Don’t Compete
22nd March 2025
So, for a society to survive and thrive, it needs to reward its agents when they do things that help in its preservation and growth. This reward comes in the form of social approval. You invent something new, the society benefits and in returns showers you with the dopamine hit of public applause.
So far, so good. Nothing wrong with a mutually beneficial exchange. You do something good for the society and the society gives something back to you which feels great.
EXCEPT THIS BASICALLY NEVER HAPPENS
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Social approval exists to attract participants in a game that ultimately benefits the collective at the expense of an individual.