,A ,QUICK & ,DIRTY ,CRITIQUE ( ,PRIMITIVI/ @& ,ANTI-,CIV ,?\<T 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,9TRODUCTION 

,:5 ,I WAS SIX-YE>S-OLD MY AN>*I/ DAD SMUGGL$ ME A COPY ( ,JURASSIC ,P>K AGA9/ MY MOM'S PROHIBITIONS4 0,:5 Y\ CAN READ IT1 Y\ CAN READ IT10 HE SAID1 & )9 A YE> ,I HAD NOT ONLY LE>N$ EV]Y LA/ WORD1 ,I'D READ MY FRAY+ COPY COV] TO COV] DOZ5S ( TIMES 9 ! BOR+ WAITS AT HOMELESS %ELT]S1 S\P KIT*5S & WELF>E (FICES4 ,SURR\ND$ BY A FIL?Y CONCRETE DY/OPIA ,I READ AGA9 & AGA9 ) WIDE EYES AS ! ,CASS&RA *>ACT] 9VEI<$ AGA9/ RIGID SY/EMS ( CONTROL AS PRONE TO DIM9I%+ RETURNS & 9EVITABLE CATA/ROPHE1 SPOKE AB\T H[ HUNT] GA!R]S WORK$ F> LESS & PLAY$ F> MORE4 ,I WAS HOOK$4 ,BETWE5 SURVIVALI/ DAY CAMPS & ,Z]ZAN TRACTS AT ! US$ BOOK/ORE PRIMITIVISM GAVE ME WOND]FUL AMMUNITION AGA9/ ! MYRIAD TYRANNIES ?AT LITT]$ MY EXI/5CE1 FROM ELEM5T>Y S*OOL TO ! HU/LES ( POV]TY4 ,!SE TOO %ALL FALL1 ,I CONT5T$ MYSELF4 ,I PLAY$ 9 ! T9Y =E/ BEH9D ! PROJECTS WE CAME TO LIVE 9 & LOA!D ! CORRUPTION ?AT CREPT 94 ,I PULL$ UP CONCRETE & BROKE C> W9D[S ) MY FRI5DS4 

,BUT MO/LY ,I CONT9U$ TO READ4 

,& GRADUALLY1 SL[LY1 ,I />T$ TO RECOGNIZE O!R DYNAMICS AT PLAY1 O!R POSSIBILITIES1 & MORE SOLID OR ROOT$ CRITIQUES ( P[]4 ,! CLAIMS ( ,JOHN & COMPANY />T$ TO S\R4 ,I REALIZ$ !Y W]E LESS & LESS SUB/ANTIAT$1 CLE>-CUT OR SWEEP+4 ,&1 AS ! PO9TS ,I /ILL AGRE$ ) W]E MADE 9 EV] MORE DIS+5U\S OR OPPORTUNI/IC RHETORIC1 ,I FELT BETRAY$4 ,I BEGAN CONSCI\SLY P>T+ WAYS ) PRIMITIVISM :ILE FI<T+ 9 ! /REETS ( ,SEATTLE 9 '#i#i4 ,I'D GR[N TOO AUDACI\S TO SETTLE = ! LIMIT$ VALUES1 BLUEPR9TS @& /RATEGIES ( PRIMITIVISM1 & IT WAS CLE> !RE WAS NO GO+ BACK4 

,! SAME 9SATIABLE LOVE = ! NATURAL UNIV]SE ?AT PROMPT$ ME TO FALL 9 LOVE ) ! =E/S ( ,CASCADIA 5D$ UP TAK+ ME TO !ORETICAL PHYSICS4 ,& :5 ,I LOOK BACK AT PRIMITIVISM :AT ,I SEE N[ SEEMS EV] MORE COLD & UNRECOGNIZABLE4 ,BROS *ORTL+ AB\T & 5C\RAG+ ! DEA? ( BILLIONS4 ,OP5 ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM & UNBELIEVABLY %ODDY >GUM5TS4 ,AWKW>D E?ICAL FRAMEWORKS AS WELL AS MISUND]/&+S ( AN?ROPOLOGICAL & >*AEOLOGICAL RECORDS4 ,!RE >E EXCEPTIONS TO BE SURE -- ! OCCASIONAL 9TELLECTUALLY VIGILANT1 ANALYTIC & S9C]E 9DIVIDUAL BURNT \T & H$G+ H] BETS4 ,BUT ,PRIMITIVISM AS A :OLE8 ,I DON'T SEE ! >RIVAL ( AU?ORIT>IAN PSU$O-,MAOI/ CULTS1 ,JOHN RETREAT+ TO OP5LY EMBRACE 0SPIRITUALISM01 & MURD]\S IDIOTS :O ?9K LOBB+ ! T]M 0MOD]NISM0 IS A MEAN+FUL >GUM5T1 >E DISCONNECT$ FROM ! UND]LY+ ROT4 

,I WROTE ON ?IS SUBJECT A DECADE AGO.<#a.>1 BUT MY APPROA*ES W]E DIRECT$ AT ! !ORETICAL =MULATIONS ( PRIMITIVISM ,I F\ND MO/ SUB/ANTIVE AT ! TIME4 ,= :ATEV] REASON -- & P]HAPS = ! WORSE -- ?OSE CURR5TS HAVE S9CE MO/LY DI$ \T4 ,TODAY ! L&SCAPE IS EV5 MORE IDEOLOGICALLY FRACTUR$ & MANY HAVE RETREAT$ TO A NEBUL\S 0ANTI-CIV0 POSITION ?AT 9H]ITS MO/ ( ! PRIMITIVI/ FRAMEWORK :ILE REMA9+ LOOSE 5\< TO DUCK MO/ CRITICISM4 ,BUT :ILE ?OSE ID5TIFY AS ANTI-CIV MAY 9DIVIDUALLY BREAK ) SOME ASPECTS ( PRIMITIVISM1 )\T ANY ( ! FRAMEWORKS OR N>RATIVES ( PRIMITIVISM1 !RE W\LDN'T BE AN ANTI-CIV POSITION TO SPEAK4 

,CORE TO ! T]M 0ANTI-CIV0 ITSELF IS A SWEEP+ IMPRESSION ( 0CIVILIZATION0 ?AT IS 9T5SELY PROBLEMATIC & L5DS ITSELF TO OV]LY SIMPLI/IC N>RATIVES4 ,PRIMITIVISM IS RIFE ) ?IS K9D ( IRR$UCTIONI/ H&WAV+ ?AT DREAMS UP BIG MON/]S FROM LOOSE ASSOCIATIONS & GIVES !M AG5CY AS MAGICAL =CES ACT+ ON ! MACROSCALE1 %AP+ EV]Y P>TICUL>4 ,FOLL[+ AN APPROA* ?AT ,ELLUL OP5LY T]M$ 0MONISM01 PRIMITIVISM REFUSES TO PICK !SE SPOOKS AP>T1 TO RECOGNIZE ANY CONFLICT BETWE5 OR LATITUDE 9 ! CONFIGURATION ( !IR CON/ITU5T DYNAMICS4 ,EV]Y?+ IS SE5 AS 9EXTRICABLY WOV5 9TO A :OLE ?AT ACTS ACCORD+ TO A SIMPLE N>RATIVE4 ,SU* A CONSPIRATORIAL MODE ( ?\<T IS BASICALLY JU/ A D\BL+ D[N ON ,M>XISM1 REPLAC+ 0CAPITALISM0 ) EV5 BROAD] & MORE AB/RACT MON/]S ( 0TE*NOLOGY0 & 0CIVILIZATION04 ,!SE TALES >E (T5 EXPLICITLY ANTI-RADICAL 9 !IR DISDA9 = GETT+ AT ! ROOT COMPON5TS4 

,?IS REACTION>Y T5D5CY PROMPTS ! LEVEL+ ( NORMATIVE APPEALS 9 T]MS ( BROAD MACROSCOPIC IMPRESSIONS OR 9TUITION PUMPS RA!R ?AN CONCRETELY ROOT$ E?ICAL >GUM5TS4 ,PRIMITIVISM ISN'T AN ANALYSIS SO MU* AS A /ORY4 ,& TO FUNCTION IT ?US REQUIRES A PRUN+ AWAY ( COMPLICATIONS1 NEV] SE>*+ BEYOND ! FRAME OR T]MS ( ! MACROSCOPIC N>RATIVE4 ,IT HAPPILY COLLECTS PILES ( SUPPORT+ FACTOIDS1 CLAIMS1 & EV5 CONCRETE PO9TS4 ,BUT S9CE :AT MATT]S MO/ >E ! BROAD IMPRESSIONS1 ANY SPECIFIC CRITIQUE ONE MI<T LEVEL AGA9/ A GIV5 CLAIM IS EASILY SIDE/EPP$ BY JU/ SWIT*+ TO NEW CLAIMS4 ,TACKL+ PRIMITIVISM EFFECTIVELY FIR/ REQUIRES /EPP+ UP TO ! LEVEL ( G5]ALITY IT OP]ATES 9 -- CRITIQU+ CLASSES1 CATEGORIES1 OR TR5DS ( >GUM5TS )9 PRIMITIVI/ DISC\RSE SO AS TO LEAVE NO GR\ND TO RETREAT TO1 TO BOX 9 ANY SPECIFIC >GUM5T FROM ALL SIDES4 ,ONLY !N CAN WE GET D[N 9TO ! WE$S AB\T ! POSSIBILITIES & DYNAMICS ( 5DLESS P>TICUL>S LIKE COLTAN M9+4 

,TE*NOLOGY 

,! MA9/REAM DEF9ITION ( TE*NOLOGY IS BASICALLY 0WAYS ( DO+ /UFF40 ,& SO IT'S 9CLUSIVE ( LANGUAGE1 KN[L$GE1 EQUATIONS1 TACTICS1 HEURI/ICS1 TOOLS1 & EV5 \R BODIES4 ,ANY CONCEIVABLE MEANS OR AV5UE BY :I* ONE MI<T ACT OR ACCOMPLI% SOME?+4 

,YET 9 COMMON USE 0TE*NOLOGY0 HAS COME TO ACCUMULATE /RONG] ASSOCIATIONS ) A SUBSET ( !SE MEANS -- IPODS & BULLDOZ]S RA!R ?AN BALLET EX]CISES OR VOCAL *ORDS4 ,?IS 0TE*NOLOGY0 IS A WEIRD BUNDLE ( ?+S1 MORE AN ES!TIC ( PHYSICAL OBJECTS ?AN ANY?+ SUB/ANTIVE4 ,IS IT GRAY8 ,DOES IT HAVE METAL 9 IT8 ,CORN]S8 

,!RE >E A LOT ( NEW MEANS ?AT HAVE BE5 DEVELOP$ S9CE 9DU/RIALIZATION1 BUT AV]AGE PEOPLE DON'T T5D TO REF] TO :ITEBO>DS OR YOGA AS 0TE*NOLOGIES04 ,9/EAD !RE IS A V]Y DI/9CT N>RATIVE ( PROGRESS ?AT IS WIDELY SOLD TO US BY \R RUL]S & IT PLACES %IT LIKE LAPTOPS & C>S AS ! P9NACLE ( ALL TE*NOLOGIES -- TO ! PO9T :]E EV]Y O!R MEANS ( DO+ ?+S IS IMPLICITLY D]ID$4 ,SIMIL>LY AL?\< 0MA*9E0 CAN MEAN VIRTUALLY ANY?+ ) NOTICEABLE SUB-DYNAMICS ?AT USES 5]GY TO DO ?+S1 WE DON'T T5D TO REF] TO MALL>D DUCKS OR SQUIRT GUNS AS 0MA*9ES40 ,!RE'S AN IMPLICIT TELEOLOGY BAK$ 9TO ! WAY WE USE !SE T]MS4 

,PRIMITIVI/S FREQU5TLY TAKE ?IS LOOS] IMPRESSION OR N>RATIVE AS !IR />T+ PO9T RA!R ?AN ! BROAD] IF MORE CONCRETE DEF9ITION4 ,& !Y'VE S\<T DIFF]5T DEF9ITIONS ( TE*NOLOGY ALONGSIDE DIFF]5T ANALYZES TO TRY & BETT] EXPLA9 !SE ASSOCIATIONS4 ,BUT ,I AM NOT SURE ?AT !RE'S ULTIMATELY ANY REAL COH]5CE OR SUB/ANCE TO ! POPUL> BIAS 9 \R USE4 ,!RE IS A S5SE ?AT WE 0KN[ TE*NOLOGY :5 WE SEE IT0 & YET ?IS REALLY DOES SEEM TO APPEAL TO NO?+ MORE ?AN AN ES!TIC /R& ) A RA!R R&OM L9EAGE4 ,! POPUL> IMPRESSION IS >BITR>Y 9 V>I\S WAYS ?AT >E BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY 9ESCAPABLE & IT DOES SEEM LIKE WE HAVE NO *OICE BUT TO *UCK ?AT IMPRESSION = ! MORE PRECISE & ROOT$ -- IF BROAD] -- DEF9ITION ( MEANS 7SOME?+ IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SWEEP+LY REJECT )\T REJECT+ ALL FRE$OM TO ACT74 

,:ILE SPECIFIC ?9K]S HAVE BUILT SPECIFIC $IFICES ( CLAIMS1 9 G5]AL !Y T5D TO TAKE TWO DI/9CT APPROA*ES 9 =G+ ALT]NATE DEF9ITIONS ( 0TE*NOLOGY0 ?AT >E N>R[] ?AN 0TOOLS0 OR 0MEANS40 ,!SE TWO LOCI ( ALT]NATIVE DEF9ITIONS >E /ILL QUITE 9FLU5TIAL TO ANTI-CIV ?\<T1 & EXAM9+ !M IS HI<LY ILLU/RATIVE4 

,RIGIDITY 

,! FIR/ ( !SE APPROA*ES TO DEF9+ 0TE*NOLOGY0 IS TO APPEAL TO ! POPUL> 9TUITION 9 \R ]A ( A DI*OTOMY BETWE5 LIV+ ?+S & NON-LIV+4 

,SOME ?+S >E 0ALIVE01 O!R ?+S >E NOT4 ,IT'S A COMMON RULE ( ?UMB & BIOLOGI/S AT LEA/ = A :ILE TRI$ H>D TO MAKE IT A PRECISE TAXONOMY4 ,BUT ! CATEGORY ( 0LIV+0 IS A NOTORI\SLY PROBLEMATIC & PROBABLY MEAN+LESS 9TUITION 7>E VIRUSES ALIVE8 PRIONS8 H[ AB\T />S8 :Y %\LDN'T WE 9T]PRET CRY/ALS & ROCKS AS LIV+8 :]E %\LD B\ND>IES BE DRAWN BETWE5 ORGANISMS8 BETWE5 !M & !IR 5VIRONM5T874 

,ON ! O!R H&1 UNLIKE 0ALIVE01 !RE'S HOPE ?AT \R IMPRESSION ( 0ORGANIC0 CAN ACTUALLY BE SAV$4 ,WE CAN SOMETIMES MAKE A SUB/ANTIVE DI/9CTION ?AT HOLDS BETWE5 SUPPL5ESS OR FLUIDITY & RIGIDITY OR BRITTL5ESS4 ,& C]TA9LY CRASSLY-DEVELOP$ /RUCTURES LIKE HI<WAYS & C>S >E 9SANELY RIGID & BRITTLE4 ,WE'VE ALWAYS HAD MORE ORGANIC TE*NOLOGIES1 BUT IT'S C]TA9LY TRUE ?AT !RE'S BE5 NOTEWOR?Y PRESSURES T[>DS OV]LY RIGID TE*NOLOGIES1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! 9DU/RIAL ]A4 ,MO/ ( :AT IS CONJUR$ BY ! T]M 09DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION0 >E HUGE 9FRA/RUCTURAL PROJECTS & OP]ATIONS ) LITTLE TO NO ADAPTABILITY4 ,MOD]N CAPITALISM DEP5DS ON A LACK ( DYNAMIC PRICE SIGNALS & R$I/RIBUTION2 L>GE T[]+ ECONOMIC & POLITICAL 9/ITUTIONS RELY ON RIGIDITY1 ! P]PETUAL MA9T5ANCE ( C]TA9 CONDITIONS1 SO !Y DON'T HAVE TO CALCULATE & ADJU/ TO *ANG+ CONDITIONS :E!R ECOLOGICAL OR HUMAN4 ,& 9CR$IBLE SUMS ( VIOL5CE & HUMAN 5]GY HAVE BE5 EXP5D$ TO MA9TA9 C]TA9 >BITR>Y CONDITIONS -- DEM&1 PR(IT1 ETC4 ,! RIGIDITY ( L>GE 9FRA/RUCTURAL PROJECTS LIKE ! HI<WAY SY/EM1 ! DIV]SE SUBSIDIES ( FOSSIL FUELS1 ETC1 UND]P9 ?IS SOCIAL L&SCAPE4 ,RIGIDITY IS C]TA9LY *>ACT]I/IC ( ANY SY/EM CONDUCIVE TO P[] RELATIONS1 & ! MORE RIGID ! MORE POT5TIALLY BRITTLE4 

