By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 4 Jun 23
Real Rebels Risk Disapprovalmedium.comFake rebels just stay on the safe side and “critique”. The irony and sarcasm of the last few decades just doesn’t carry any longer — it’s…
Real Rebels Risk Disapprovalmedium.comFake rebels just stay on the safe side and “critique”. The irony and sarcasm of the last few decades just doesn’t carry any longer — it’s…
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 2 Jun 23
In terms of development from modern life, to postmodernity, and onwards to what I call “metamodernity” the most fundamental principle is this one: Modernity divides social reality into clearly distinguished spheres, like art, religion, market, politics, science, the civil sphere, and private life. Postmodernism challenges and breaks out of the confines of these categories, escapes the implicit definitions of “what art can be”. Metamodernity begins to come online when art has escaped from its modern confines and now, as a genie out of the bottle, begins to recreate all of society in its radical experimentation and creativity. Let’s be honest,
In terms of development from modern life, to postmodernity, and onwards to what I call “metamodernity” the most fundamental principle is this one: Modernity divides social reality into clearly distinguished spheres, like art, religion, market, politics, science, the civil sphere, and private life. Postmodernism challenges and breaks out of the confines of these categories, escapes the implicit definitions of “what
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
So what happens to people who are far-from-average-in-multiple-ways is that they gain some pretty unique insight into the frailty and arbitrariness of social hierarchies: every now and then people notice your strong sides, and assume you’re walking around in God mode, and every so often they notice your weak side and write you off as far, far below them. It’s confusing for everyone involved, not at least for the neurodivergent person herself. It usually takes years and years to settle on a path in life and set nuanced and reasonable expectations upon life, as one gets so wildly conflicting messages
So what happens to people who are far-from-average-in-multiple-ways is that they gain some pretty unique insight into the frailty and arbitrariness of social hierarchies: every now and then people notice your strong sides, and assume you’re walking around in God mode, and every so often they notice your weak side and write you off as far, far below them. It’s
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
Just as she/he is over-exposed to downright debauchery, the child of today is equally exposed to an ethics too high-minded, abstract, and confusing for her/his developmental psychology to fathom and genuinely embody. At least this will be the tragic case for the vast majority of children growing up today: They will oscillate between trying to identify with these higher values and force themselves to feel and to think what is beyond their cognitive scope and emotional capacity, often pretending to feel, or posturing to seem good enough — and rebelling against these same values in a reactionary rage that will
Just as she/he is over-exposed to downright debauchery, the child of today is equally exposed to an ethics too high-minded, abstract, and confusing for her/his developmental psychology to fathom and genuinely embody. At least this will be the tragic case for the vast majority of children growing up today: They will oscillate between trying to identify with these higher values
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
Perhaps the question is not one of “class against class”, nor “class or nationality”, nor even “are class differences justified” — but, rather: How can class relations be optimized for human thriving? The question sounds heretical, even to their own writer. It sounds callous, even cruel, and yet strangely naïve at the same time. To the Modern mind, class was either the fundamental source of ills in society (socialism), a necessary evil (liberalism), or even a strange boon as differences of wealth and power seem necessary for the flowering of arts, palaces, cathedrals, and other aesthetic wonders of civilization (conservatism:
Perhaps the question is not one of “class against class”, nor “class or nationality”, nor even “are class differences justified” — but, rather: How can class relations be optimized for human thriving? The question sounds heretical, even to their own writer. It sounds callous, even cruel, and yet strangely naïve at the same time. To the Modern mind, class was
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
“It stands to reason — and viscerally feel — that Russia is an unlawful aggressor in this situation. But to seek to understand Russia (and, in the longer run, even to accept and forgive) is not to condone the actions of its government. For citizens around the world, both of these traps must be avoided: A. relativizing and condoning a criminal war of aggression, and B. falling into a clichéd, black-and-white narrative that hinders productive measures and responses because there is no real understanding. The better analysts, leaders, and the public understand the Russian side of the matter (not, note,
“It stands to reason — and viscerally feel — that Russia is an unlawful aggressor in this situation. But to seek to understand Russia (and, in the longer run, even to accept and forgive) is not to condone the actions of its government. For citizens around the world, both of these traps must be avoided: A. relativizing and condoning a
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
Chris Sudlik argues for a materialist (Marxist) update of metamodernism — old wine in New Left bottles, or a needed regrounding and revitalization? https://longstache.substack.com/p/the-metamodern-false-start?fbclid=IwAR2Fx-LVmyZB7_Ie9Ow_YnK-fCqDRIpEb0z0HcbemwT54bVOChT0IYyoMvcThe Metamodern False Startlongstache.substack.comif you’re not familiar with metamodernism you might want to skip this one
Chris Sudlik argues for a materialist (Marxist) update of metamodernism — old wine in New Left bottles, or a needed regrounding and revitalization? https://longstache.substack.com/p/the-metamodern-false-start?fbclid=IwAR2Fx-LVmyZB7_Ie9Ow_YnK-fCqDRIpEb0z0HcbemwT54bVOChT0IYyoMvcThe Metamodern False Startlongstache.substack.comif you’re not familiar with metamodernism you might want to skip this one
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
“The sociological/psychological fallout of AI is not decades away: right here, right now, we are watching in slow-motion the major meltdown of our shared sense of reality. The only thing that can save civilization from utter destruction? Basic English grammar. Hear me out, guys.” What can stop the AI apocalypse? — Grammar. Yes, only grammar.medium.comThe sociological/psychological fallout of AI is not decades away: right here, right now, we are watching in slow-motion the major meltdown…
“The sociological/psychological fallout of AI is not decades away: right here, right now, we are watching in slow-motion the major meltdown of our shared sense of reality. The only thing that can save civilization from utter destruction? Basic English grammar. Hear me out, guys.” What can stop the AI apocalypse? — Grammar. Yes, only grammar.medium.comThe sociological/psychological fallout of AI is not decades
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
Another shortie but goodie: Most of us like boundaries but don’t like hierarchies. Same for me. But the uncomfortable truth is that boundaries and hierarchies presuppose one another. If you want boundaries, this implies hierarchies. If you challenge hierarchies, this loosens up boundaries. In the end then, this means that neither can boundaries be absolute, nor can hierarchies be abolished in all cases. The two are two sides that must perpetually be balanced against one another. The question, of course, is whether boundaries set are just, and thus whether the hierarchies they imply or negotiate are defensible. If I set
Another shortie but goodie: Most of us like boundaries but don’t like hierarchies. Same for me. But the uncomfortable truth is that boundaries and hierarchies presuppose one another. If you want boundaries, this implies hierarchies. If you challenge hierarchies, this loosens up boundaries. In the end then, this means that neither can boundaries be absolute, nor can hierarchies be abolished
By: The Posts Author | Posted on: 1 Jun 23
“Wise and sensible people doubt themselves and their own opinions — fools and fanatics are dead certain and full of conviction (which makes them, alas, keep winning out as they have more initiative and momentum, and thus the world runs on stupidity).” — Said, more or less, by Bertrand Russell, Franz Kafka, and probably other smart people. Sure. Let’s add another layer to this, though. How *certain* are you that the other people are so certain? Maybe they just seem certain to you from where you sit, while you in turn seem certain to them? Maybe there’s a selection bias
“Wise and sensible people doubt themselves and their own opinions — fools and fanatics are dead certain and full of conviction (which makes them, alas, keep winning out as they have more initiative and momentum, and thus the world runs on stupidity).” — Said, more or less, by Bertrand Russell, Franz Kafka, and probably other smart people. Sure. Let’s add