An interesting observation! I think something important has changed in how generations relate to each other.
But I question to what extent culture ever was as static as we currently imagine. Culture is never unmoving rather it exists in dynamic equilibrium.
1/5
But I question to what extent culture ever was as static as we currently imagine. Culture is never unmoving rather it exists in dynamic equilibrium.
1/5
Cultural stasis is usually a dynamic equilibrium.
People move into subcultures, people move out, but if they move at a nearly equal rate, there might be very little net change.
People observe change in their own environment, and then incorrectly extrapolate.
2/5
People move into subcultures, people move out, but if they move at a nearly equal rate, there might be very little net change.
People observe change in their own environment, and then incorrectly extrapolate.
2/5
Further because of ignorance and self-flattery the present projects lack of change on the past.
Sexual norms make a great example. There were many sexual revolutions pointing in many different directions over last few millennia.
Read Catherine the Great's love letters.
3/5
Sexual norms make a great example. There were many sexual revolutions pointing in many different directions over last few millennia.
Read Catherine the Great's love letters.
3/5
Here is my thinking on current generational frictions:
1. In the US you can't talk about class warfare sensibly, so this discourse is displaced to other correlated variables. Rage against Boomers is often rage against landlords and C level executives.
4/5
1. In the US you can't talk about class warfare sensibly, so this discourse is displaced to other correlated variables. Rage against Boomers is often rage against landlords and C level executives.
4/5
2. Age segregated institutions unusually dominate our society. Think school where a two or three year difference changes social circles completely.
The ones that enabled cross generation cooperation are severely weakened.
5/5
The ones that enabled cross generation cooperation are severely weakened.
5/5
2. (continued)
Say Mutually beneficial master-apprentice relationships are unthinkable because socially responsible guilds aren't viable.
The few age desegregated institutions that remain encourage cross generational exploitation rather than cooperation. Think Grad School.
6/5
Say Mutually beneficial master-apprentice relationships are unthinkable because socially responsible guilds aren't viable.
The few age desegregated institutions that remain encourage cross generational exploitation rather than cooperation. Think Grad School.
6/5
2. (continued)
Because the young and the old find themselves in competition rather than cooperation, they benefit from obscuring information from each other.
Rate of change of society is exaggerated. What has plummeted is rate of transmission of social information.
7/5
Because the young and the old find themselves in competition rather than cooperation, they benefit from obscuring information from each other.
Rate of change of society is exaggerated. What has plummeted is rate of transmission of social information.
7/5
3. Finally: I think sometime in the 20th century we experienced an Intellectual Apocalypse of social knowledge.
In terms of tacit knowledge our elites have far less understanding of politics and economics than the operators of the 1940s.
Our elders know less than typical.
8/5
In terms of tacit knowledge our elites have far less understanding of politics and economics than the operators of the 1940s.
Our elders know less than typical.
8/5
