a huge amount of support in the polls. We can not explain why. It is probably due to broad, abstract trends that are outside the scope of our reporting.
Cities are becoming uniform. You can go from capital to capital, and, despite the distinct culture of surrounding areas, never feel like you’ve gone anywhere, because it’s all the same: skyscrapers on a skyline. Those aren’t the cities we like to visit. Beautiful cities are distinct; they display culture (something I define here). In a … Continue reading The Problem with Empathy
Between 1:53:30 and 1:55:30, physicist and economist Eric Weinstein (to the right of his brother, Bret Weinstein, who I have a whole post about), asks a simple question: “Is a whale a fish?” You might read that and think I’m an idiot. A whale isn’t a fish; a whale is a mammal. But let us step … Continue reading Third Order Thinking (Or: Is a Whale a Fish?)
Google defines "zero sum": (of a game or situation) in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other. Ask yourself, what gives something that property? I posit, it is something that one cannot create. Can only be taken. When it is impossible to create something, the only way to attain it is … Continue reading Land, Status, People
Epiphany a Week 