Vitalik Buterin pfp
Vitalik Buterin
@vitalik.eth
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/
6 replies
0 recast
7 reactions
Vitalik Buterin pfp
Vitalik Buterin
@vitalik.eth
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.
13 replies
0 recast
0 reaction
Vitalik Buterin pfp
Vitalik Buterin
@vitalik.eth
But even going beyond politics and into "lifestyle culture", the whole network state concept ("keto kosher") is an active attempt to fight against entropy to a limited extent - whereas earlier libertarian-adjacent movements tended to go along with it.
2 replies
0 recast
0 reaction
mk pfp
mk
@mk
I feel like trumpism and wokeness are high-entropy at a certain temperature (or maybe more appropriately in the presence of a certain catalyst), but that those conditions aren't stable.
2 replies
0 recast
0 reaction
Venkatesh Rao ☀️ pfp
Venkatesh Rao ☀️
@vgr
Entropy seems like exactly the wrong term for what he’s calling universal culture. It’s a far-from-equilibrium dissipative system built on low-entropy physical energy (fossil fuels) via compounding cultural path dependence cf Joel Mokyr. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Mokyr
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
Les Greys pfp
Les Greys
@les
Why did you ever have any confidence as to high-entropy cultures would ever be better? Genuinely curious m. I’ve always thought the opposite where I’m sure the middle is the best.
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
CBobRobison pfp
CBobRobison
@cr
Both Trumpism & wokism seem quite low entropy to me. Esp when contrasted to their seemingly higher entropy antitheses: Trumpism != be whoever you want Wokism != say whatever you want
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
Connor McCormick ☀️ pfp
Connor McCormick ☀️
@nor
I’ll have to revisit But this sounds a bit like saying that because two waves rolled into the beach it disproves the notion that water seeks its level.
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
Liang @ degencast.wtf 🎩 pfp
Liang @ degencast.wtf 🎩
@degencast.eth
Singapore compared with Hong Kong def has lower entropy😅😅😅
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
marivs.eth pfp
marivs.eth
@marios
So, western culture = universal culture = entropy, according to this post? Regardless, I'm having a hard time to see why the concept of entropy is applied here: how is coca cola considered high entropy when it's whole selling point is the "classic" flavour. Same applies to any franchises or even cultural norms.
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
gae pfp
gae
@gae
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?
1 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
Andrei O. pfp
Andrei O.
@andrei0x309
The only thing with high entropy connected to wokeness is its definition. The term is absolutely meaningless, and its users just bolster right-wing politics.
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction
timdaub pfp
timdaub
@timdaub.eth
Isn‘t the high entropy Coke example misleading? „Dalai Lama bans Coke (high-e) over milk (low-e)“ To me that makes it sound like Coke is such a great drink that it establishes itself. But this is false. In Tibet, milk is (high-e) through tradition and Coke needs marketing energy https://i.imgur.com/DoPlblW.jpg
2 replies
0 recast
0 reaction
timdaub pfp
timdaub
@timdaub.eth
It‘s also hard to approve of drinking Coke. I‘ve stayed away from it as much as I can lol
0 reply
0 recast
0 reaction