,IT'S EASY TO TIE ?IS TO ! SIMPLE & ROCK-LIKE GE>S & MORT> ( E>LY 9DU/RIAL FACTORIES4 ,:5 WE CALL SOME?+ 0COLD & ME*ANICAL0 ! GI/ ( :AT WE'RE SAY+ IS TYPICALLY ?AT IT'S RIGID & OV]LY SIMPLE 9 /RUCTURE RA!R ?AT RI*LY COMPLEX1 5GAG$ & ADAPTIVE4 

,YET ! OV]:ELM+ 9CL9ATION TODAY -- EV5 IF IT MAY BE TOO LATE -- IS TO MAKE \R TOOLS MORE FLUIDLY RECONFIGURABLE4 ,G5]AL PURPOSE COMPUT+ HAS ALWAYS BE5 AT ROOT AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE ! RIGIDITIES ( S+LE-CONFIGURATION ME*ANISMS4 ,& N[ ! GREAT DRIVE IS TO MAKE ! H>DW>E ( COMPUT]S & O!R TOOLS MORE FLUID BO? 9 FUNCTION & COMPOSITION4 ,SO ?AT WE MI<T CON/RUCT OR TE> AP>T & REBUILD !M ON ! FLY 9 \R G>AGE OR LOCAL HACK]SPACE 9 MORE DEC5TRALIZ$ & ,D,I,Y WAYS4 

,SIMIL>LY ! PRIMITIVI/ IMPULSE TO OPPOSE BIOTE*NOLOGY DOESN'T ULTIMATELY SQU>E ) A DEF9ITION ( TE*NOLOGY AS RIGIDITY4 ,:ILE HUMANS HAVE ALWAYS US$ BIOTE* FROM CULTIVAT+ PLANTS LONG BE=E AGRICULTURE TO GRAFT+ TREES1 REC5T DEVELOPM5TS HAVE GIV5 US A GREAT DEAL MORE UND]/&+ & LATTITUDE 9 H[ TO RECONFIGURE BIOLOGICAL SY/EMS1 9CLUD+ ?+S LIKE AN>*I/ BIOHACK]S GETT+ YEA/ TO PRODUCE CRITICAL *EESE PROTE9S )\T 5SLAV+ C[S4 ,:ILE SOME MULT9ATIONAL CORPORATIONS MAY SURELY 5C\RAGE !IR 5G9E]S & TE*NOLOGI/S TO APPROA* BIOTE* FROM A RIGID P]SPECTIVE -- CLUMSILY /IT*+ 9 R&OM G5ES ) AS LITTLE KN[L$GE OR APPRECIATION = MU* CONTEXT BEYOND IMM$IATE TRIAL & ]ROR -- MANY CLE>LY DO NOT4 

,!RE'S A DEEP PROBLEM H]E3 ,MORE DEGREES ( FRE$OM 9 MANIPULATION & RECONFIGURATION -- 9 ACTION -- IS ! DEF9ITION ( ORGANIC FLUIDITY1 & SO 9 A V]Y NON-TRIVIAL S5SE \R DRIVE TO BETT] UND]/& ?+S & TO HAVE MORE MEANS ( DO+ ?+S IS ULTIMATELY A PRESSURE T[>DS MORE ORGANIC TOOLS4 ,TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T -- 9 ! S5SE ( 9V5TIONS ?AT EXP& \R >RAY ( TOOLS TO *OOSE FROM -- CAN CLE>LY BE ALIGN$ 9 A POSITIVE DIRECTION4 ,9DE$1 :5 OLD] OR SIMPL] TE*NOLOGIES >5'T /OMP$ \T BY P[] /RUCTURES & NEW] TE*NOLOGIES >5'T C5SOR$ OR FILT]$1 ANY NEW 9V5TION ADDS TO ! >RAY ( POSSIBLE MEANS WE HAVE1 & ?US 9H]5TLY EXP&S ! FLUIDITY ( \R OPTIONS4 

,FOLL[+ ?IS >GUM5T S9C]ELY ! CONCLUSION W\LD BE ?AT WE NE$ WID] & MORE DIV]SE ECOSY/EMS ( TOOLS1 NOT LESS4 ,9DE$ ONE QUICKLY COMES TO REALIZE ?AT ! S9 ( ! RIGIDITIES ( \R 9FRA/RUCTURE & SOCIAL SY/EMS >E ! WAY !Y SUPPRESS TE*NOLOGICAL FL\RI%+4 

,COMPLEXITY 

,H[EV] ! SECOND MAJOR PRIMITIVI/ APPROA* TO DEF9+ 0TE*NOLOGY0 IS ON ITS FACE ALMO/ ! EXACT OPPOSITE ( ! ORGANIC_/9ORGANIC DI*OTOMY3 ,9 ?IS L5S :AT'S FOCUS$ ON AS ! PROBLEM IS ! COMPLEXITY ( V>I\S TOOLS & ! 9FRA/RUCTURES OR SOCIAL CONTEXT !Y'RE EMB$D$ )94 

,AN ASIDE3 ,I'M OLD 5\< TO REMEMB] :5 ! PRIM>Y GRE5 AN>*I/ CRITIQUE ( \R TE*NOLOGY WAS ?AT IT WAS TOO SIMPLE OR BOR+ & DEM&$ TOO MU* RIGID FOCUS 7?AT ]A SAW ALL K9DS ( FUCK$ UP SLOGANS LIKE 0ONLY ! MA*9ES DON'T HAVE ,A,D,H,D0 OR 0CIVILIZATION IS MAK+ US AUTI/IC0 ?AT W\LD NEV] FLY TODAY74 ,9 ! LA/ DECADE ( C\RSE ! SCRIPT HAS ALMO/ 5TIRELY FLIPP$2 N[ 'TE*NOLOGY' IS MORE FREQU5TLY ATTACK$ AS BE+ 9H]5TLY TOO 5GAG+1 TOO COMPLEX1 & TOO UNFOCUS$4 ,9/EAD ( ZON+ \T =EV] 9 FRONT ( ! 0BOOB-TUBE0 WE'RE N[ FLITT+ BACK & =? BETWE5 WIKIP$IA & TEXT MESSAGES ON \R PHONES4 ,C]TA9LY BO? ATTITUDES REPRES5T A MEAN+FUL PU%BACK AGA9/ REAL T5D5CIES 9 ! TOOLS & NORMS ( !IR ]AS1 BUT ! LEAP TO DEF9E TE*NOLOGY 09H]5TLY0 9 SU* T]MS IS A BIT FRU/RAT+4 

,NEV]!LESS !RE IS SOME SUB/ANCE TO CRITIQUES ( ! COMPLEXITY ( ! SY/EMS WE USE4 ,HUMAN BRA9S >E A/ONI%+LY COMPLEX & V]Y PLA/IC1 BUT !RE >E >*ITECTURAL LIMITS TO :AT WE CAN PROCESS OR KEEP 9 CONSCI\S ATT5TION1 NOT TO M5TION H[ QUICKLY4 ,WE'VE ALL EXP]I5C$ BAD1 OV]LY CLUTT]$ US] 9T]FACES ON AN APP OR EV5 BAD P$AGOGICAL PRES5TATIONS ( A TOPIC ?AT REQUIRE A TON ( REWIR+ 9 \R BRA9S TO PROCESS4 ,SOMETIMES ?IS CAN BE LIKE M5TAL /RET*+ -- & IT CAN BE 9 DIFF]5T CONTEXTS A MATT] ( HEAL?Y EX]CISE1 OR JU/ NEUTRAL OR M>G9AL4 ,BUT SOMETIMES TO REALLY UND]/& OR DILIG5TLY 5GAGE ) A SY/EM IS BEYOND \R PRES5T COGNITIVE CAPACITY -- & SOMETIMES IT'S EV5 BEYOND BEYOND ANY FEASIBLE SUP]COMPUT]4 ,! CRYPTOGRAPHIC TOOLS ?AT HAVE SE5 SU* DIZZY+ SUCCESS 9 FI<T+ ! ,N,S,A >E ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE ( 9ESCAPABLE COMPUTATIONAL LIMITS BAK$ 9 TO \R UNIV]SE BY MA!MATICS & PHYSICS4 ,CREATE A SUFFICI5TLY COMPLEX SY/EM & IT WILL BE BEYOND ! CAPACITY ( ANY C5TRAL AU?ORITY OR SUP]COMPUT] TO FULLY KN[ MU* LESS CONTROL4 ,9 SO MANY RESPECTS ?IS IS TRUE ( \R PRES5T SOCIETY4 

,A COMMON REFRA9 9 ANTI-CIV DISC\RSE IS ?AT L>GE SCALE SOCIETIES >E UNNATURAL & UNWORKABLE BECAUSE WE JU/ CAN'T KN[ EV]YONE ! SAME WAY WE C\LD 9 SMALL TRIBES4 ,! RELATION%IPS & 9T]P]SONAL DRAMA AT PLAY 9 A TRIBE ( A HUNDR$ OR SO PEOPLE MAY BE COMPLEX1 BUT :5 SCAL$ UP TO ?\S&S OR MILLIONS OR BILLIONS \R PUNY BRA9S CAN'T EV5 BEG9 TO MAKE HEADS OR TAILS ( EV]Y?+4 ,& SO1 ! /ORY GOES1 WE MOVE ?R\< \R LIVES DISCONNECT$ & M5TALLY FRAY$ BY ! 9CALCULABLE COMPLEXITY ( ! SOCIETY >\ND US4 

,N[ IT'S C]TA9LY TRUE ?AT WE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL OV]:ELM$ BY ! /AGG]+ DIV]SITY ( LIFE & FE$BACK+ CULTURAL COMPLEXITY UNLEA%$ BY L>GE SOCIETIES1 BUT !RE'S AN IMPORTANT DIFF]5CE TO BE HI<LI<T$ BETWE5 ! 9VIGORAT+ COMPLEXITY 9 A NEW G5RE ( QUE] HIP HOP1 V]SUS ! /AGG]+ COMPLEXITY ( A BUREAUCRATIC =MS 9 A SY/EM D5Y+ US FOOD /AMPS4 ,P[] & *OICE MATT]S4 ,:5 \R LIVES >E =CIBLY PUT ON ! L9E OR :5 WE'RE TRY+ TO MAKE A DIFF]5CE BUT HAVE NO IDEA :]E TO />T1 AN OV]:ELM+ COMPLEX SY/EM CAN BE ALI5AT+ & T]RIFY+1 ESPECIALLY :5 VIOL5CE IS >TIFICIALLY SIMPLIFY+ AWAY \R OPTION TO NOT 5GAGE4 

,YET )\T ?AT PRESSURE COMPLEXITY BECOMES DELI<TFUL & 9VIGORAT+4 ,HUMAN BE+S HAVE ALWAYS HELD AN ATTRACTION TO COMPLEXITY4 ,9DE$ MU* ( ! CROSS-CULTURAL T5D5CIES WE CONSI/5TLY DISPLAY 9 RESPONSE TO DIFF]5T VISUAL M$IA HAS TO DO ) :AT COMPLEX DYNAMICS WE >E ABLE TO DISC]N 9 !M -- :AT ORGANIC 9T]PLAY \R BRA9S DISC]N 9 A =E/ V]SUS A FEATURELESS ROCKY L&SCAPE4 ,OCCASIONALLY ?IS *ILDLIKE HUNG] = COMPLEXITY IS BEAT5 \T ( US & WE ADOPT A /AID S$5T>Y UNDEA? PRES5T$ AS 0ADUL?OOD0 OR 0MATURITY04 ,BUT TIME & TIME AGA9 WE'VE /RIV$ = GREAT] CONNECTION & COMMUNITY BEYOND ! SIZE ( M]E TRIBES4 ,EV5 9 PLACES :]E ! L& W\LD NOT P]MAN5TLY SU/A9 IT HUNT]-GA!R]S W\LD VOLUNT>ILY COME TOGE!R 9 ! ?\S&S = WEEKS OR MON?S ON 5D1 DESP]ATELY /RIV+ TO 5JOY ! B5EFITS ( MASS SOCIETY4 

,A FREQU5TLY ASSOCIAT$ NOTION IS ?AT )\T DEEP P]SONAL KN[L$GE ( A P]SON OR TIES TO !M WE HAVE NO REASON TO C>E AB\T !M4 ,?IS NIHILI/IC TAKE ON E?ICS IS MO/ PROM95TLY *AMPION$ BY ! T]RORI/ GR\P ,9DIVIDUALS ,T5D+ ,T[>DS ,SAVAG]Y :O'VE TRI$ TO MURD] /UD5TS & AN>*I/S 9 ,MEXICO ,CITY2 !Y EXPLICITLY REJECT & D]IDE FEEL+ COMPASSION = PEOPLE BEYOND ONE'S IMM$IATE TRIBE4 ,! OBVI\S RESPONSE1 ?AT EMPA?Y IS G5]ALIZABLE & ?AT WE CAN 9 SOME V]Y REAL S5SE FEEL COMPASSION = ! /RANG] :O /UMBLES DIRECTLY 9 FRONT ( US IS1 ,I ?9K1 RA!R TRIVIALLY TRUE & OBVI\S TO ANYONE :O ISN'T A SOCIOPA?4 ,JU/ AS A TODDL] EV5TUALLY COMES TO REALIZE ?AT O!R PEOPLE EXI/1 SO TOO >E WE CAPABLE ( GR[+ BETT] HEURI/ICS & GR[+ MORE COH]5T 9 \R 9T5TIONS1 DEVELOP+ NOT JU/ ! CAPACITY TO APPRECIATE ! EXI/5CE ( PEOPLE WE KN[ ?R\< NEWS REPORTS RA!R ?AN EYESI<T BUT TO WEI< & ANALYZE \R IMPACT UPON !M4 ,SIMIL>LY WE HAVE GOTT5 EXTRAORD9>ILY GOOD AT QUICKLY ACCLIMAT+ TO /RANG]S AS WELL AS SITUAT+ !M4 ,HAPP5/ANCE ( BIR? LOCATION1 LANGUAGE1 FAMILY1 ETC >E NOT -- & %\LDN'T BE -- A DET]M9ANT = AFF9ITY4 ,IT C]TA9LY DOESN'T REFLECT :AT RELATION%IPS >E MO/ FECUND = LIB]ATORY COLLABORATION & DEVELOPM5T4 

,! COMPLEXITY ( \R PHYSICAL TOOLS FOLL[S A SIMIL> >C4 ,COMPLEXITY CAN BE 9VIGORAT+ & IT CAN BE T]RORIZ+ -- :AT MATT]S >E ! P[] DYNAMICS ?OSE COMPLEXITIES >E EMB$D$ )94 ,& !RE CAN BE HEAL?Y WAYS ( MANAG+ OR NAVIGAT+ \R 9T]ACTIONS ) 9CR$IBLY COMPLEX SY/EMS )\T RETREAT+ FROM ALL 9T]ACTION OR ATTEMPT+ TO >TIFICIALLY FLATT5 !M AWAY4 ,9DE$ ONE ( ! MAJOR PRIORITIES ( P[] HAS BE5 TO SUPPRESS COMPLEXITY1 TO LIMIT OR PRUNE D[N ! ECOLOGY ( POSSIBLE TOOLS TO JU/ A FEW OPTIONS & IMPOSE !M UNIV]SALLY4 ,TO HIDE AWAY ! 9T]NALS ( \R TOOLS & EXT]NAL CONTEXT BEH9D A FACADE4 ,IT %\LD BE TELL+ ?AT ?OSE REALMS AN>*I/S HAVE GRAVITAT$ T[>DS OR HAVE PIONE]$ -- LIKE OP5 S\RCE -- HAVE BE5 DI/+UI%$ BY !IR EMBRACE ( COMPLEXITY4 ,( C\RSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RETA9 AG5CY1 TO BE ABLE TO SELECT ! TOOLS ( ! APPROPRIATE COMPLEXITY ONE NE$S OR FEELS EQUIPP$ TO H&LE4 ,:]E WE *OOSE TO 9VE/ \R ATT5TION & ?US COGNITIVE OR SYMBOLIC COMPLEXITY IS AN IMPORTANT *OICE & MANY POLITICAL OR E?ICAL >GUM5TS BOIL D[N TO EQUALLY VALID P]SONAL PREF]5CES1 PREF]R$ REALMS ( T9K]+ & PLAY4 ,BUT ! COMPLEXITY IMBU$ )9 A TOOL -- :E!R ME% WIFI ALGORI?MS OR PROSE OR A H&-HEWN B[ -- IS 9 NO REMOTE S5SE 9NATELY NEGATIVE4 

,IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ?AT ! OP]ATIVE WORD REALLY IS 0IMBU$40 ,:ILE IT CAN BE POSSIBLE TO TALK ( COMPLEXITY 9 CONCRETE COMPUTATIONAL T]MS LIKE ,KOLMOGOROV'S =MULATION1 'COMPLEXITY' CAN ALSO MATT] 9 9T5SELY SUBJECTIVE & RELATIVE T]MS ?AT DON'T NECESS>ILY BE> A DIRECT RELATION TO FUNDAM5TAL PHYSICAL LIMITS4 ,HUMAN BE+S ASSIGN SYMBOLIC OR COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY 9 FREQU5TLY HAPHAZ>D1 SITUATIONAL OR AN?ROPOC5TRIC WAYS4 ,WE ?9K ( \R BODIES AS BE+ 0MORE COMPLEX0 ?AN CORAL REEFS OR GU/S ( W9D1 BUT IT'S NOT REMOTELY CLE> ?AT !RE'S ANY GREAT] COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY GO+ ON 9 ! MOLECUL> DYNAMICS ?AT MAKE US UP4 ,!RE'S A DANG] ( BE+ CLOS] TO ! SUBJECT & ?US ASSIGN+ MORE ATT5TION & CONCEPTUAL SIGNIFI]S TO IT4 

,SIMIL>LY \R PROBLEM HAS (T5 BE5 NOT ASSIGN+ 5\< COMPLEXITY TO \R 9T]ACTIONS ) ! WORLD4 ,AGRICULTURE IS FILL$ ) EXAMPLES ( HUMANS CON/RUCT+ 9SUFFICI5TLY COMPLEX OR NUANC$ APPROA*ES4 ,EV5 HORTICULTURE & HUNT+ OR =AG+ ALMO/ ALWAYS 9VOLVE DRA/ICALLY SIMPLIFY+ ! ECOLOGICAL PATT]NS TO SOME /RUCTURE OR FRAMEWORK ?AT'S EASY TO DEAL ) OR MODEL4 ,WE'VE (T5 S\<T TO R$UCE ! COMPLEXITY ( ! DYNAMICS SURR\ND+ US TO BETT] KEEP TRACK ( & UTILIZE !M & SOMETIMES ?IS 5DS UP BE+ A REALLY BAD IDEA4 

,IF ANY?+ ! PROBLEM HAS LONG BE5 ?AT WE'VE BUILT TOOLS ?AT >5'T COMPLEX 5\< TO H&LE ! COMPLEX 5VIRONM5TS OR P>TICUL>S !Y CONT5D )4 

0,COMPLEXITY0 IS (T5 B&I$ AB\T LIKE A S+LE MAGICAL DIAGNO/IC = ! COLLAPSE ( HI/ORICAL CIVILIZATIONS1 BUT AGA9 ! PROBLEM BECOMES :AT 0COMPLEXITIES0 WE SEE & NAME4 ,CULTURES CAN GR[ COMPLEX 9 9SUL> WAYS1 CREAT+ DISCONNECT$ 9T]PRETIVE NETS OR LANGUAGES ?AT B>ELY REF] TO ANY?+4 ,ADDITIONALLY1 P[] /RUCTURES CAN ATTEMPT TO AWKW>DLY WELD NUANCES & 9T]NAL ACC\NT+ ME?ODS 9TO !MSELVES 9 A DESP]ATE ATTEMPT TO MAKE UP = !IR 9ADEQUACIES )\T ACTUALLY DISSOLV+ ! CORE RIGIDITIES OR IMPOS$ SIMPLICITIES ?AT GIRD & SUPPORT !IR EXI/5CE4 ,ALL ( ?AT IS REAL1 YET ! 5D ( ! DAY EMPIRES FALL BECAUSE !Y'RE NOT ABLE TO C\NT5ANCE OR SUPPORT ! 9T]NAL COMPLEXITY NECESS>Y = MORE FLUID 5GAGEM5T & ADAPTATION4 ,9DE$ PA/ A C]TA9 PO9T ( COMPLEXITY EMPIRES W\LD CEASE TO BE EMPIRES1 DISSOLV+ AWAY 9TO MORE COMPLEX_/ORGANIC MODES4 

,\R TE*NOLOGIES CAN DEVELOP 9 ! DIRECTION ( 9SUL>ITY -- OV]EXT5D+ !MSELVES 9 TWI/S ( DISCONNECT$ & UNNECESS>Y COMPLEXITY -- & AT ! SAME TIME !Y CAN ALSO OV]EXT5D !MSELVES 9 OV]LY SIMPLE WAYS ?AT >5'T RESPONSIVE TO ! COMPLEX P>TICUL>S ( !IR 5VIRONM5T & US]S4 ,BUT ADDITIONALLY !Y CAN ALSO 9TEGRATE FLUIDLY ) !SE CONSID]ATIONS4 ,AL?\< P[] ITSELF (T5 ACTS TO >TIFICIALLY SIMPLIFY = MANAG]IAL PURPOSES OR TO VIOL5TLY SEV] CONNECTIONS 9 WAYS ?AT LEAD TO CANC]\S 9SUL>ITY1 ?IS PRESSURE IS DI/9CT & 9 NO WAY 9H]5T TO TE*NOLOGY ITSELF4 ,TOOLS >E (T5 EMB$D$ 9 A WID] CONTEXT1 BUT !Y CAN ALSO BE DI/9CT FROM ?AT CONTEXT4 ,A HAMM] CAN BE MADE MANY WAYS & CAN FUNCTION EV5 :5 ! ORIG9AL HAMM] FACTORY %UTT]S4 ,MANY ( ! ?+S PRIMITIVI/S LOVE TO TAKE AS 'FUNDAM5TAL' TO ! PRODUCTION ( C]TA9 TE*NOLOGIES >E ANY?+ BUT4 

,YES1 9FRA/RUCTURAL REALITIES >E 9CR$IBLY IMPORTANT4 ,! CREATION ( ! HI<WAY SY/EM1 = EXAMPLE1 HAS FAM\SLY DRIV5 ! NORMALIZATION ( ! C> =M & A HUGE >RAY ( ATT5DANT T5D5CIES4 ,! SWEEP+ VIOL5CE ( ! /ATE ALL[S IT TO BUILD >TIFICIAL MASS & SCOPE & ?US TO IMPOSE =MS OR /RUCTURES )\T MU* REG>D = !IR DESIRABILITY OR OPTIMALITY4 ,SOL> /EAM 5G9ES W]E READY & HI<LY VIABLE TWO HUNDR$ YE>S AGO1 BUT W]E ABRUPTLY SIDEL9$ P]MAN5TLY :5 ! ,BRITI% ,EMPIRE HAPP5$ TO CONQU] A L>GE COAL DEPOSIT ALONG ) A SLAVE POPULACE TO M9E IT4 ,9FRA/RUCTURAL =MS FE$BACK 9 A WIDE V>IETY ( WAYS ) PSY*OLOGY1 SOCIAL NORMS1 & P[] /RUCTURES4 ,?IS MU* IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE4 ,! COMMUNITY ?AT BUILDS A DEC5TRALIZ$ NETWORK ( ,D,I,Y RADIO T[]S /RET*+ BETWE5 VILLAGES TO SPREAD WORD AB\T RAPI/S OR ATTEMPT$ M>AUD]S IS GO+ TO HAVE A RESULTANT PRESSURE T[>DS A C]TA9 SOCIAL CONFIGURATION4 ,SIMIL>LY ! SOCIETY ?AT =CES PEOPLE (F L& TO L[] ! PRICE ( OIL WILL BE ABLE TO USE *EAP] TRANSPORTATION TO FACILITATE ECONOMIES ( SCALE1 AS WELL AS IMP]IAL BREAD? & TO SUPPRESS ! DIFFUSION ( ALT]NATIVE TE*NOLOGIES BY L[]+ CO/S4 

,BUT IT'S VITAL ?AT WE DI/+UI% BETWE5 APPLI$ 9FRA/RUCTURE & 9DIVIDUAL TE*NOLOGIES4 ,& BETWE5 TE*NOLOGIES 9 ! /&>D S5SE ( MEANS OR KN[L$GE ( H[ TO & ACTUAL COMMODITY PRODUCTS4 ,!SE >E DI/9CTIONS PRIMITIVISM GLEEFULLY WANTS TO H&WAVE AWAY AS ALL 9SEP>ABLE P>TS ( A S+UL> 0MEGAMA*9E01 & BLURR$ TOGE!R !Y DO MAKE A SIMPL] N>RATIVE1 BUT DI/+UI%+ !M CAN REVEAL A LOT ( CRITICAL PO9TS & T5SIONS4 

,!RE IS ABSOLUTELY NO D\BT ?AT ! VA/ MAJORITY ( ?+S ?AT *>ACT]IZE ! GLOBAL 9FRA/RUCTURE AT PRES5T >E ROTT5 & MU/ BE *ANG$4 ,BUT WE MU/ BE DILIG5T 9 \R ANALYSIS ( IT1 NOT M]ELY APPEAL TO ! QUICKE/ WAY TO PRES5T OR PHRASE \R RESI/ANCE4 

,& ! FACT ( ! MATT] IS ! 9CREAS+ COMPLEXITY ( \R TE*NOLOGY CAN BE 9CR$IBLY LIB]ATORY4 ,FRE$OM DOESN'T LIE 9 SIMPLIFY+ ! WORLD >\ND US SO ?AT WE NEV] HAVE TO *ANGE \RSELVES TO 5GAGE ) IT4 ,SO :AT IF WE DON'T UND]/& ! EXACT /RUCTURE & FUNCTION ( EV]Y DEVICE WE USE8 ,WE TYPICALLY DON'T UND]/& ! BIO*EMICAL /RUCTURES & FUNCTIONS ( ! PLANTS WE EAT4 ,IT'S C]TA9LY GOOD TO BE ABLE TO UND]/& SU* DYNAMICS1 BUT ALL HUMAN 9T]ACTION ) ! WORLD WILL 9H]5TLY 9VOLVE SOME PRAGMATIC CONCEPTUAL AB/RACTION AWAY FROM UND]LY+ COMPLEXITIES4 ,A LIB]AT$ WORLD W\LD SURELY BE A RI*LY LU% & DIV]SE WORLD FILL$ ) 5DLESS COMPLEXITIES TO EXPLORE1 BUT NOT EV]YONE WILL EXPLORE ! SAME ?+S4 

,! SOCIAL & TE*NOLOGICAL COMPLEXITIES BE=E US MI<T BE NEW & AS YET UNSETTL$ 9TO SOME SORT ( LONG-T]M DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM1 BUT SU* EQUILIBRIA >E FEW & F> BETWE52 ! E>?'S BIOSPH]E ITSELF IS ALWAYS *ANG+4 ,! WORLD DESCRIB$ BY #a#h? C5TURY BIOLOGI/S LOOK+ = A CLOCKWORK UNIV]SE UN*ANG$ S9CE SET 9 MOTION BY ITS CREATOR IS A LIE -- AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE ! CON/ANT *URN+ ( REALITY MORE PALATABLE TO A /AID RUL+ CLASS1 SELF-DOME/ICAT$ )9 MANY WALLS ( IMPOS$ SIMPLICITY4 ,?IS K9D ( VIOL5T SIMPLIFICATION ( ! PHYSICAL WORLD & ( HUMAN DESIRES & ?\<TS IS NECESS>Y = P[] TO ACT1 TO EV5 EXI/4 ,IF IT IS TO BE TAK5 D[N WE MU/ DO MORE ?AN WAIT = NATURE TO ]ODE IT AWAY1 WE MU/ EMBRACE ! CREATIVE F\NTA9HEADS ( 5GAG$ FLUID COMPLEXITY )9 \RSELVES4 

,!RE REMA9S GREAT RI*NESS & COMPLEXITY BEYOND ! H>% WALLS ( SUBURBIA 9 ! FL[S ( \R BIOSPH]E1 & IT HAS SIGNIFICANT VALUE1 BUT F> GREAT] WILDNESS LIES AHEAD ( US %\LD WE HAVE ! GUTS TO EMBRACE IT4 ,TO PLUNGE HEADLONG 9TO UN*>T$ WAT]S -- DEVELOP+ NEW TOOLS1 NEW UND]/&+S1 & NEW RELATIONS4 ,NOT 9SUL>LY DISCONNECT$1 BUT CONNECT$ 9 A MORE RI* & /UNN+ >RAY ( WAYS4 

,IF !RE >E PRES5TLY GREAT =CES ALLI$ AGA9/ ! DEEP5+ COMPLEXITIES ( ! 9T]NET ]A WE %\LD BE UNSURPRIS$1 BUT ALSO UNDAUNT$4 ,:5 PRESID5TS1 POLITICIANS & *IEFS ( POLICE URGE ! DISMANTL+ ( ! 9T]NET1 ! REPOSSESSION OR =CIBLE BACKDOOR+ ( EV]Y PHONE & DEVICE N[ GRABB$ BY ! MASSES IT'S CLE> !Y'RE BE+ PRESS$ UP AGA9/ ! 9ESCAPABLE REALITY ?AT COMPLEXITY IS ANA!MA TO P[] & CONTROL4 ,BUT ! EXPLOSION ( CULTURE1 CONNECTION & CODE ?AT HAS BE5 UNLEA%$ 9 ! LA/ C\PLE G5]ATIONS HAS 9CR$IBLE MOM5TUM4 ,\R RUL]S MAY ( C\RSE YET SUCCE$ 9 DEMOLI%+ IT1 9 BANN+ G5]AL PURPOSE COMPUT+ AS !Y WANT & EXP5D+ GREAT 5]GY TO TWI/ ! DEC5TRALIZ+ T5D5CIES BACK 9TO A C5TRALIZ$ PANOPTICON1 BUT !IR VICTORY IS H>DLY ASSUR$4 

,! 9T]PLAY ( \R TOOLS CAN GR[ COMPLICAT$ BEYOND ANY S+LE P]SON OR POLITICAL BODY'S ABILITY TO CONTROL -- JU/ AS IS TRUE ) \R RELATION%IPS -- BUT ?IS CAN BE A GOOD ?+4 ,AN>*I/S %\LD ALIGN \RSELVES ) ! UNCONTROLLABLE4 

,MEANS 

,IT MU/ BE ADMITT$ ?AT A H&FUL ( PRIMITIVI/S HAVE CAU<T ONTO ! CONTRADICTIONS ATT5DANT TO DISMISS+ TE*NOLOGY 9 T]MS ( RIGIDITY & COMPLEXITY4 ,BUT SOME ( !IR RESPONSES HAVE BE5 EV5 MORE HORRIFY+4 

