Dear Caplan, hope you’re well. Surely there are downsides to living in isolation from the world. Admittedly it stinks and the world won’t listen, but the more exposed you are the to it prettier it ends up looking. People look uglier when you are far from them, and they look uglier when you’re alone (look at scientific American). I’m a Hindu and I think the world benefits from your interaction, I think it also benefits you to be in it. You can shield yourself from the world, but it will cost you the personal growth that you might get from exposure. How to do I deal with the stinky person? (Anyways it’s possible I misunderstood you, I mean this with a lot of respect).
What could be more American than rugged individualism? Integrating with the rest of society as much or as little as desired, while pursuing your own goals, which are almost always beneficial for socity, as well.
Do you venture outside your bubble to vote for the candidates that best serve your bubble? Seems like the best description of Libertarianism I've come across. Too much agency and animal spirits out there to control. I'm working on my own bubble.
This is brilliant. I'm also pro-bubble. After 20+ years in Silicon Valley, surrounded by friends who are pro-bubble and interested in intellectual topics, I'm back in the UK in ordinary society. My friends and neighbours watch sports and none of them want to talk philosophy. It's surprisingly hard to build a new bubble when you are not an economics professor.
Dear Caplan, hope you’re well. Surely there are downsides to living in isolation from the world. Admittedly it stinks and the world won’t listen, but the more exposed you are the to it prettier it ends up looking. People look uglier when you are far from them, and they look uglier when you’re alone (look at scientific American). I’m a Hindu and I think the world benefits from your interaction, I think it also benefits you to be in it. You can shield yourself from the world, but it will cost you the personal growth that you might get from exposure. How to do I deal with the stinky person? (Anyways it’s possible I misunderstood you, I mean this with a lot of respect).
What could be more American than rugged individualism? Integrating with the rest of society as much or as little as desired, while pursuing your own goals, which are almost always beneficial for socity, as well.
Do you venture outside your bubble to vote for the candidates that best serve your bubble? Seems like the best description of Libertarianism I've come across. Too much agency and animal spirits out there to control. I'm working on my own bubble.
Try learning in Kollel :)
This is brilliant. I'm also pro-bubble. After 20+ years in Silicon Valley, surrounded by friends who are pro-bubble and interested in intellectual topics, I'm back in the UK in ordinary society. My friends and neighbours watch sports and none of them want to talk philosophy. It's surprisingly hard to build a new bubble when you are not an economics professor.
The quip that "libertarians are housecats" comes to mind.
Beautiful write up. Reading it felt like it was about me. Also, I took the quiz and scored an unacceptably high 18
Try to make the world a better place?
Nah. I try to make my place a better world.
Caplan hilarious
I think he's safe from us bursting his bubble - - not reading the comments ever is an excellent strategy.
This is beautifully done. The fact that you educated your two boys without a school district inspires me
Wait... Gary Gygax died?
In 2008, it seems.