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

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

Choosing the Experience Machine

7 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Human connection Existentialism
  1. The concept of the experience machine questions the idea of a fulfilling life based solely on pleasure.
  2. Many reject the idea of being plugged into an experience machine for life, but some are in favor.
  3. Contemporary society shows a trend of overinvestment in virtual experiences at the expense of real relationships and projects.

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.

The Possible Relevance of Joseph Tainter

5 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🚌 Education Social Dynamics Economic Implications Cultural analysis 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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

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.

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.

Depopulation and Decadence

4 HN points • 10 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Capitalism Globalization Economic Impact
  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.

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.

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
  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.