,EMBRAC+ ! MA9/REAM DEF9ITION ( 0TE*NOLOGY0 AS ANY MEANS ( DO+ ?+S1 SOME PRIMITIVI/S HAVE LET !IR BILE & ! MOM5TUM ( C\NTLESS N>RATIVES RUN AWAY ) !IR S5SE & OP5LY CONCLUD$ 9 V>I\S MANN]S ?AT WE %\LD REJECT ATTEMPTS TO EXP& \R AV5UES BY :I* TO ACT4 ,BECAUSE DO+ ?+S IS ITSELF WRONG4 ,OR BECAUSE ! ACT ( TRY+ TO F9D MORE WAYS ( DO+ ?+S IS WRONG4 ,OR BECAUSE SEEK+ TO ACT \TSIDE A /RICT SCRIPT IS DEPLORABLE4 ,OR BECAUSE TRY+ TO EX]CISE MORE 'CONTROL' OV] Y\R TOOLS OR %AK+ F+]S & ?US HAVE MORE OPTIONS 9 LIFE IS ! SAME AS TRY+ TO 'CONTROL' O!R PEOPLE BY REMOV+ !IR OPTIONS4 

,9 !SE APPROA*ES AG5CY ITSELF IS SET UP AS ! 5EMY ( PRIMITIVISM4 ,?IS (T5 COMES ) A /RONG EMBRACE ( AN ESS5TIALI/IC 0HUMAN NATURE01 OR ROLE ?AT WE >E OBLIG$ TO FILL4 

,CONSCI\S ?\<T8 ,DELIB]ATION8 ,9QUIRY8 ,CREATIVE EXPLORATION ( PA?S8 ,!SE >E TAK5 AS VIOLATIONS OR P]V]SIONS FROM \R SET PA?4 ,?9K+1 REFLECTION ITSELF1 IS TAK5 AS A CORRUPT+ T5D5CY ?AT MU/ BE REJECT$ BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD BAD PLACES4 ,9 ?IS FRAME ( M9D ! ONLY 0REAL FRE$OM0 IS TO TURN \RSELVES 9TO LIMIT$ & SIMPLE AUTOMATONS -- ANIMALS ?AT NEV] LIFT !IR HEADS TO ?9K BEYOND ! IMM$IATE TO 5GAGE ) WID] CONTEXT OR MAKE 9=M$ *OICES4 ,A K9D ( ,ORWELLIAN FRE$OM FROM FRE$OM4 ,?IS IS (T5 CLOSELY TI$ TO ANTI-9TELLECTUAL CURR5TS )9 ! SC5E4 ,9 P>TICUL> AN 9T5SELY REACTION>Y T5D5CY ?AT AB&ONS & D]IDES ! 9TELLECT & DILIG5T CONSID]ATION AS USELESS DEAD-5DS4 ,?IS CURR5T IS OBVI\SLY FASCI/IC & CLOSELY MIRRORS ! PATT]NS 9 FASCISM'S HI/ORICAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,BUT ITS PRECISE LANGUAGE ( SURR5D] IS TAILOR$ TO AN>*I/ LANGUAGE4 

0,WE'VE TRI$ US+ TE*NOLOGY & LOOK AT ! MESS WE'RE 9 NONE!LESS0 LOGICALLY BECOMES 0WE'VE TRI$ ?9K+ AB\T ?+S & LOOK AT ! MESS WE'RE 9 NONE!LESS40 ,?9K+ IS SE5 AS HOPELESS & TOTALLY 9EFFECTIVE1 A MA/URBATORY WA/E ( TIME ?AT CAN ONLY LEAD ONE D[N FALSE PA?S4 ,A REJECTION ( TE*NOLOGY IS 9EVITABLE FROM ?IS P]SPECTIVE4 ,NOT JU/ SM>TPHONES BUT MUSIC1 LANGUAGE1 TACTICS1 /RATEGY1 ETC4 ,! CORRUPTION ( L>GE P>TS ( ! PRIMITIVI/ SC5E TO ANTI-CIV NIHILISM HAS BE5 ! 9EVITABLE RESULT4 

,( C\RSE !RE >E /ILL MANY :O DON'T FETI%IZE ! UNDEA? ( IMM$IATISM & DON'T 5TIRELY OR OP5LY EMBRACE ! OBLIGATION TO FOLL[ SOME BIOLOGICAL SCRIPT4 ,BUT !Y (T5 /ILL 9H]IT & 9VOKE TELEOLOGICAL NOTIONS 9 WAYS ?AT ADD UP TO ! SAME ?+ -- P]SONIFY+ UN?9K+ NATURAL SY/EMS AS HAV+ FUNDAM5TAL ORI5TATIONS OR GOALS 9 !MSELVES ?AT MU/ BE RESPECT$4 ,TO ALT] A RIV]'S C\RSE IS VIOL5CE AGA9/ ! SACR$1 & ?US BEAV]S >E D5Y+ ! 0FRE$OM0 ( ! RIV]4 ,S9CE SACR$NESS ACTS AS A COGNITIVE /OP !RE'S NO PO9T 9 TEAS+ AP>T ! CONTRADICTIONS OR >BITR>Y DI/9CTIONS ?IS SORT ( ?9K+ 5G5D]S4 ,A LOT ( HUNT] GA!R] SOCIETIES >E ANIMI/S1 AFT] ALL1 & SO IT'S A %ORT /EP = Y\R LOCAL OOGLE TO SUDD5LY />T TALK+ 9 T]MS ( ! SPIRITS ( ?+S & H[ ANY?+ HE DOESN'T LIKE IS 0DISRESPECTFUL0 TO FICTITI\S 5TITIES 9 HIS HEAD4 ,H[ DOES ONE DET]M9E JU/ :AT ?OSE SPIRITS WANT8 ,WELL \TSIDE ( RITUALS TO PROMOTE AN >BITR>Y CONS5SUS P]SPECTIVE ?R\< SOCIAL PRESSURES1 !RE'S NO ANSW]4 ,TO APPEAL TO SCI5CE 9 ANY?+ LESS ?AN %ALL[ & OPPORTUNI/IC WAYS IS TO 9VOKE YET ANO!R CA/IGAT$ DEMON4 

,I HAVE LITTLE PATI5CE OR HOPE = ?OSE 5SN>$ 9 ?IS WORLDVIEW4 ,!Y CANNOT BE REA*$4 ,& ,I ILLUM9ATE ?IS T5D5CY M]ELY AS A PRECAUTION>Y R$UCTIO AD ABSURDUM = ?OSE NOT YET PU%$ NE> ITS EV5T HORIZON BY A NE$ TO JU/IFY BAD ASSOCIATIONS ) 0TE*NOLOGY04 ,!RE IS SADLY NO REA*+ ?OSE :O D5Y & REJECT ?\<T ITSELF4 

,CIVILIZATION 

0,OKAY10 SAY SOME ( ! ANTI-CIV FOLKS1 0F9E F9E F9E1 WE ADMIT ?AT TE*NOLOGY IS A ?ORNY SUBJECT & MAAAYBE !RE'S A PLACE = Y\ N]DS ) Y\R W9DMILLS & WIFI R\T]S 9 ! RU9S4 ,BUT SURELY WE CAN ALL AGREE ?AT ! 5TIRE $IFICE ( \R EXI/+ WORLD IS ! PRODUCT ( A S+LE HORRIFIC LEVIA?AN1 A G5OCIDAL *A9-REACTION SET (F 9 PREHI/ORY ) ! MI/AKE ( AGRICULTURE & ?AT IS AS UNSU/A9ABLE AS IT IS TOTALIT>IAN40 

,!RE IS A DEGREE ( TRU? TO ?IS TALE4 

,! MOM5T ! LA/ ,ICE ,AGE 5D$ ! >*AEOLOGICAL RECORD WE HAVE SEES A V]ITABLE EXPLOSION ( POPULATION1 AGRICULTURE & CITIES4 ,AS A CONSEQU5CE NEW1 L>G] SCALE P[] /RUCTURES BECAME POSSIBLE1 *>ACT]IZ$ BY MORE P]SI/5T RELATIONS4 ,& ?R\< V>I\S MEANS ( CONQUE/ SU* ORGANISMS EV5TUALLY GREW TO DOM9ANCE & REPLICAT$ >\ND ! WORLD4 ,BUT ! /ORY ISN'T AS CLEAN-CUT AS ! CONV5TIONAL ,PRIMITIVI/ N>RATIVE4 ,9 P>TICUL>1 ! CLAIM ?AT L>GE NUMB]S ( PEOPLE ASSOCIAT+ 9 ONE PLACE 7CITIES7 9ESCAPABLY EQUATES OPPRESSION IS T5U\S AT BE/4 

,WE KN[ A LOT MORE N[ ?AN ,Z]ZAN & ,P]LMAN DID BACK 9 ! #gS1 & !RE WASN'T SOME #a3#a 9/ANTANE\S RELATION BETWE5 ! ADV5TS ( AGRICULTURE1 CITIES & L>GE SCALE SOCIAL HI]>*IES 9 ! >*AEOLOGICAL RECORD4 ,!RE WAS AGRICULTURE 9 V>I\S S5SES )\T CITIES1 CITIES )\T AGRICULTURE1 CITIES & AGRICULTURE )\T HI]>*Y4 ,AT BE/ !RE'S SO F> BE5 A T5D5CY T[>DS C]TA9 ASSOCIATIONS1 BUT ! PRECISE CAUSALITY IS BLURRY TO SAY ! LEA/4 ,)\T ACCESS TO ! ACTUAL HI/ORICAL ME*ANISMS IT'S H>D TO CLAIM !RE >E NO ALT]NATIVES4 ,ADDITIONALLY !RE >E RELATIVELY FEW TRULY DI/9CT /R&S ( EMPIRE 9 ! HI/ORICAL RECORD1 SO WE DON'T HAVE FULLY SEP>ABLE CASE /UDIES4 ,& ! SCANT H&FUL ( MILL5NIA S9CE ! ICE AGE HASN'T PRES5T$ MORE ?AN A FEW IT]ATIONS ( !SE MACROSCOPIC ORGANISMS & !IR LIFECYCLES -- NOT 5\< TIME TO DRAW ANY CLE> OR SOLID RULES AB\T ! PHASE SPACE ( POSSIBLE CONFIGURATIONS4 

,IT'S TRUE ?AT ) ! SURPLUSES & /ORES ( AGRICULTURE Y\ CAN SU/A9 L>G] RUL+ CLASSES & M>AUD+ HORDES4 ,! EM]G5CE ( MACROSCOPIC P[] /RUCTURES FOCUS$ ON P]MAN5T 5SLAVEM5T OV] L>G] & L>G] REGIONS RA!R ?AN OCCASIONAL RAID+ -- ( P]SI/5T ABUSE RA!R ?AN 9T]MITT5T -- WAS CONNECT$ ) ! EM]G5CE ( P]SI/5T SOCIAL CONTACT & AGRICULTURE4 ,BUT !RE W]E ?\S&S & ?\S&S ( YE>S 9 :I* ! TIES B9D+ CITY1 AGRICULTURE1 & HI]>*Y HADN'T BE5 NORMALIZ$4 ,FROM F9D+S 9 ! ,LEVANT WE KN[ ?AT PLANTS W]E BE+ SY/EMICALLY CULTIVAT$ AS F> BACK AS TW5TY ?\S& YE>S AGO4 ,MU* MORE HI/ORY HAS BE5 LO/ 9 ! ,AMAZON & ,SUB-,SAH>AN ,AFRICA ?ANKS TO !IR MOD]N CLIMATES2 :O IS EV5 TO SAY :AT EXI/$ DUR+ ! SUPPOS$ HUNT]-GA!R] P]IOD ( ! ICE AGE4 ,BUT ! MOM5T ! ICE CAPS />T$ TO RETREAT 9CR$IBLY L>GE POPULATIONS CAME TOGE!R 9 ,BRITA9 TO EXPLORE A/RONOMY1 CONTORT+ !MSELVES TO A*IEVE ! CULTURAL COMPLEXITIES ( L>GE SCALE SOCIETY EV5 )\T AGRICULTURE4 ,GREAT PLA9S ,NATIVE ,AM]ICANS W\LD VOLUNT>ILY COME TOGE!R 9 VA/ NUMB]S1 /RA9+ = ! B5EFITS ( GREAT] CONNECTIVITY DESPITE ! LIMITS ( ! L&4 ,SIMIL>LY ! E>LY PA/ORALI/ CITY ( ,CATOLHYUK HAD A POPULATION ORD]S ( MAGNITUDE ABOVE ,DUNB>'S ,NUMB] & WAS NOTABLY EGALIT>IAN4 ,/>KLY EGALIT>IAN CITY SOCIETIES )\T EVID5CE ( AU?ORITY CAN BE F\ND ?R\<\T ! >*AEOLOGICAL RECORD4 ,FROM ,CAYONU'S SOCIAL REVOLUTION #i YE>S AGO ?AT LA/$ TWO ?\S& YE>S TO ! HI<LY ADVANC$ ,H>RAPANS CONTEMPORANE\S ) ! EMPIRES ON ! ,NILE1 ,TIGRIS & ,EUPHRATES4 

,UNTIL REC5TLY ! HI/ORICAL RECORD HAS BE5 ALMO/ EXCLUSIVELY WRITT5 BY ! MO/ BLOOD?IR/Y CONQU]ORS & !IR P]SPECTIVES >E A T]RIBLE F\NDATION = ANALYSIS4 ,BUT EV5 :AT RECORD !Y LEFT IS CLE>LY RIDDL$ ) 9DICATIONS ( EXT]M9AT$ RESI/ANT SOCIETIES & M>OONS_/PIRATE UTOPIAS4 

,! IMPULSE TO NEV]!LESS WRITE !SE MISS+ *APT]S ( \R HI/ORY \T BECAUSE !Y DIDN'T 0W90 FUNDAM5TALLY MI/AKES :AT P[] & AN>*Y >E4 ,JU/ BECAUSE ONE COMPLEX ( P[] RELATIONS MANAG$ TO PLANT ITS FLAGS >\ND ! WORLD DOESN'T MEAN ! AN>*I/IC CURR5TS IT TRI$ TO DIGE/ 9 ! PROCESS W]E 9 ANY S5SE VANQUI%$4 ,! PRES5CE ( A FLAG OR ! LOCALS N[ WE>+ WE/]N CLO?+ DOESN'T 9 ANY S5SE EQUATE ! VICTORY ( EMPIRE4 

,WE LIVE 9 A MORE HI<LY CONNECT$ GLOBAL SOCIETY TO BE SURE BUT !RE >E DEEP CONTE/ATIONS OV] ! DEGREE & NATURE ( ITS /RUCTURE4 ,!SE CONTE/ATIONS1 !SE T5SIONS1 HAVE GR[N 9CR$IBLY COMPLEX AS EV]YONE ON ! PLANET HAS JO9$ 9 PIT*$ BATTLE4 ,!RE >E A GREAT MANY SWIRL+ /RATEGIC ADVANCES & DEFEATS HAPP5+ ALL >\ND US4 

,! FACT ?AT WE HAVE 9CREAS$ \R 9T]CONNECTIVITY & CULTURAL COMPLEXITY -- :E!R ?R\< /R&S C>RY+ ! CO]CIVE IMPR9T ( NEOLIB]ALISM OR ON \R [N T]MS 9 ! O!R DIRECTION 9 WAYS ?AT RESI/ P[] DYNAMICS AS ) ,SOMALI COMMUNITIES HACK+ TOGE!R CELLPHONE NETWORKS OR ,CONGOLESE VILLAG]S & NOMADS ,D,I,Y+ RADIO NETWORKS TO COLLABORATE TO SUPPRESS M>AUD]S & RAPI/S -- DOES NOT EQUATE SURR5D] TO AN IMP]IAL LOGIC4 

,! =CES ( P[] >E QUITE %[Y TODAY1 BUT !Y >E NOT ALWAYS NECESS>ILY /RONG] OR MORE REPRESSIVE 9 EFFECT4 ,! RADICAL MILIEU HAS A BAD T5D5CY TO APPEAL TO SWEEP+ CYNICISM & DESP]ATION \T ( FE> ?AT ANY?+ LESS C>TOONI% ?AN 0EV]Y?+ IS T]RIBLE & GETT+ WORSE0 WON'T BE P]SUASIVE AT RALLY+ \RSELVES & O!RS4 ,! ABOLITION ( *ATTEL SLAV]Y & ! TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE8 ,A MEAN+LESS SPECTACLE6 ,EV]YONE KN[S WAGE LABOR 9 SWEAT%OPS ETC >\ND ! WORLD IS SO MU* WORSE6 ,& ! PRISON POPULATION IS L>G] 9 REAL T]MS1 EV5 IF RADICALLY SMALL] 9 P]C5TAGE6 ,WE 5D UP AGGRESSIVELY1 RABIDLY BL9D TO IMPROVEM5TS4 ,AS O!RS HAVE NOT$1 ?IS FETI%IZATION (T5 LEAVES US BEFUDDL$ & 9CAPABLE ( RESPONSE :5 WE />T W9N+4 

