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> Sometimes I look at society as a complete organ, with a hypothetical ability to make cohesive decisions for itself. And I think, it is making extremely self-d
by evv 8y ago
> Sometimes I look at society as a complete organ, with a hypothetical ability to make cohesive decisions for itself. And I think, it is making extremely self-destructive choices.
One of my favorite philosophical thought experiments! I'd argue that that society is an organism comprised of several governments/companies which act as the organs.
I usually observe each organ making decisions to optimize its use of money, (or blood in this metaphor!).
It is usually clear that these decisions have net negative effects on us individual humans (cells) in the organism.
But the question remains, when each company and government optimizes for money instead of individual health, is that healthy for the success of society, the broader organism?
- ttroyr 8y agoThe trouble is not the decision to optimize for financial or physical health, the issue is that Amazon seems to see some people as part of its organism (long-term entity), such as its engineering talent, and other people, like these poor warehouse workers, as a temporary part of a future robotic optimization. Companies like Apple value their lowest level employees because nobody is sure that computers will competently replicate sympathetic customer service. Amazon doesn't need its warehouse workers' soft skills, only their muscle and basic logic.