This old slatestarcodex post is fascinating to revisit in the context of everything that has happened in the 7 years since it was written:

https://slatestarcodex.com/2016/07/25/how-the-west-was-won/

Since the first time I read the post, I've probably become somewhat less confident in the idea that high-entropy cultures are almost always better.

And I feel like that's a common update coming out of recent trends: trumpism and wokeness have both proven themselves high-entropy, and it's kinda hard to approve of both.

I think that high-entropy is a confusing term introduced in the essay by Scott. "universal culture" as the culture that adapts to the most convenient norms, technologies and tastes is what I get out of it. Stretching the definition, perhaps "high-free energy" society would be better?

The least original man on the planet. 
https://gesposito.me

Re:recent trends, they seem to me to be high "entalpy" rather than entropy, contributing yes to the total entropy of the system, but in a way that does not have the universal aspect Scott mentioned. Anyhow, thanks for surfacing that old post, lots to think about.