,IT'S A BAD IDEA TO TAKE ! O/5SIBLE 0REA*0 OR 0SIZE0 ( AN EMPIRE AS A MEASURE ( ITS /R5G? & OPPRESSION4 ,! SIZE ( A PAT* ( COLOR ON A MAP IS NO 9DICATION ( ITS P[]4 ,JU/ AS (T5 IT IS ! CASE ?AT 0! M\NTA9S >E HI< & ! EMP]OR IS F> AWAY02 = ALL !IR SPECTACLE ( MI<T 'L>G]' EMPIRES >E (T5 MORE EPHEM]AL4 ,9DE$ A WORLD GOV]NM5T C\LD WELL BE AN IMPROVEM5T OV] ! #b OR SO 9T]LOCK+LY VICI\SLY COMPETITIVE1 R$UNDANT & LOCALLY-ATT5TIVE NATION/ATES WE HAVE TODAY4 ,BETT] TO HAVE DI/ANT & CONFUS$ BUREAUCRATS ?AN ! P]SONAL ATT5TION ( SMALL T[N COPS4 ,REGIME OR SY/EM COLLAPSES1 :5 !Y COME1 >E (T5 REORGANIZATIONS TO BE MORE EFFICI5T AT PROTECT+ & DEEP5+ P[] RELATIONS !MSELVES4 ,CIVIL W> BETWE5 FRACTUR$ FIEFDOMS HAS LONG BE5 A GREAT MEANS TO RE-/R5G!N ! GAME !ORETIC CONDITIONS US$ TO JU/IFY P[]4 ,! G5]AL COMPUTATIONAL EFFICI5CIES ( DEC5TRALIZATION CAN MEAN ?+S LIKE ,RW&A'S G5OCIDE BE+ MORE EFFICI5T ?AN ?AT ( ! ,?IRD ,REI*4 ,:5 ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE FELL ! ,V&ALS ACTUALLY GOV]N$ !IR SECTIONS ( ! OLD EMPIRE MORE EFFECTIVELY4 

,:ILE ! MOD]N NATION/ATE ECOSY/EM IS UNP>ALLEL$ 9 MANY HORRIFIC ASPECTS1 \R HI<LY CONNECT$ MASS SOCIETY HAS ALSO BE5 9CR$IBLY CONDUCIVE TO AN>*I/IC =CES 9 CULTURE & 9FRA/RUCTURE4 ,ALL ! MORE POT5T = BE+ EXPLICITLY CONSCI\S ( !IR 9T5TIONS & VIGILANT 9 PURSUIT ( MORE AN>*I/IC 5DS ?AN M]E EGALIT>IANISM4 

,YES1 TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCES HAVE UPP$ ! /AKES 9 ! CONFLICT BETWE5 P[] & FRE$OM4 ,& 0CITY CULTURE0 CAN BE BLAM$ 9S(> AS IT PROVIDES PEOPLE ! CONNECTIONS & DEP? ( EXP]I5CE NECESS>Y TO DEVELOP TE*NOLOGIES4 ,BUT ! HI/ORICAL >C ( 0CIVILIZATION0 H>DLY REPRES5TS A S+LE BEA/ BUT A COMPLEX BATTLEFIELD ( DIFF]+ =CES4 

,VIEW+ HI/ORY 9 T]MS ( ! DEVELOPM5T ( A S+UL> 0CITY-CULTURE0 ?AT BUNDLES 9 A DOZ5 ?+S IS 9 SO MANY WAYS A TALE 9V5T$ TO CLEAN ?+S UP 9 H9DSI<T4 ,IT OBSCURES ! MORE SALI5T DEGREES ( FRE$OM & T5SIONS ?AT EXI/$ 9 PRIOR ]AS & WRAPS UP A VA/ >RAY ( HI/ORICAL DYNAMICS ) A S+LE RELATIVELY TELEOLOGICAL B[4 

,IF CIVILIZATION IS JU/ ANY T5D5CY = PEOPLE TO AGGREGATE 9 L>GE NUMB]S IT'S H>D TO ASSIGN ANY NEGATIVE VALUE TO ?AT4 ,& DIS+5U\S TO CLAIM ?AT ! MACROSCALE P[] /RUCTURES ?AT DOM9ATE TODAY >E ! 9H]5T RESULT ( SU*4 

,! WILD DI%ONE/Y ( PRIMITIVI/ IDEOLOGUES MAK+ PIE-9-!-SKY CLAIMS AB\T HUNT] GA!R] SOCIETIES HAS ALREADY BE5 WIDELY NOT$4 ,IT'S NO FUN %OOT+ FI% 9 A B>REL :5 !Y RETREAT TO CLAIM+ MAGICAL S\RCES ( KN[L$GE4 ,BUT IT MU/ BE SAID ?AT IF \R HUNG] = MU* L>G] COMMUNITIES HAS BR\<T 9TO GREAT] RELIEF ! OLD PSY*OLOGIES ( DEHUMANIZATION & SELFI%NESS ?AT HAVE SPAWN$ VIOL5CE & P[] RELATIONS 9 NE>LY ALL HUMAN SOCIETIES1 SO MU* ! BETT]4 ,I PREF] \R 5EMIES & IDOLS BE DRAGG$ 9TO ! DAYLI<T :]E !Y CAN BE /AK$ DEAD1 RA!R ?AN LET P]PETUALLY RU/LE & LURK BEH9D ! 9T]P]SONAL RELATION%IPS ( SMALL COMMUNITIES FROM :OM WE HAVE LITTLE ALT]NATIVE OR ESCAPE4 

,LA/LY IT'S WOR? T\*+ ON ! ATTEMPT$ DEF9ITION OR ID5TIFICATION ( CIVILIZATION ) ! IMPORT+ ( RES\RCES4 ,AS IF 9DIVIDUAL HUMAN BE+S & ECOSY/EMS DON'T 'IMPORT' RES\RCES -- :AT AN >BITR>Y DI/9CTION6 ,?IS NOTION ( CITIES AS BLACK HOLES ON ! MAP ?AT CAN ONLY SUCK FROM AN 9D5TUR$ PEASANTRY IS A CONT5TLESS RHETORICAL APPEAL4 ,:AT CITIES 7OR NON GEOGRAPHICALLY DEF9$ L>GE AGGREGATES ( HI<LY-CONNECT$ PEOPLE7 PRODUCE IS COGNITIVE_/CULTURAL_/TE*NOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY1 :I* IS :Y PEOPLE CONSI/5TLY VOLUNT>ILY TRADE & ASSOCIATE ) CITIES :5 NO TAX OR ?REAT ( =CE IS PRES5T4 ,SIMIL>LY ! APPEAL TO ! SCALE ( 5]GY FL[S ON A MAP IS B>ELY WOR? RESPOND+ TO4 ,NOT ONLY IS SU* A DI/9CTION 9T5SELY >BITR>Y1 BUT ?AT K9D ( FOOTPR9T HAS BE5 BE=E & IS BE+ ONCE AGA9 DEC\PL$ FROM ! WID] SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY REPRES5T$ BY CITIES4 ,>E PRIMITIVI/S REALLY GO+ TO /OP CALL+ PO9TS ( D5SE URBANITY 0CITIES0 OR 0CIVILIZATION0 :5 !Y GR[_/COLLECT ALL !IR FOOD_/5]GY ON SITE 9 V]TICAL F>MS8 ,SIMIL>LY AN AN>*Y ( HI<LY NETWORK$ BUT ECOLOGICALLY ISOLAT$ HOLL[$ \T A/]OIDS PRESSES ! SUP]FICIAL BUNDL+ ( IMPRESSIONS ?AT IS 0CIVILIZATION04 

,WE CAN ALL AGREE ?AT 5VIRONM5TAL DEVA/ATION IS G5]ALLY NEGATIVE4 ,& YET IT IS PRECISELY \R PU% T[>DS WID] SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY -- \R GLOBALIZ$ P]SPECTIVE -- ?AT HAS F9ALLY GIV5 US MU* DEEP] APPRECIATIONS = ! CONTEXT ( \R ACTIONS4 ,HUNT] GA!R]S W]E BL9D TO ! EXT]NALITIES ( !IR ACTIONS ?AT DIDN'T RESULT 9 RELATIVELY IMM$IATE 5VIRONM5TAL PRESSURES4 ,! MASS NETWORK+1 EXP&$ KN[L$GE & SOCIAL OPTIONS LAUN*$ BY CITIES (F]S A MU* BETT] WAY4 

,YES1 ?IS GREAT MESSY EXP]IM5T -- ?IS ORGY ( UNLEA%$ HUMAN ?\<T & OPTIONS 9 \R RELATIONS -- HAS RAIS$ ! /AKES & BR\<T CL>ITY TO MANY P]PETUAL /RUGGLES4 ,BUT D5SE CONNECTIVITY1 HAV+ A MULTITUDE ( OPTIONS = COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATION BEYOND A RELATIVELY /ATIC TRIBE1 IS NOT ! SAME ?+ AS ! RIGIDITY ( EMPIRE4 

,WE HAVE ALWAYS LI$1 )HELD 9=MATION1 MANIPULAT$1 POSITION$1 ?REAT5$1 & US$ PHYSICAL =CE TO CON/RA9 & DIRECT EA* O!R'S OPTIONS4 ,P[] RELATIONS FOLL[$ US TO ! CITIES1 BUT ! HI/ORY ( \R W> ) !M IS NOT A CLEAN >C4 ,WE DO NOT LIVE 9 ! BELLY ( AN ALL-5COMPASS+ BEA/4 ,RA!R \R LIVES >E F\ND MOM5T BY MOM5T ON ! $GES ( CROSS$ SWORDS4 ,WE >E SWIRL+ 9 AN 9T5SELY COMPLICAT$ & VA/ BATTLEFIELD4 ,! GREAT CONNECTIVITY ( COSMOPOLITAN URBANITY IS ONE ( AN>*Y'S GREATE/ VICTORIES4 ,IT HAS DRAWN \R 5EMIES LIKE LOCU/S4 ,BUT TO RETREAT1 FALL AP>T & SCATT] TO ! W9D -- TO BE RUN D[N & CORN]$ ALONE ONCE AGA9 BY MORE ATT5TIVE P[] RELATIONS 9 SMALL TRIBES ) FEW] AV5UES ( ESCAPE -- IS TO AB&ON ALL HOPE OR PRET5SE ( RESI/ANCE4 

,\R ,CORE ,DESIRES 

,! MO/ FRU/RAT+ ?+ AB\T DEBATE 9 T]MS LIKE 0CIVILIZATION0 & 0TE*NOLOGY0 IS ?AT IT CONF9ES \R DISC\RSE TO A V]Y HI< LEVEL ( MACROSCOPIC AB/RACTION4 ,& ?IS NATURALLY OBSCURES DEEP] OR MORE FUNDAM5TAL >GUM5TS OV] VALUES & GOALS4 ,I DISLIKE ?IS MODE ( !ORIZ+ IMM5SELY BECAUSE IT AVOIDS A MORE DIRECT OR HONE/ GRAPPL+ BETWE5 DIFF]5T P]SPECTIVES ON E?ICS & MOTIVATIONS1 (T5 TO DIS+5U\S EFFECT4 

,= EXAMPLE :5 PRIMITIVI/S SPEW 9VECTIVE AB\T 0SPECIALIZATION0 :AT !Y'RE EFFECTIVELY T>GET+ IS DIV]SITY4 ,ALL ( US SPECIALIZE1 ?AT'S ! NATURE ( 9DIVIDUALITY & SUBJECTIVITY4 ,\R EXP]I5CES1 \R 9T]E/S & KN[L$GE BASES 9H]5TLY DIV]GE 9S(> AS WE HAVE ANY AG5CY1 ANY CREATIVITY1 ANY 9QUIRY1 ANY LATITUDE TO ROAM4 ,& IT IS ?R\< 9T]ACT+ ?AT WE B5EFIT FROM O!RS' DIFF]5CES & UNIQU5ESSES4 ,!RE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME ?+S WE CAN ONLY ACCOMPLI% 9 COLLABORATION4 ,SO :5 PRIMITIVI/S SWEEP+LY CLAIM ?AT IT'S SPECIALIZATION ?AT MAKES MOD]N TE*NOLOGY BAD1 !Y'RE IMPLICITLY ASS]T+ ?AT A C]TA9 TYPE ( 09DIVIDUALITY0 -- SELF-SUFFICI5T AUTONOMY -- IS BETT] ?AN ANO!R TYPE ( 09DIVIDUALITY0 -- 9TELLECTUAL AG5CY4 ,?AT NEGATIVE FRE$OM IS GOOD & POSITIVE FRE$OM BAD4 ,BUT ALL ( !SE FUNDAM5TAL DYNAMICS >E HIDD5 UND]NEA? HEAVILY FRAM$ & LEV]AG$ EXAMPLES4 ,! FULL RAMIFICATIONS ( SU* A SWEEP+ ALLEGIANCE TO ANTI-SPECIALIZATION >E HIDD5 FROM FIR/ GLANCE4 ,?AT'S ! NATURE ( ?IS K9D ( DISC\RSE4 

,! ,PROBLEM ) TE*NOLOGY IS ?AT IT 0M$IATES0 \R 9T]ACTION ) REALITY1 SOMEONE DECL>ES4 ,BUT ! AIR1 PHOTONS1 \R SK91 \R CORTICAL NEURONS1 ETC DON'T8 -- ,IT'S TOO LATE1 ?IS NEW RATIONALIZATION = OPPOS+ TE*NOLOGY HAS BE5 GRASP$4 ,& N[ ?AT P]SON F9DS !MSELVES LOCK$ 9TO ! LOGICAL RAMIFICATION ( !IR POSITION4 ,:AT IS M$IATION BUT *A9S ( FILT]S OR PROCESSES8 ,:AT IS AB/RACT ?9K+ OR POND]+1 BUT PRECISELY ?IS3 9T]C$+ 9 ! NORMAL CAUSAL SEQU5CE ( /IMULATION & REACTION4 ,?9K+ IS ! PROBLEM6 ,DO+ DUE DILIG5CE RA!R ?AN REACT+ IMM$IATELY6 ,DEA? TO ?9K+6 ,DEA? TO ! META-AB/RACTION 9H]5T 9 CONSID]ATION & JUDGM5T6 ,:AT WE WANT IS LIVES LIV$ 9 ! ABSOLUTE PRES5T6 ,FUCK MAK+ PLANS6 ,NO CONSID]+ ANY?+ 9 DEP? OR AT L5G?6 ,ULTIMATELY ! MO/ IMPORTANT ?+S Y\ %\LD VALUE IS 0DIRECTNESS0 & 0IMM$IACY06 ,ANY?+ ELSE IS JU/ DISCONNECT$ FLUFF6 

,BY PA9T+ ! B>RI]S & 9EFFICI5CIES WE HAPP5 TO GRAPPLE ) 9 \R P>TICUL> CONTEXT ) A BROAD /ROKE 70M$IATION07 ! PRIMITIVI/ UND]GOES A K9D ( IDEOLOGICAL COLLAPSE UNTIL !IR ULTRAD5SE FRAMEWORK ALL[S NO ESCAPE1 NO FUR!R COGNITIVE MOTION OR CRITIQUE4 ,OBVI\SLY1 AS PSY*OLOGICAL ADVICE )9 A LIMIT$ CONTEXT1 A GREAT] DEGREE ( GR\ND+ OR AW>5ESS ( ! PRES5T CAN BE USEFUL1 BUT :5 PEOPLE TRY TO BUILD FULL-FL$G$ PHILOSOPHIES \T ( 0LIV+ 9 ! MOM5T0 ! ONLY RESULT IS DEA? WOR%IP4 ,A ROCK 0LIVES 9 ! MOM5T0 -- ! MOM5T ,I PROD IT IT MOVES4 ,IT IS ! M5TAL RECURSION1 ! 9T]NAL MODEL+1 ! EXPLORATION ( POSSIBILITIES BE=E ACT+1 ! KN[L$GE ( BROAD] CONTEXT1 ?AT GIVES US AG5CY4 

