The Permanent Problem

The Permanent Problem Substack explores the decline in societal trust and faith, both religious and in institutions, alongside challenges posed by modernity such as technology's impact on life, polarization, and environmental concerns. It examines issues of flourishing, economic independence, depopulation, and proposes muddling through uncertainties towards sustainable solutions.

Societal Trust and Faith Modern Challenges Technology and Life Polarization Environmental Concerns Economic Independence Depopulation Sustainable Solutions

The hottest Substack posts of The Permanent Problem

And their main takeaways

America's Internal Brain Drain

15 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🚌 Education Literacy Cognition Reading AI Impact Curriculum
  1. There's a growing concern that American students are struggling with basic reading and writing skills. Many students can't handle complex texts, which affects their ability to think critically.
  2. The shift away from deep reading and literature in schools, combined with distractions like TV and smartphones, is hurting our literacy. This decline in reading habits might be making society less capable overall.
  3. As more students lean on AI tools to do their thinking for them, there's a risk that they won't realize their potential. Learning requires effort, and using AI in the wrong way could stunt their cognitive growth.

Thoughts on Edmund Phelps and Mass Flourishing

6 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🚌 Education Economics Philosophy Values Innovation Work
  1. Edmund Phelps coined the term 'mass flourishing' to describe the benefits of capitalism bringing nonmaterial rewards through grassroots innovation and job satisfaction.
  2. Phelps and the author both agree on judging social systems by opportunities for fulfilling lives, but differ in their visions of human flourishing, values, and solutions for enhancing mass flourishing.
  3. Phelps emphasizes the importance of innovation for flourishing, while the author argues for a broader definition that includes projects, experiences, and relationships, and suggests a future where work-life balance is achieved through economic independence.
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The Loss of Faith

10 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Belief
  1. The decline in organized religion is not just about weakening belief in the supernatural, but also about a loss of trust and belonging in society.
  2. The romantic heresy, believing humans are naturally good and all constraints are oppressive, has influenced the erosion of faith and confidence in society.
  3. The current spiritual crisis reflects a broader crisis of confidence in institutions and norms, affecting how we engage with the world around us.

Robin Hanson on Declining Fertility

4 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics
  1. Robin Hanson believes that fertility decline was a common factor in the decline of civilizations in history.
  2. Current fertility decline is linked to various modern trends such as urbanization, rising wealth, and declining religiosity.
  3. There is potential for fertility trends to reverse due to cultural differences and factors affecting the mating market.

Depopulation and Decadence

4 HN points • 10 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Capitalism Globalization Economic Impact Cultural shift
  1. There is a global trend of declining fertility rates, leading to population shrinkage in many countries.
  2. The decline in fertility rates is a fundamental issue affecting society's ability to innovate, be productive, and flourish.
  3. The author suggests that the current capitalist system is failing globally as an engine of social progress, and alternative social arrangements are needed.

The Case for Muddling Through

7 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crisis Democracy Policy Political Extremism Media influence
  1. The author argues that there is a sense of transition and uncertainty facing modern societies, but history shows that resilience and renewal are possible.
  2. Technological advancements, especially in AI, present opportunities for progress but also raise concerns about automation and job displacement.
  3. There is a discussion about the crisis of inclusion, with evidence showing some progress in reducing income inequality in the U.S. through policy measures and economic trends.

What Are Humans For?

5 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Human nature Destiny
  1. Automation and technological advancements have the potential to lead to mass unemployment.
  2. Humans need to consider their purpose in a world where machines can do tasks more efficiently.
  3. Human flourishing involves connecting with others, exploring the world, and taking care of life on Earth.

Saying Yes

7 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Progress Gratitude Patriotism
  1. Faith can be a choice, a fundamental relationship with the world around us, defined by saying yes to life despite challenges.
  2. Rediscovering faith in progress can lead to gratitude for past achievements and a sense of obligation to work towards future advancements.
  3. In American civil religion, acknowledging past flaws while embracing the country's founding ideals can help restore faith in the nation and its promise.

Fighting in a Burning House

7 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. The news media plays a significant role in fueling polarization and partisanship in our society.
  2. The current information environment is shaped by intense competition for attention, new technologies, and an abundance of information.
  3. The decline in journalistic standards and the rise of performative public actions contribute to the erosion of trust and governance in democracies.

Thoughts on Flourishing

5 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Well-being Ethics Society
  1. Human flourishing can be seen through relationships, projects, and experiences.
  2. There is a distinction between individual and collective flourishing, with different requirements and tensions.
  3. Balancing average, peak, and total flourishing perspectives is crucial for understanding what constitutes a good life and society.

The Possible Relevance of Joseph Tainter

5 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🚌 Education Social Dynamics Economic Implications Cultural analysis Historical perspectives Predictive Models
  1. Joseph Tainter's theory highlights the declining marginal returns of investments in social complexity.
  2. Tainter's model suggests that unsustainable costs of complexity can be shed through controlled social simplification and decentralization.
  3. Redirecting resources and innovation to promote social and economic independence from the system could address the struggles caused by overextended capitalism.

Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

4 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
  1. An economic independence movement can help avoid the threats of tyranny and chaos in social organization.
  2. Decentralization and redundancy are crucial for resilience in the face of global risks like AI emergence and climate change.
  3. Building a society with economic independence can provide a counterweight to centralized authority and ensure long-term social progress.

Rebalancing Capitalism

4 implied HN points • 23 May 23
📖 Philosophy Capitalism Social Progress Technology Human flourishing
  1. Technological progress alone is not enough to address capitalism's crisis of inclusion; new social arrangements are needed.
  2. The goal is to supplement capitalism by promoting economic independence through small-scale, face-to-face divisions of labor at the household, neighborhood, and community levels.
  3. An economic independence movement could lead to a more balanced society, offering a better, more fulfilling life for many and creating countervailing power against the capitalist elite.

Back in April

3 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🚌 Education Writing Thoughts Learning
  1. Taking breaks is important for sustainability and productivity.
  2. Writing consistently requires time and effort, especially for in-depth topics.
  3. Blogging involves a journey of exploration and a search for solutions.

Democracy's Crisis of Legitimacy

3 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Public Trust
  1. The crisis of legitimacy in democracy is due to a breakdown in public trust and the shift towards alternative forms of political authority.
  2. The legitimacy crisis stems from elite failures in governance, increased media scrutiny revealing these failures, and a decline in public trust in all forms of authority.
  3. Efforts to address the legitimacy crisis should focus on strengthening democracy's foundations by addressing public trust, elite failures, and media influences.