Evolving more and more pretty lies until pervasive error is again the norm

Sunday, December 22nd, 2019

Western civilization has been repeating this story over and over for roughly the last half-millennium, Moldbug argues:

The intellectual command economy rules. Public opinion is directed by a dogmatic bureaucracy, rife with pervasive error, systematically incapable of changing its mind.

An unofficial free market for truth evolves. This market cannot be poisoned by power, because it has no power. It develops a higher-quality product than the official narrative.

A new epistemic elite arises. The old intellectual bureaucracy, smart enough to sense its own inferiority, hands power to the new truth market. A new golden age begins.

Dogmatic bureaucracy returns. Slowly and inevitably poisoned by power, the once-vibrant civil society slowly ossifies into a dogmatic bureaucracy, evolving more and more pretty lies until pervasive error is again the norm.

Comments

  1. Bruce says:

    It’s not that the lies are pretty; it’s that they are pious frauds. The creative effort always displays the subjective state of the artist; pious fraud displays a pious soul.

  2. CVLR says:

    What is this, Glubbist philosophy for atheist nerds?

    It is impossible for me to imagine using the phrase “truth market” in a serious conversation.

    Finally,

    The old intellectual bureaucracy, smart enough to sense its own inferiority, hands power to the new truth market.

    LOL.

  3. Harry Jones says:

    Moldbug has always seemed to me to be conflicted about power. An excess of power corrupts, it’s true. But powerlessness also corrupts.

    When the powerful become too decadent, their power erodes to the point that they can be deposed easily. When the powerless are demoralized, they stay right where they are. Either way, powerlessness is the end result to be avoided.

    But there is overt power and hidden power. If you show your power, you invite attack by those who have more power (and by those who envy you and think you’re bluffing.) If you hide your power, you get to have it both ways against those more powerful.

    Show just enough of your power to deter attack by those not stronger than you. Keep the rest close to your vest.

    Ostentatious living is expensive signalling. It may cost you more than the retail price. Look a bit less rich and powerful than you actually are.

  4. Anon Rat says:

    “Moldbug has always seemed to me to be conflicted about power”

    I don’t think there is conflict. If you wield power, wield it proudly. UR is an investigation into all the manners we are not doing that.

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