,!RE >E QUITE SIGNIFICANT NORMATIVE /ATEM5TS BE+ GLOSS$ OV] 9 DIFF]5T PRIMITIVI/ ANALYZES4 ,SWEEP+ CLAIMS & ASSOCIATIONS QUICKLY GR[ 9TO A D5SE ?ICKET1 BO? GIV+ COV] = & BOX+ PEOPLE 9TO ABSURD POSITIONS1 ALL :ILE ! UND]LY+ ROOTS >E LEFT UNEXAM9$4 

,:AT DO WE OR %\LD WE MO/ VALUE OR DESIRE AT CORE8 

,PRIMITIVI/S >E PRONE TO TROTT+ A LITANY ( CLAIMS AB\T ! LIVES ( HUNT] GA!R]S4 ,!Y W]E HAPPI]4 ,!Y W]E SUP] HEAL?Y ,ADONIZES4 ,!Y HAD SEX ALL ! TIME4 ,!Y EV5 SAW ! MOONS ( ,SATURN ) !IR B>E EYES4 ,IT'S LIKE A COMM]CIAL = A NEW TOO?PA/E4 ,IF !Y C\LD F9D A WAY TO CLAIM PRIMITIVISM WILL MAKE PEOPLE'S P5ISES BIGG] ,I'M SURE !Y'D TRY4 

,!SE CLAIMS CAN ( C\RSE BE DISPUT$ -- 9 T]MS ( H[ *]RY-PICK$ !IR EXAMPLES >E1 H[ 9H]5TLY SPECI\S AN?ROPOLOGICAL ACC\NTS ( 'HAPP9ESS' >E1 H[ !Y CAVALI]LY DISMISS HORRORS LIKE HUNG]1 & TO :AT DEGREE PRIMITIVE LIFE'S SUCCESS ALONG !SE METRICS CAN BE SUP]S$$ ?R\< O!R MEANS -- BUT ,I ?9K ?IS IS ! WRONG APPROA*4 ,I DON'T REALLY C>E :E!R LIV+ AS A PRIMITIVE WILL GIVE ME A BIGG] COCK4 ,:Y %\LD WE C>E AB\T !SE SUP]FICIALITIES8 ,IF M]E HAPP9ESS WAS ! TOTALITY ( \R ASPIRATIONS WE C\LD SIMPLY HOOK \RSELVES UP 9 VATS ( H]O94 

,:AT DO WE VALUE OR DESIRE AT ! ROOT ( \R E?ICS_/MOTIVATION8 ,:AT DO WE DESIRE TO DESIRE1 OR DESIRE TO DESIRE TO DESIRE8 

,EV5 IF HAPP9ESS IS SOME?+ ?AT WE DESIRE OR %\LD DESIRE1 IS IT ,A,L,L WE WANT OR %\LD WANT8 ,& IF NOT HAPP9ESS IS !RE SOME?+ ELSE 9H]5T TO ! BE+ ( ANYONE CAPABLE ( EXAM9+ & RE/RUCTUR+ !IR DESIRES -- SOME K9D ( NATURAL PRESCRIPTION ?AT WE MI<T FOLL[ OR REVOLT AGA9/ TO \R DOOM8 ,?IS IS A H>D] QUE/ION BECAUSE IT REQUIRES AN ID5TIFICATION1 A SETTL+ ON SOME P>TICUL>LY RELEVANT DEF9ITION ( :AT WE %\LD ID5TIFY ) OR :AT WE %\LD VALUE4 

,\R BRA9S HAVE *ANG$ OV] ! LA/ TWO MILLION YE>S -- EV5 ! LA/ T5 ?\S& -- *ILDLIKE TRAITS LIKE 9QUISITIV5ESS EMPHASIZ$ & EXT5D$4 ,A LONG >C T[>DS FI<T+ (F ! RELATIVE DEADNESS & COMPLAC5CY ( ADUL?OOD4 ,HUMANS >E AT PRES5T A WEIRD 9SEP>ABLE JUMBLE ( ,PLEI/OC5E CREATURE & RADICALLY NEW /UFF2 WE >E A NUMB] ( CONTRADICTIONS PHYSIOLOGICALLY ) NO UND]LY+ OBJECTIVE DIRECTIVE BAK$ 94 

,?OSE :O CAN CONCEIVE ( NO?+ BEYOND A V]Y SUP]FICIAL NATURALI/IC FALLACY MI<T SAY ?AT HUMANS >E DEF9$ BY S]V+ SOME NI*E ROLE AS GE>S 9 AN BROAD] MA*9E_/ECOSY/EM4 ,BUT H[ DO WE GO AB\T DET]M9+ :AT ?AT ROLE IS FROM ! VA/ V>IETY ( POSSIBLE READS ON IT8 

,! 'PURPOSE' ( HUMANITY MI<T EQUALLY WELL BE TAK5 TO BE TO S]VE AS A CLEANS+ VIRUS -- GETT+ 9 A LONG-OV]DUE MASS EXT9CTION EV5T SO EVOLUTION CAN BE SP$ UP 7!RE IS AFT] ALL NO ECOLOGICAL IMP]ATIVE T[>DS EQUILIBRIUM74 ,OR MAYBE ! NEOT5IC >C WE'VE TAK5 9 RETA9+ \R *ILDLIKE 9QUIRY & CREATIVITY IS AN EVOLUTION>Y CATA/ROPHE UTT]LY AT ODDS ) ! BROAD] BIOSPH]E & WE %\LD ALL /OP ?9K+1 /OP EX]CIS+ \R *ILDLIKE 9QUIRY1 OR EV5 JU/ KILL EA* O!R (F6 ,OR MAYBE WE'RE ! :OLE PO9T ( ! SUDD5 S+UL>ITY ( ?IS ,PHAN]OZOIC EON1 A WAY = LIFE TO JUMP (F ?IS PLANET 9 A K9D ( ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION ON ! GR&E/ SCALE1 SP9N+ UP A/]OIDS1 SE$+ COMETS1 REBUILD+ ,M>S FROM DESOLATION1 & TURN+ ! />S GRE54 

,OR MAYBE ! RELEVANT CATEGORY ISN'T :AT M]E ECOLOGICAL NI*E WE FILL1 BUT \R EXI/5CE AS /RIV+ M9DS1 DYNAMIC NEURAL NETWORKS MODEL+ ! WORLD >\ND !M -- AS *ILDR5 /RUGGL+ NOT TO BE VANQUI%$ BY ! S$5T>Y1 DY+ CIRCUITS ( ADULTS4 ,HONE/LY ,I ?9K ?IS ONE R+S ! /RONGE/4 ,AS 9QUIR+1 5GAG$1 CREATIVE M9DS WE DON'T JU/ IGNORE LIMITATIONS1 WE'VE ACTIVELY RESI/$ & OV]COME !M = AS LONG AS WE HAVE EXI/$4 ,9DE$ CREATIVITY & 9QUIRY SEEM 9 SO MANY WAYS TO LIE AT ! CORE ( LIB]TY1 ( ?9K+1 ( EXI/+4 ,& = MO/ ( HI/ORY ! CREATIVES1 ! SCI5TI/S & ! LIKE HAVE BE5 SITUAT$ 9 POSITIONS ( RESI/ANCE TO P[]4 ,OCCASIONALLY P[] /RUCTURES LE>N$ H[ TO EAT !M OR 9CORPORATE !M1 BUT 9EVITABLY !SE ME?ODS FAIL & Y\ GET MAJOR POLITICIANS ON TV DEM&+ ! EFFECTIVE ABOLITION ( SCI5CE OR ! 9T]NET4 

,MY PO9T ) !SE EXAMPLES IS WE NE$ TO BE CLE> AB\T :AT SORT ( P]SPECTIVE OR MOTIVATION WE'RE APPEAL+ TO4 ,& H[ ?AT %AKES \T4 ,IT'S NOT 5\< TO MAKE BROAD REF]5CES TO 0HAPP9ESS0 OR 0! E>?04 

,& YET -- LIKE ,M>XISM -- ,PRIMITIVISM L>GELY DUCKS ADDRESS+ \R F\NDATIONAL E?ICS HEAD-ON2 IT AVOIDS MAK+ ANY CONCRETE >GUM5TS = :Y WE %\LD VALUE ! ?+S IT APPEALS TO4 ,! IDEA BE+ ?AT ITS T>GET AUDI5CE WILL PROBABLY HAVE ACCUMULAT$ SOME LOOSE POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS ) ! ?+S IT 9VOKES 7GRE5 ?+S FEEL GOOD67 & SO APPEAL+ TO !M %\LD BE GOOD 5\<4 ,BUT NOTE ?AT ?IS IS A DECID$LY NON-RADICAL APPROA*4 

,& ALL ! >GUM5TS 9 ! WORLD ?AT TE*NOLOGY OR CIVILIZATION MAY HAVE C]TA9 D[NSIDES >E 5TIRELY BESIDE ! PO9T IF ?OSE D[NSIDES >E 9 DIFF]5T >EAS FROM ONE'S MO/ CORE VALUES4 

,MY MO/ CORE VALUE IS VIGILANCE4 ,I DON'T SEE H[ ONE CAN SPEAK ( ANY SORT ( COH]5T E?ICS OR C>E )\T IT4 ,9 FACT IT WAS VIGILANCE ?AT ATTRACT$ ME TO ! >GUM5TS ( PRIMITIVISM TWO DECADES AGO -- CONC]N ) ! LACK ( DUE DILIG5CE & CONSID]ATION TO ! DYNAMICS & EXT]NALITIES ( \R 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY4 ,BUT AT ! 5D ( ! DAY :AT PRIMITIVISM ULTIMATELY REPRES5TS IS AN AB&ON+ ( VIGILANCE4 ,! WORLD ( ! P]MAN5T COLLAPSE IS WORLD 9 :I* \R 9QUIRY 9TO ! UNIV]SE -- ! DEP? ( \R 5GAGEM5T ) NATURE -- CAN NEV] PROGRESS PA/ A C]TA9 LEVEL4 ,A WORLD 9 :I* ! >RAY ( MEANS 7TE*NOLOGIES7 WE MI<T CONSID] >E P]MAN5TLY & />KLY LIMIT$4 ,9 :I* WE >E CUT (F FROM ! RI*NESS ( MO/ O!RS' ?\<TS & CONF9$ TO T9Y PRISONS ( LOCALISM4 

,!SE DEEP TRADE(FS TO ITS PREFIGURATIVE WORLD >E HORRIFY+ 5\<1 BUT ! PRIMITIVI/ IDEOLOGY ?AT HAS %AK5 \T TO DEF5D ?AT PRESCRIPTION B5DS 9ESCAPABLY T[>DS A VICI\S ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM4 

,DI/ILL$1 PRIMITIVISM IS ! V]Y OPPOSITE ( RADICAL ?9K+4 ,9 ITS REACTION>Y EMBRACE ( AN ,ORWELLIAN NEGATIVE FRE$OM IMPLICITLY C5T]$ >\ND A BIOLOGICAL ESS5TIALISM IT HAS MUTAT$ 9TO A MOCK]Y ( AN>*ISM4 ,! PORTRAIT ( 0FRE$OM0 AS SOME UNP]TURB$ /ATIC NATURAL /ATE ( BE+ TO BE DEF5D$ BE>S ONLY ! LOOSE/ ( L+UI/IC TIES ) ! POSITIVE FRE$OM -- ! FRE$OM TO -- ( AN>*Y4 ,:AT ! POPUL> NOTION ( COLLAPSE REPRES5T$ 9 ,J5S5'S 0,5DGAME0 -- :]E ALMO/ ALL TE*NOLOGICAL OPTIONS >E IRREVOCABLY BANI%$ -- REALLY PRES5TS IS ! ULTIMATE PRISON4 ,ONE SO ABSOLUTE AS TO NE$ NO FUR!R GU>DS4 

,9 ?IS WE MU/ RECOGNIZE PRIMITIVISM AS FUNCTIONALLY S]V+ TO C>RY ! TRADITION ( DOME/ICATION & S$5T>Y LIFE TO ITS APEX3 A F9AL DESP]ATE ATTEMPT TO EXT]M9ATE ! RI* ,CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION ( LU% CULTURAL & 9TELLECTUAL COMPLEXITY ?AT ACCOMPANI$ 9CREAS$ SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY & OPTIONS 9 AFF9ITY4 ,AN EXT9CTION EV5T UNP>ALLEL$ 9 ! HI/ORY ( CONSCI\SNESS4 ,! P]MAN5T LOSS ( 9CALCULABLE CULTURAL & 9TELLECTUAL ECOSY/EMS4 

,& = :AT8 ,A S$ATE LIFE/YLE ( IMM$IATISM1 ( COM=TABLY CONSI/5T CONDITIONS4 ,LONG] *A9S1 BIGG] CAGES4 ,SUP]FICIAL AMELIORATIONS AT ! CO/ ( ALL FUR!R ADVANCES 9 FRE$OM 9 ! LONGT]M4 ,!RE'S A WORD = PEOPLE :O TRADE AWAY ALL HOPE ( ! 9F9ITE 9 RETURN = IMM$IATE PLEASURES1 ! V]Y PEOPLE :O POPUL>IZ$ 09 ! LONG T]M WE'RE ALL DEAD0444 !Y'RE CALL$ LIB]ALS4 

,YES1 FRE$OM IMPLIES RISK & DANG]4 ,BUT ! P]PETUAL SECURITY PROMIS$ BY PRIMITIVISM IS A NI<TM>E IRRECONCILABLE ) ANY?+ CAPABLE ( CALL+ ITSELF AN>*I/ )\T *OK+4 ,C(F9S >E MADE 0HUMAN SIZ$10 \R LIVES %\LD BE LIV$ BIGG] ?AN ?AT4 

,CIVILIZATIONAL ,COLLAPSE 

,IT MU/ BE SAID ?AT ,I NEV]!LESS OCCASIONALLY HAPP5 UPON ! MO/ RELATABLE ( PRIMITIVI/S4 ,! SORT ( P]SON P]SUAD$ NOT BY MY/ICISM OR A DEA?LIKE HO/ILITY TO COMPLEXITY OR ?\<T ITSELF BUT MO/LY BY PRAGMATISM & DESPAIR4 ,:OSE EMBRACE ( PRIMITIVISM OR ANTI-CIV REFLECTS NOT AN ANTI-9TELLECTUALISM1 BUT A S9C]E ANALYSIS ?AT SEES NO ALT]NATIVE4 

0,I HATE ?9K+ AB\T IT10 YET ANO!R BURNT-\T PUNK CONFIDES TO ME OV] B\RBON4 0,EV]Y TIME ,I GLANCE >\ND AT ! WORLD ALL ,I SEE IS DEA?40 

,& SURELY1 YES1 RAMPANT ECOCIDE CONT9UES L>GELY UNABAT$4 ,BUT SIMPLE N>RATIVES HAVE A K9D ( OV]:ELM+ PULL4 ,IT BECOMES EASY TO PATT]N-MAT* EV]Y?+ )9 !IR FRAMEWORK4 ,! SAME TRIGG]$ M5TAL CIRCUITS1 AGA9 & AGA9 & AGA94 ,EV5TUALLY WE GET SO LO/ DEEP 9 !SE WELL-WORN RUTS !Y FEEL LIKE A VISE4 ,!Y BECOME SO PA9FUL -- ! FEEL+ ( BE+ TRAPP$ SO DEEP -- ?AT WE DEVELOP AN AV]SION TO VIGILANTLY PU%+ ?R\<4 ,TO COLLECT+ MORE DATA1 CONSID]+ ALT]NATE PICTURES OR HYPO!SES4 ,! MOM5T SOME?+ />TS TO REM9D US ( ! IMPRISON+ N>RATIVE WE W9CE AWAY FROM IT1 IMPLICITLY ACCEPT+ IT RA!R ?AN CRITICALLY 5GAG+ ) IT4 

