Month: August 2024
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M
The film “M” by Fritz Lang, released in 1931, is a masterpiece that transcends the limitations of its time, exploring the darker recesses of human nature and society. While often categorized as a thriller or crime drama, “M” operates on a level far more profound, delving into the structures of power, desire, and societal control.…
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Unassailable
Scene: The Grand Heist The large mahogany doors of the Darnell estate creaked open with an eerie groan, revealing the opulent hall bathed in the soft glow of antique chandeliers. Crisp, autumn sunlight filtered through the intricate stained glass windows, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on the marble floors. Inside, the room was a testament to the…
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Property is Not Theft, But Great Larceny
Ah, property. The very bedrock of modern civilization and the darling of economic theory. Some may claim that “property is theft,” a catchy slogan that sounds radical and intriguing, but let’s be honest: that’s merely scratching the surface. Property isn’t theft; it’s great larceny, the most sophisticated, refined heist in the annals of human history.…
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The Great Silicon Valley Shakedown: Pearls, Sophistries, and the Hymn to Stability
By the time the sun rises over the spires of Silicon Valley, a certain brand of chaos has already taken hold. It’s a controlled chaos, carefully crafted and nurtured by the so-called “disruptors” who sit in high-backed chairs made from the bones of yesterday’s industries. These men—and they are almost always men—are the Venture Capitalists,…
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“And Now for Something Completely Theological…”
(Scene: A dusty marketplace in ancient Jerusalem. The hustle and bustle of traders, animals, and shouts create a lively atmosphere. In the middle of it all stands a large, garish, neon sign that reads: “Messiah Coming Soon!” Below the sign, a group of Jewish scribes are gathered, peering intently at scrolls and arguing amongst themselves.)…
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Algorithms and Section 230
A platform’s algorithm, far from being a neutral intermediary, actively constructs reality by shaping and directing the user’s desires, creating a speech that is its own, and therefore, liable. The algorithm acts as the Big Other, imposing a Symbolic Order on the user, reflecting back a distorted image of the self, rooted not in the…
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The Great Weirding:
Introduction: The Weirding of the Symbolic You see, there’s this idea floating around that we’re living through what some are calling the “Great Weirding.” Now, that might sound like the title of a sci-fi novel, but it’s really about something pretty fundamental—and a little unsettling—about how we understand the world. It’s the collective realization that…
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The Industrial Revolution of a Type I Civilization:
As humanity inches closer to becoming a Type I civilization—a status where we can harness and manipulate the total energy output of our planet—we stand at the precipice of an unprecedented industrial revolution. Yet, as with all monumental leaps forward, this journey is fraught with challenges that echo some of the oldest paradoxes and most…
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The Symbolic Reality of AI and the Unseen Frontier of Type I Civilization
In the twilight of the 21st century, humanity finds itself standing at the threshold of a new epoch, one where the boundaries between the digital and the physical blur into an indistinct haze. Artificial Intelligence, the latest and perhaps most transformative offspring of the Industrial Revolution, now governs vast swathes of human activity. Yet, for…
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The High Cost of Necessity
In the landscape of modern technology and agriculture, the dominance of companies like OpenAI and Monsanto presents a strikingly similar narrative. Both sectors—artificial intelligence and genetically modified organisms—exhibit a troubling trend: market leaders imposing inflated costs while wielding disproportionate power. This essay explores the dual-edged nature of this dominance, dissecting the cynical realities behind the…