While Exiting Modernity raises interesting questions about the nature of progress and dissatisfaction, it ultimately fails to distinguish between the distortions of modernity caused by coercive systems and modernity’s genuine achievements. Progress isn’t the problem; it’s the solution-the only mechanism by which humanity has lifted billions out of poverty, expanded autonomy, and created unprecedented opportunities for individual fulfillment. Ellis’s romanticization of asceticism and retreat overlooks the staggering consequences of abandoning progress: the loss of millions of preferences currently served and suffering on a scale greater than any prior atrocity or disaster. Dissatisfaction isn’t a failure of modernity; it’s the engine of improvement and innovation. What we need to exit isn’t modernity but top-down authoritarian rule in all its forms-oligarchic, democratic, or monarchic. The path forward lies not in retreat but in embracing decentralization, voluntary association, and market-driven systems that empower individuals. Modernity, refined through these principles, offers humanity its best chance at a thriving, flourishing, and free future. Fascinating post ser, very thought provoking. Keep it up, and Merry Christmas!
A couple of his points can be found in Mouse Utopia (specifically in the scientific paper), in that most 'ideas' and 'places' are already claimed, which causes a degradation in the function of the animals living within that space. How do you know you want to go on a waterslide without the advertisement? You don't - but the waterslide couldn't exist without someone existing before you, building it, manning it, creating an entire empire of it, and then throwing that advertisement on the TV. This implies a level of ownership of the idea of 'waterslides' that was literally impossible before, where the only natural occurrence was a thing of beauty - a waterfall. I don't think many people have survived riding waterfalls, but they saw enough and wanted to do it badly enough to make waterslides. All of this before you were born. This carries over to the problems of 'identity' as well, since the same applies to them. The entire social space around 'beards' was claimed before you were born, as was fashion, trends, and the media coverage surrounding those things. In short, Mouse Utopia and the Behavioral Sink is the major cause of the degradation of our society, and 'getting away' isn't a real option without the entire edifice of modernity crumbling into the dirt. After all, even your idea of a 'spartan' or 'stoic' way of life is simply a holdover from even more ancient times than now, from a land once known as Rome.
Amazing results! I loved your Network State video. @Parker Banks I want to try my hand at creating audiobooks. Could you tell us which software you used? I tried out Eleven Labs, which seems like the best, but it was prohibitively expensive..
Amazing thumbnail, it's perfect
Saw it posted on 4chan, but it was squashed and cropped, so I remade it from an album cover.
While Exiting Modernity raises interesting questions about the nature of progress and dissatisfaction, it ultimately fails to distinguish between the distortions of modernity caused by coercive systems and modernity’s genuine achievements. Progress isn’t the problem; it’s the solution-the only mechanism by which humanity has lifted billions out of poverty, expanded autonomy, and created unprecedented opportunities for individual fulfillment.
Ellis’s romanticization of asceticism and retreat overlooks the staggering consequences of abandoning progress: the loss of millions of preferences currently served and suffering on a scale greater than any prior atrocity or disaster. Dissatisfaction isn’t a failure of modernity; it’s the engine of improvement and innovation.
What we need to exit isn’t modernity but top-down authoritarian rule in all its forms-oligarchic, democratic, or monarchic. The path forward lies not in retreat but in embracing decentralization, voluntary association, and market-driven systems that empower individuals. Modernity, refined through these principles, offers humanity its best chance at a thriving, flourishing, and free future.
Fascinating post ser, very thought provoking. Keep it up, and Merry Christmas!
A couple of his points can be found in Mouse Utopia (specifically in the scientific paper), in that most 'ideas' and 'places' are already claimed, which causes a degradation in the function of the animals living within that space. How do you know you want to go on a waterslide without the advertisement? You don't - but the waterslide couldn't exist without someone existing before you, building it, manning it, creating an entire empire of it, and then throwing that advertisement on the TV. This implies a level of ownership of the idea of 'waterslides' that was literally impossible before, where the only natural occurrence was a thing of beauty - a waterfall. I don't think many people have survived riding waterfalls, but they saw enough and wanted to do it badly enough to make waterslides. All of this before you were born.
This carries over to the problems of 'identity' as well, since the same applies to them. The entire social space around 'beards' was claimed before you were born, as was fashion, trends, and the media coverage surrounding those things. In short, Mouse Utopia and the Behavioral Sink is the major cause of the degradation of our society, and 'getting away' isn't a real option without the entire edifice of modernity crumbling into the dirt. After all, even your idea of a 'spartan' or 'stoic' way of life is simply a holdover from even more ancient times than now, from a land once known as Rome.
Amazing results! I loved your Network State video. @Parker Banks I want to try my hand at creating audiobooks. Could you tell us which software you used? I tried out Eleven Labs, which seems like the best, but it was prohibitively expensive..
I use elevenlabs for everything, combined with manual editing in Audacity, Reaper, iZotope, and haven't looked up any other toolchains.