,BUT H]E'S ! PLA9 FACT ( ! MATT]3 ,WE'VE EXPLOR$ V]Y LITTLE4 

,HUMAN HI/ORY SO F> HAS BE5 UNIMAG9ABLY BRIEF :5 VIEW$ ON ! SCALES ( DIFF]5T SOCIAL EVOLUTION>Y CYCLES4 ,IT HAS ALSO BE5 9 SOME WAYS A S+LE HI/ORY4 ,?IS OBLIGES BO? A C]TA9 AM\NT ( HESITANCY :5 IT COMES TO 9F]R+ ANY?+ & A C]TA9 AM\NT ( DILIG5CE4 ,WE >E NOT ABLE TO SET UP A FEW HUNDR$ COMPLETELY SEP>ATE ,E>?S & RE-RUN ! 5D ( ! ICE AGE & ! ADV5T ( L>GE SCALE SOCIETIES4 ,WE HAVE ONLY ONE ,E>?4 ,?IS MAKES IT ALL ! MORE IMP]ATIVE WE GET ?+S RI<T1 ?AT WE TAKE ! BE/ POSSIBLE PA?4 ,& P>T ( ?AT MEANS DO+ ALL \R HOMEWORK4 ,NOT FALL+ BACK ON EASY DEFAULTS OR SIMPLE /ORIES LIKE PRIMITIVISM TRADES 91 BUT PROACTIVELY CONSID]+ AS MANY POSSIBILITIES AS WE CAN4 

,:O KN[S :AT R&OM P>AMET]S W\LD SP9 \T DIFF]5TLY W]E WE TO CLONE A HUNDR$ PREHI/ORIC ,E>?S4 ,:AT TELEOLOGIES OR 0DET]M9I/IC0 ACC\NTS ( HI/ORY W\LD CRUMBLE AWAY1 REVEAL$ AS SO MU* JU/-SO /ORYTELL+ AFT] ! FACT4 ,IT SEEMS LIKELY MU* W\LD4 

,:ATEV] MAY GET PR9T$ ON ,BOE+ PAMPHLETS !RE ISN'T SOME OBJECTIVE & S+UL> PA? ( TE*NOLOGICAL 0PROGRESS40 ,HI/ORY IS FILL$ ) *ANCE OCCURR5CES & R&OM WALKS D[N ! AVAILABLE AV5UES4 ,:ILE 9 ! BROADE/ T]MS WE CAN SPEAK ( A T5D5CY = TE*NOLOGICAL CREATIVITY TO CREATE MORE AVAILABLE MEANS & !RE >E SOME SEQU5TIAL DEP5D5CIES TO :AT TE*NOLOGIES GET 9V5T$1 !RE >E USUALLY MANY MANY PA?S4 ,& ! SOCIAL-9FRA/RUTURAL PROGRESSIONS ?AT HAPP5$ TO PLAY \T -- LIKE TAPP+ FOSSIL FUELS LIKE CRAZY -- >E NOT 9H]5T TRADE(FS4 ,I REF]5C$ ,AUGU/9 ,M\*OT'S SOL> /EAM 5G9E E>LI]1 & ITS ECLIPSE BY BO? A DECREASE 9 COAL PRICES ?ANKS TO ,BRITI% IMP]IAL CONQUE/ & A ,FR5*-,BRITI% TREATY4 ,SUFFICE TO SAY ?AT HAD AN AN>*I/ REVOLUTION SUCCE$$ BACK !N1 OR EV5 HAD ! VAG>IES ( GEOPOLITICS SPUN \T DIFF]5TLY WE W\LD HAVE TAK5 A DIFF]5T PA?4 ,!RE >E C\NTLESS EXAMPLES ( SU* HAPP5/ANCE ?R\<\T ! HI/ORIES ( TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T4 ,SOMETIMES = ! BETT]1 SOMETIMES = ! WORSE4 

,ONE CAN EASILY SP9 \T ALT]NATE PA?S WE MI<T HAVE TAK5 TO GET FROM ! ICE AGE TO 9=MATION TE*NOLOGIES HAD WE DEVELOP$ & /UCK TO AN AN>*I/ E?OS BACK 9 PREHI/ORY3 

,PEOPLE COLLABORATE 9TO L>GE CITIES1 HORTICULTURE & PA/ORALISM PROVIDE ! F\NDATION1 !N AQUADUCTS & PLUMB+ TE*NOLOGY -- AS ! EGALIT>IAN & PEACEFUL ,H>RAPPANS W]E IMM$IATELY 9CL9$ T[>DS -- LEAD TO CITY G>D5S & MORE SU/A9ABLE IRRIGATION4 ,SANIT>Y CITY CONDITIONS LEAD TO PLUMMET+ *ILD MORTALITY :I* 7AS WE'VE SE5 >\ND ! WORLD7 RAPIDLY LEADS TO /ABLE POPULATIONS & DRAMATICALLY DIFF]+ CONCEPTS ( RELATIONS T[>DS *ILDR5 :I* HELPS PREV5T HI]>*ICAL ABUSE FE$BACK LOOPS +RA9+ SLAV] M9DSETS4 ,! LACK ( RAPID POPULATION IMBALANCES & CONSEQU5T W>R+ LEADS TO LONG] TIME PREF]5CES & LESS PRESSURE TO GR[ FOOD AT ANY CO/1 :I* LEADS TO SAN] CONTROLL$ EXP]IM5TATION SURR\ND+ CROP PRACTICES4 ,METALLURGY IS DEVELOP$ 9 A COMPETITIVE & EGALIT>IAN 5VIRONM5T ( MORE ,D,I,Y BACKY>D %OP /YLES ?AT NEV] PROVIDES ! />TUP CO]CION NECESS>Y TO CONC5TRATE KN[L$GE4 ,WRITT5 LANGUAGE EM]GES FROM ! MA!MATICS ( /UDY+ A/RONOMY1 WEA!R1 5G9E]+1 EXPLORATION1 & KEEP+ ACC\NTS 9 A WORLD :]E TRIBAL REPUTATION ME*ANISMS HAVE TR\BLE SCAL+ PA/ ,DUNB>4 ,WE GET GLASSMAK+ & L5SCRAFT+ V]Y E>LY :I* LEADS TO SOL> & ALL ( MOD]N PHYSICS4 ,AS WELL AS ! DRAMATIC ADVANCEM5TS 9 MA!MATICS TO GO ) IT1 & ANCILL>Y 9SI<TS 9 BIOLOGY & *EMI/RY4 ,GLASSMAK+ -- ! M]E >TISANAL HEAT+ ( S& -- IS SO PR(\NDLY IMPORTANT TO ! LEAPS ( ! LA/ FEW HUNDR$ YE>S ,I C\LD GEEK \T ON IT = AN 5TIRE PIECE AT LEA/ AS LONG AS ?IS ONE4 ,BUT SUFFICE TO SAY A MORE DELIB]ATIVE & SCI5TIFIC WORLD HAS LESS PRESSURE & CAPACITY TO EXTRACT & BURN FOSSIL FUELS BE=E REALIZ+ !IR IMPACT4 ,9 SU* A WORLD )\T GOV]NM5TS MURD]+ SCI5TI/S1 CLOS+ (F RESE>* & MAK+ PROCLAMATIONS LIKE 0WE DO NOT DO JEWI% PHYSICS01 FUNDAM5TAL RESE>* W\LD MOVE A HELL ( A LOT FA/]1 :ILE ! ABS5CE ( HUGE COMM& ECONOMIES & CAPITAL ACCUMULATIONS MEAN 9DU/RY & L>GE SCALE 9FRA/RUCTURE W\LD MOVE SL[]4 

,WE MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT W9D[ TO ?AT P>TICUL> ALT]NATE UNIV]SE1 BUT WE DON'T HAVE A W9D[ TO ANY O!R UNIV]SES4 ,& IT'S DANG]\S AS FUCK TO 9F] TOO MU* FROM JU/ \R [N4 ,IT'S ! CONS]VATIVE FALLACY 9 FACT1 :]E9 ONE ASSUMES ?AT :AT IS OR HAS BE5 MU/ BE BASICALLY ALL ?AT IS POSSIBLE4 ,SU* /UNN+ & T]RIFY+ >ROGANCE4 

,! PO9T IS ?AT UN5D+ REFRA9S (1 0,H[ W\LD Y\ AN>*I/ N]DS EV] HAVE WIFI R\T]S )\T SLAVE M9ES = ,COLTAN 9 ! ,CONGO80 >E RIDICUL\SLY1 MILITANTLY OBTUSE FRAM+S4 ,COLTAN = 9/ANCE IS AVAILABLE FROM MANY S\RCES >\ND ! WORLD1 ! ,CONGO REPRES5T+ A T9Y P]C5TAGE1 ! ONLY REASON C]TA9 SITES SEE VA/ ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION OR HUMAN SUFF]+ IS SOCIAL CONTEXT4 ,& R>E 9DE$ IS ! RES\RCE ?AT HAD NO EASY TO ACCESS SURFACE DEPOSITS4 ,! VA/ M9ES ( ?IS WORLD EXI/ 9 L>GE P>T BECAUSE \R RUL]S WANT$ TO RETA9 MAT]IALS ?AT HAD BE5 H>VE/$ = USELESS SUDRIES RA!R ?AN RECYCLE & REPURPOSE !M4 ,GOLD IS USEFUL 9 CONSUM] ELECTRONICS1 BUT SO LITTLE IS NE$$ 9 COMP>ISON TO ! AM\NT WA/$ AS >BITR>Y SIGNS ( WEAL?4 ,SUFFICI5T ELECTRONICS TO LAUN* AN 9=MATION AGE C\LD BE MADE US+ COPP] EASILY H>VE/$ FROM SURFACE DEPOSITS ?\S&S ( YE>S AGO4 ,!RE >E MANY DIFF]5T WAYS ( MAK+ SEMICONDUCTORS1 BATT]IES1 SOL> PANELS & ! LIKE1 MANY ALT]NATIVE =MS REQUIR+ DIFF]5T RES\RCES4 ,!RE'S NO REASON TO SUSPECT ?AT ! APPROA*ES ?AT >E ECONOMICAL 9 A WORLD ) TITANIC AM\NTS ( =CE & CAPITAL W\LD BE SIMIL>LY ECONOMICAL )\T4 ,:5 5G9E]S DESIGN TE*NOLOGIES !Y >E GUID$ BY :AT RES\RCES HAVE BE5 MADE ECONOMICALLY OPTIMAL1 SO IF ! AU?ORIT>IAN GOV]NM5T ( ,*9A HAS BULLDOZ$ ITS CITIZ5S' L& & DRIV5 D[N ! PRICE ( C]TA9 R>E E>?S !N RESE>* 9TO TOOLS UTILIZ+ ?OSE R>E E>?S WILL PROCE$ FA/] ?AN RESE>* 9TO F> LESS DE/RUCTIVE ALT]NATIVES4 ,TO CLAIM ?AT SOCIAL /RUCTURES & DYNAMICS HAVE NO IMPACT ON ! PROGRESSION ( TE*NOLOGIES IS 9SANE4 ,& RADICAL *ANGES TO \R SOCIAL /RUCTURES W\LD CAUSE RADICAL *ANGES TO \R TE*NOLOGIES4 

,! T5D5CY TO SWEEP+LY DISMISS ALL GRE5 TE* AS 0SIMIL> 9 K9D0 & IGNORE ORD]S ( MAGNITUDE ( DIFF]5CES 9 IMPACT OR RELEVANCY IS A WIDESPREAD 9FECTION4 ,BUT :AT IT RESEMBLES MO/ IS ! SORT ( DESP]ATE 9CANTATION TO PRES]VE ONE'S N>RATIVE WE MOCK ) 0BUT JET FUEL CAN'T MELT /EEL BEAMS04 ,RATIOS MATT]4 ,IT MATT]S :5 WE R$UCE AWAY ! WORK ( A HUNDR$ PEOPLE TO JU/ ONE P]SON 7OR SPREAD \T AMONG MANY PEOPLE UNTIL IT'S A TRIVIAL *ORE74 ,&1 YES1 ACTUALLY A LOT ( GRE5 TE* (F]S DRAMATIC IMPROVEM5TS1 NOT M]ELY GRE5 CAPITALI/ OBSCUR+ ( ! REAL CO/S4 ,! PEOPLE WORK+ ON GRE5 TE* >5'T ALL IDIOTS OR MALICI\S CONSPIRATORS4 

,PRIMITIVI/S LOVE TO PRES5T A HI]>*Y :]EBY 9=MATION TE*NOLOGIES >E ONLY AVAILABLE TO A V]Y SMALL NUMB] ( PEOPLE ?ANKS TO ! SUFF]+ & COLONIAL 5SLAVEM5T ( A GREAT MANY4 ,BUT ! REALITY IS ALMO/ EV]YONE ON ?IS PLANET HAS A CELLPHONE N[2 BILLIONS HAVE SM>TPHONES4 ,! 5?USIASM ( SMALL VILLAGES 9 ,AFRICA SETT+ UP L[-IMPACT ,D,I,Y W9D TURB9ES TO G5]ATE ELECTRICITY = !IR [N PURPOSES1 MU/ BE DI/+UI%$ AGA9/ ! MANY ORD]S ( MAGNITUDE ( UNNECESS>Y WA/E 9 ! FIR/ WORLD4 ,PRIMITIVISM SO (T5 FUNCTIONS AS A MOTTE & BAILEY FALLACY1 :]EBY LEGITIMATE 5VIRONM5TALI/ >GUM5TS AGA9/ ! VA/ DE/RUCTIV5ESS ( \R PRES5T RIDICUL\S & AU?ORIT>IAN 9FRA/RUCTURE >E SUDD5LY MAGICALLY EXT5D$ 9TO >GUM5TS AGA9/ ALL POSSIBLE TE*NOLOGY -- NEV] QUITE MAK+ AN >GUM5T = H[ ! WA/E & DE/RUCTION IS SUPPOS$ TO 9EVITABLY CREEP BACK 94 

,9V>IABLY AN ALLUSION TO POLITICAL RE=MISM IS MADE :5 Y\ PO9T \T AV5UES BY :I* \R 9FRA/RUCTURE & COMMODITY USE C\LD BE *ANG$ :ILE RETA9+ & DEEP5+ \R TE*NOLOGICAL CAPACITY4 ,BUT SU* A COMP>ISON TO RE=MISM IS 9ANE2 POLITICAL P[] IS A DIFF]5T BEA/ 5TIRELY4 ,! PSY*OLOGY 9VOLV$ 9 CONTROLL+ O!R PEOPLE IS DRAMATICALLY DI/9CT FROM ! PSY*OLOGY 9VOLV$ 9 GIV+ !M MORE POSSIBILITIES4 ,WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO EXPECT CONTROL TO CONT9UE /RIV+ = MORE CONTROL4 ,BUT CAPACITY IS DIFF]5T FROM CONTROL4 ,TE*NOLOGY -- 9 ! S5SE ( MEANS -- DOESN'T DOM9ATE M9DS1 IT EXT5DS :AT !Y CAN DO4 ,Y\ REALLY HAVE PLAY SOME EXTREMELY DUBI\S PO/MOD]N %ELLGAMES OR GET LO/ 9 CRUDE PSY*OLOGICAL APPEALS TO AVOID ?AT REALITY4 

,SIMIL>LY DESP]ATE >E ! 0GR[? 9 A F9ITE SY/EM0 REFRA9S4 ,! ,E>? IS MO/ EMPHATICALLY NOT A CLOS$ SY/EM1 & ?IS FACT UND]P9S ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( ! BIOSPH]E4 ,\R ECOSY/EMS W\LD NOT EXI/ )\T CON/ANTLY TAK+ 9 SOL> 5]GY FROM )\T4 ,9 ! LA/ FIFTE5 YE>S WE'VE BE5 >GU+ AB\T ?IS SOL> TE*NOLOGY HAS BL[N RI<T ?R\< EV]Y ALLEG$LY 'FUNDAM5TAL' 5G9E]+ B>RI]4 ,MEAN:ILE EXP]TS AGREE ?AT WE ALREADY HAVE SUFFICI5T TE*NOLOGY TO M9E A/]OIDS & -- AW>E ( ?IS AS WELL AS MANY A/]OIDS ) SU* ABUNDANCES ( R>E METALS AS TO CRA% GLOBAL M>KETS OR CREATE NE> PO/-SC>CITY -- BILLIONAIRES HAVE BE5 9VE/+ 9 A/]OID M9+ COMPANIES4 ,IMAG9E EV]Y M9E ON ! PLANET %UTT]+1 EV]Y M\NTA9 TOP REMOVAL PROJECT PACK+ UP4 ,BUT AGA91 LIKE EV]Y O!R MAJOR TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T GO+ BACK TO SATELLITES1 ! ONLY RESPONSE PRIMITIVI/S CAN MU/] IS TO SAY 0SCI5CE FICTION0 AS SNE]+LY AS POSSIBLE4 

