Misery as a consequence of complexity
I think if you look under the hood at the engine of suffering in this world, you will find that it is powered by a computer — at least the logical equivalent of one. People talk of inequality as if it is a disease that can be cured. That by simply redistributing resources (whether it’s money, food, power, etc.), the problem will be solved. In reality, unless you somehow also give folks the ability to acquire those things on their own, you’re doing little more than creating a new dependency; little more than giving the hungry fish instead of teaching them to fish.
This isn’t an plea for better education and better access to computers — though those things will arguably help — but they don’t solve the problem. What we need to do consciously reduce complexity and abstraction so that people can first understand and then take responsibility for the decisions they make in their life and finally accept the consequences of their actions.
There are many reasons why the world has become so complex, and the point is that if we continue to reward people for coming up with clever ways of taking things from others, our path forward is clear and horribly ugly. One only has to look at Wall Street for proof.
I believe that if the lawyers, bankers, brokers, managers, politicians and so on can’t adequately explain to the average person what they’re doing with their money, or what they’re being asked to sign and its consequences, those things shouldn’t be legal. This needs some more thought in order to codify it into my personal doctrine, but I think you get the idea.
In addition to that, I’m taking some steps to simplify my own life:
- Focus on my life, not “reality television” (including sports)
- Try to eliminate one decision from my day
- Spend at least 10 minutes a day in complete silence.
Seems simple enough, and I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I can only change me. Taking concrete and constructive steps in my life is the only way I truly have any hope of changing the world. I intend to take that seriously.
