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Individuals are capable of altering their behavior. Groups behave in accordance with incentive structures. Hoping for and/or expecting societal change through
by stouset 2y ago
Individuals are capable of altering their behavior. Groups behave in accordance with incentive structures.
Hoping for and/or expecting societal change through mass application of willpower is wishful thinking.
- lotsofpulp 2y agoThat sounds like an argument against democracy.
- almostnormal 2y agoIt's not difficult to argue against democracy, but it's very difficult to find an alternative that isn't much worse.
- stouset 2y agoI genuinely don’t follow.
- lotsofpulp 2y ago> Hoping for and/or expecting societal change through mass application of willpower This sounds like the same mechanism for democracy, educating a broad populace and hoping they make the right (best?) choices.
- stouset 2y agoEducating a person is materially different from getting them to act against their incentives. Doing so with a population is even more so. The average American is overweight and doesn’t exercise. They are almost certainly aware they need to reduce their calorie intake and spend at least a couple of hours a week engaging in physical activity. Knowing you ought to change you behavior and actually doing it are completely different issues. I actually happen to think that both are basically losing battles these days, but the underlying reasons aren’t the same.