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This is a very common mistake
“They” who “know better” do not exist as a coherent group. There’s no “them”
If I were to name the most underrated force in the world, I would choose the information asymmetry. We systematically and semis-consciously underestimate how great it is https://t.co/bRt4mSEHxH
“They” who “know better” do not exist as a coherent group. There’s no “them”
If I were to name the most underrated force in the world, I would choose the information asymmetry. We systematically and semis-consciously underestimate how great it is https://t.co/bRt4mSEHxH
Consequently, the line of argumentation:
“They can’t do something so obviously stupid/irrational”
Is usually wrong. They absolutely can. Why?
Because it is NOT obvious. You mistakenly think it is obvious because you ignore the elephant in the room - the information asymmetry
“They can’t do something so obviously stupid/irrational”
Is usually wrong. They absolutely can. Why?
Because it is NOT obvious. You mistakenly think it is obvious because you ignore the elephant in the room - the information asymmetry
Which is more often than not a particular case of the worldview asymmetry and the asymmetry of conceptual frameworks. An even bigger elephant in the room
But that is for another day
But that is for another day
Progressives with their Kindergarten Imperative (Trust the Experts) are not much different from the reactionaries
Both believe in a coherent group that knows better and acts upon that knowledge. It’s just that progressives presume the global conspiracy to be benevolent
Both believe in a coherent group that knows better and acts upon that knowledge. It’s just that progressives presume the global conspiracy to be benevolent
The common assumption that people on top of the hierarchy hold some obscure niche knowledge hidden from the mortals is highly implausible
Why? Because a life spent in acquiring such knowledge is the life not spent in forcing your way to the top of the hierarchy
Why? Because a life spent in acquiring such knowledge is the life not spent in forcing your way to the top of the hierarchy
People on top spend first half of their life forcing their way to the top and the second half guarding their position from the hungry pretenders
You spend your youth climbing the ladder, and your maturity kicking the ladders away
There is no time to acquire obscure knowledge
You spend your youth climbing the ladder, and your maturity kicking the ladders away
There is no time to acquire obscure knowledge
In contrast, acquiring the unobvious knowledge takes following the unobvious paths. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is just that wandering through the obscure paths is unlikely to raise you through an established hierarchy
You may get money. But you won’t get power
You may get money. But you won’t get power
It is absolutely possible for a person with unobvious knowledge to hold a lowly or mediocre position in life. It is also possible for him to be rich. But it is almost impossible for him to ever hold institutional power. As it takes having lived a very different life than he has
Consequently, when you think of people in power you should not presume they act upon some secret knowledge hidden from the mortals. They usually don’t. The knowledge they have is almost always the layman knowledge, more or less solid, depending on circumstances
“They” might have “known better”, if “they” existed. For better or worse, they usually don’t. The global conspiracy benevolent or not is highly implausible. What is plausible is the herd of incentive animals trying to smell incentives. Which they are very, exceptionally good in 
Otherwise, they would have never risen to power
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