Quick One – The Cataclysm That Is Pessimism
There worst disease you can suffer from is pessimism. In the modern world, it's become a pandemic, spreading over social media and the news.
But in my opinion, being a pessimist is no way to live your life.
"Everything is screwed anyway" drives me up a wall. We're arguably in the greatest age humankind has ever lived through.
"But we face so many problems!"
Yes, we face so many problems, but we also haven't had so much possible solutions at our fingertips. Modern technology gives us the possibility to accelerate improvements at such a fast rate we're able to overcome our challenges.
The more I read about human history and the crises we've faced, I think the greatest problem isn't finding the solution. It's an alignment problem.
No, not the alignment problem with a digital superintelligence so it doesn't go all Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator-style on us.
The alignment for people to work together towards a shared vision. Getting people to opt in so that they join the journey to a better future.
And what doesn't even just extinguish, but stops this future from arising is pessimism.
Pessimism is easy. It tries to rationalize not putting in effort in the first place. Yet that's not how this reality works. There's some upfront cost to pay if we want access to a better life.
Yet pure optimism isn't the antidote. Optimism can blind you from problems you otherwise wouldn't have missed. But running blindly in a wall then getting up again is still better than never starting to walk.
Maybe it's naivety speaking. I like to think it's hope.