,! REALITY IS ?AT ! COLLAPSE ( CIVILIZATION 9 A P]MAN5T ,5DGAME S5SE IS NOT GU>ANTE$ 9 ! SLI<TE/4 ,9 FACT :ILE !RE IS MU* ?AT IS BRITTLE AB\T \R CURR5T 9FRA/RUCTURE1 IT IS ! SUPPOS$ GU>ANTEE ( CIVILIZATION'S COLLAPSE ?AT HAS GR[N 9CREAS+LY BRITTLE4 ,COLLAPSI/S LOVE TO RATTLE (F ! >RAY ( PEAKS OR POT5TIAL CATA/ROPHES AS ?\< MULTIPLE >GUM5TS ?AT >E 9T]RELAT$ >E /RONG] ?AN ONE4 ,IT W\LD ONLY TAKE ! MATURATION ( A S+LE TE*NOLOGY TO D]AIL ! :OLE ?+4 ,GET *EAP 5]GY FROM FUSION OR SOL> PANELS & Y\ CAN SP5D ?AT 5]GY TO PROCESS & RECYCLE METALS1 AV]T+ PEAK METAL 9 ! PROCESS4 ,GET *EAP METALS & H>VE/+ W9D1 SOL>1 ETC SUDD5LY BECOMES TRIVIAL4 

,AN ,5DGAME COLLAPSE IS C]TA9LY A POSSIBILITY WOR? CONSID]+ S]I\SLY1 BUT IT IS NOT AN 9EVITABILITY4 ,IT IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY WE MU/ FI<T TO \R DY+ BREA?S4 

,9 PUBLIC PRIMITIVI/S >E ALWAYS QUICK TO RETREAT TO ! CLAIM ?AT !Y DON'T WANT TO KILL SEV5 BILLION PEOPLE1 !RE'S JU/ LIT]ALLY NO?+ WE CAN DO TO /OP SU* AN UNPREC$5T$ HOLOCAU/4 ,:AT NONS5SE4 ,SEV5 BILLION PEOPLE IS SU* AN A/RONOMICAL NUMB] ( PEOPLE ?AT EV5 ! T9IE/ GLIMM] ( A *ANCE TO D]AIL SU* GIGADEA? BY SAV+ CIVILIZATION %\LD SURELY OCCUPY \R EV]Y WAK+ MOM5T4 ,& PRESS !M ON ?IS1 />T TALK+ AB\T LIQUID FLUORIDE ?ORIUM SALT REACTORS 7IMPOSSIBLE TO MELTD[N1 %ORT HALFLIFE ( PRODUCTS1 NO UTILITY 9 MAK+ W>HEADS1 USEFUL WAY TO GET RID ( ?ORIUM ALREADY NATURALLY POISON+ ! ,E>?'S SURFACE 9 MANY PLACES7 OR ! LIKE & V]Y QUICKLY A LOT ( !M WILL REV]T TO ANGRY DECL>ATIONS ?AT !Y'D BL[ UP ANY POSSIBLE FIXES TO ! COLLAPSE4 

,?IS RESPONSE %\LD BE HI<LY ILLU/RATIVE ( JU/ H[ PAP] ?9 & SUP]FICIAL ! FIG LEAF COV]+ !IR G5OCIDAL MISAN?ROPIC ASPIRATIONS >E4 ,PRIMITIVISM IS JU/ ANO!R ,M>XISM :]E Y\ LET 09EVITABLE0 MAT]IAL CONDITIONS DO Y\R SLAU<T]+ & GULAG+ = Y\4 

,EV5 AS BAD AS AN UNP>ALLEL$ HOLOCAU/ & RETREAT TO AN 9ESCAPABLE & MONOTON\S PRIMITIVE ,$5 W\LD BE1 :AT IS ACTUALLY LIKELY TO EM]GE W\LD BE MU* WORSE4 ,IT WAS ONCE COMMON TO B&Y AB\T 0PEAK METAL0 & IMPLY ?AT ! DEPLETION ( R>E METALS 9 EASILY ACCESSIBLE =MS WASN'T JU/ GO+ TO D]AIL 9DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION & IMP$E IT FROM EV] BE+ REBUILT BUT W\LD /OP ALL =MS ( EMPIRE4 ,YET ! REALITY IS ?AT ?+S LIKE /EEL W\LD REMA91 CA/+ US NOT 9TO ! ]A ( HUNT] GA!R]S BUT 9/EAD A P]MAN5T UN5D+ V]SION ( ! MIDDLE AGES4 ,& :AT WE WILL LIKELY SEE 9/EAD ( A S+UL> COLLAPSE -- :AT ANY HONE/ PRIMITIVI/ ADMITS TO !MSELVES !SE DAYS -- IS 9/EAD A S]IES ( 5DLESS CATA/ROPHES4 ,!RE WILL BE NO B&AID RIPP+ PA/ :I* ! SURVIVORS F9ALLY GET A MEASURE ( RELIEF4 ,! FALL ( SOME EMPIRES WILL MEAN ! LIKELY RISE ( O!R EMPIRES1 ) DIFF]5T *>ACT]I/ICS P]HAPS1 BUT SIMIL> P[] RELATIONS4 ,:ILE SOME ASPECTS ( \R WORLD >E 9CR$IBLY FRAGILE1 !RE IS PRES5TLY 5\< R$UNDANCY = ! SAME SY/EMS TO />T UP AGA9 & BE MU* WORSE1 PROVID$ ANY ROOM = HUMANITY ON ! PLANET REMA9S4 ,BRAZIL = 9/ANCE IS ALMO/ 5TIRELY RUN ON HYDROELECTRIC P[]4 ,:ILE 9=MATION TE*NOLOGIES & MANY O!R LIB]ATORY TE*NOLOGIES W\LD GO AWAY L>GE 9DU/RIAL SOCIETIES >E NOT GO+ TO DISAPPE>4 ,A LIMIT$ NUMB] ( PEOPLE HID+ ! CRACKS BETWE5 V>I\S ,ROMAN ,EMPIRES IS H>DLY ALL ?AT 5TIC+ ( AN AN>*I/ VISION4 

,ECOLOGICAL ,COLLAPSE 

,:ILE ! 5D ( CIVILIZATION1 AN>*I/IC OR NOT1 IS H>DLY GU>ANTE$4 ,ECOLOGICAL COLLAPSE IS ALREADY A SURE ?+1 AN ALREADY HAPP5+ ?+4 ,! ONLY QUE/ION IS H[ BAD WE'LL LET IT GET4 ,& 9 ?IS AB&ON+ SCI5CE & PROACTIVE TE*NOLOGICAL GRAPPL+ IS A :OLE BUN* ( ?+S ?AT 5D 9 -CIDAL4 

,IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS 0JU/ KILL 9DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION & !N ! BIOSPH]E WILL GET BETT] = HUMAN LIFE04 ,\R BIOSPH]E ISN'T MAGIC & IT B>ES NO ALLEGIANCE TO ANY?+ BESIDES PHYSICS4 ,!RE IS NO 9H]5T ORI5TATION TO AN EQUILIBRIUM1 MU* LESS ONE ?AT'S LIVABLE = HUMANS1 OR EV5 CURR5T T]RE/RIAL ANIMALS4 

,I FREQU5TLY HE> GRE5 AN>*I/S CLAIM ?AT ! SOLUTION TO GLOBAL W>M+ IS TO JU/ /OP 9DU/RIAL CIVILIZATION & LET ! TREES REGR[4 ,?IS IS EI!R DESP]ATE TO ! PO9T ( DELUSION OR /UP5D\SLY IGNORANT ( ! SCI5CE ( GLOBAL W>M+4 

,TREES TEMPOR>ILY ABSORB C>BON BUT !N PROMPTLY RE-EMIT IT :5 !Y DIE & DECOMPOSE OR BURN4 ,! C>BON 9 ! AIR RI<T N[ IS UTT]LY BEYOND ! CAPACITY ( ! E>?'S =E/S AT !IR PEAK1 & IT W\LD TAKE TOO LONG = TREES TO CAPTURE 5\< C>BON TO D]AIL ! CURR5T FE$BACK+4 ,\R OCEANS >E USUALLY ! VA/ VA/ VA/ MAJORITY ( ! C>BON CAPTURE 9 ! NORMAL CYCLE1 & !Y'RE /RESS$ BEYOND !IR CAPACITY N[4 ,ADDITIONALLY TREES CAN ACTUALLY 9CREASE GLOBAL W>M+ BECAUSE !Y'RE D>K] & ?US ABSORB MORE SOL> RADIATION4 ,9DE$ BASICALLY ANY 9CREASE 9 ! SIZE ( BOREAL =E/S RI<T N[ W\LD CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL W>M+4 ,?IS IS ONE ( ! BIG DANG]S1 ACTUALLY1 ?AT =E/S WILL SPREAD 9 ! NOR!RN HEMISPH]E AS TEMP]ATURES RISE & CAUSE EV5 GREAT] W>M+4 

,! C>BON ?AT IS N[ 9 ! AIR ISN'T P>T ( ! NORMAL C>BON CYCLE ?AT TREES DEALT )1 IT'S C>BON ?AT WAS = HUNDR$S ( MILLIONS ( YE>S LOCK$ UP 9 ! ,E>?4 ,! LA/ TIME IT WAS 9 ! ATMOSPH]E ! ,E>? WAS A DRAMATICALLY DIFF]5T PLACE1 9HOSPITABLE TO A LOT ( MOD]N ORGANISMS4 ,! ONLY SOLUTION ?AT CAN ACTUALLY SAVE US FROM ! RUNAWAY FE$BACK LOOPS WE'VE SET (F ?AT >E RELEAS+ ME?ANE & ! LIKE IS TO PUT ?AT C>BON BACK 9 ! E>?1 BACK 9 ! ROCK OR SIMIL> =M4 ,& !RE IS NO WAY TO DO ?IS )\T TE*NOLOGY & SCI5CE4 

,\R ONLY HOPE IS C>BON NEGATIVE TE*NOLOGIES -- TE*NOLOGIES ?AT AS A BYPRODUCT TAKE C>BON \T ( ! ATMOSPH]E & 9TO A MORE P]MAN5T =M4 ,?ANKFULLY !RE'S A VA/ DIV]SITY ( AV5UES BY :I* WE CAN DO ?IS1 MANY ( :I* >E 9 PRODUCTION & USE ALREADY4 ,SOME RA!R ADVANC$1 SOME /UNN+LY SIMPLE4 ,ALGAE >E :AT ORIG9ALLY PULL$ ! ,C,O#b \T ( ! AIR OV] MILLIONS ( YE>S & MADE \R ATMOSPH]E BREA?ABLE4 ,IF ! FE$BACK PROCESS ( GLOBAL W>M+ CONT9UES UNABAT$ ALGAE BLOOMS 9 ! OCEAN RISK DE/ROY+ OCEAN LIFE & CREAT+ TOXIC CONSEQU5CES4 ,SOME ( MY FAVORITE C>BON NEGATIVE TE*NOLOGIES G5]ATE ALGAE 9 CONTROLL$ SY/EMS -- BE=E ALGAE BLOOMS 9 ! WILD DE/ROY EV5 MORE -- 9 WAYS ?AT G5]ATES 5]GY4 ,! BYPRODUCT BE+ BO? 5]GY = \R TE*NOLOGIES & TRAPP$ C>BON4 ,! CALCULUS IS *ANG+ AS ! HAPP5/ANCE TE*NOLOGIES ?AT W]E NORMALIZ$ ! LA/ C\PLE C5TURIES *ANGE4 ,) C>BON NEGATIVE TE*NOLOGIES ! MORE 5]GY WE CONSUME1 ! LESS ,C,O#b 9 ! ATMOSPH]E4 

,! REMA9+ WORK AT ?IS PO9T IS MAK+ !M EV5 MORE EFFICI5T1 FIGUR+ \T :I* ONES >E MO/ OPTIMAL1 & TURN+ !M FROM TE*NOLOGIES TO 9FRA/RUCTURE 7IE WIDESPREAD PRODUCTION_/USE74 ,! LATT] REQUIRES SOME SOCIAL /RUGGLE1 BUT IS DOABLE4 ,PRIMITIVI/S >E ALWAYS ACCUS+ SCI5TI/S & 5G9E]S ( RU%+ TE*NOLOGIES 9TO DEVELOPM5T )\T DUE DILIG5CE1 BUT :5 WE EX]CISE DUE DILIG5CE DEVELOP+ GRE5 TE*NOLOGIES !Y PRET5D AS ?\< ! DELAY MEANS !Y'RE FUNDAM5TALLY NOT POSSIBLE4 

,9DE$ ONLY ?R\< ! GLOBAL P]SPECTIVE POSSIBLE ) MOD]N SCI5CE CAN WE BEG9 TO CONTEXTUALLIZE \R ACTIONS & !IR CONSEQU5CES4 

,MANY ANTI-CIV FOLK >E N[ />T+ TO CONC$E ?IS1 BUT ! PO9T IS NO FR+E OR M>G9AL ONE4 ,MASSIVE AM\NTS ( TOX9S & ELEM5TS >E CURR5TLY LOCK$ UP 9 PRODUCTS OR 9FRA/RUCTURE1 TO ?R[ UP \R H&S & WALK AWAY IS TO LET !M LEAK \T4 ,IT'S NOT JU/ %ITTY NUCLE> PLANTS & BI[>F>E LABS4 

,& IF Y\ EXPECT !RE TO BE TIME & AN 9CREASE 9 ! POPUL>ITY ( REVOLUTION>Y P]SPECTIVES SU* ?AT REVOLUTION>Y SCI5TI/S CAN HELP ) SOME DECOMMISSION+ Y\'RE NOT TALK+ AB\T AN 9EVITABLE COLLAPSE ?AT WE'D HAVE NO P[] TO AV]T1 Y\'RE TALK+ AB\T A DELIB]ATIVE & 9T5TIONAL SOCIAL *ANGE4 ,SO :Y NOT GO FUR!R8 

,WE HAVE ! CAPACITY NOT JU/ TO AV]T GLOBAL W>M+ & OCEAN ACIDIFICATION BUT TO RECLAIM ! ,SAH>A & RE/ORE ! MEGAFAUNA ?AT HUNT] GA!R]S KILL$ (F4 7,CONTR>Y TO ! MY? ?AT PRIMITIVE PEOPLES W]E SOMEH[ AW>E ( ECOLOGICAL EXT]NALITIES BEYOND !IR IMM$IATE CONTEXTS1 REC5T GLOBAL /ATI/ICAL ANALYZES HAVE CONCLUSIVELY SETTL$ ?AT HUNT] GA!R]S W]E RESPONSIBLE = ! ECOLOGICAL DE/RUCTION ( ! LATE ,QUAT]N>Y74 ,) ! BROAD] 9SI<T & P]SPECTIVE PROVID$ BY SCI5CE & GLOBAL COMMUNICATION WE F9ALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR ! MI/AKES ( PA/ G5]ATIONS AS WE MOVE ASYMPTOTICALLY T[>DS GREAT] UND]/&+ ( \R WORLD & ?US GREAT] AG5CY )9 IT4 

,?AT WORD1 AG5CY1 IS ! CORE ( ?IS DIVIDE BETWE5 AN>*ISM & PRIMITIVISM4 

,PRIMITIVI/S W\LD RA!R WRITE AG5CY \R ( ! CONV]SATION4 ,!Y WANT TO PRET5D ?AT WE HAVE ,NO ,ALT]NATIVE BUT COLLAPSE1 NO REAL *OICES OR OPTIONS TO BE EXP&$ OR DILIG5TLY EXPLOR$4 ,!IR OPPOSITION TO TE*NOLOGY & COSMOPOLITANISM MAKE P]FECT S5SE :5 ! V]Y NOTION ( EXP&+ \R *OICES IS TAK5 TO BE 9COMPREH5SIBLE4 ,PHYSICAL FRE$OM8 ,:AT NONS5SE1 Y\ CAN'T BE OPPRESS$ BY NATURE6 ,:AT'S HAPP5$ TO GET SOMEONE TO SU* A LUDICR\S POSITION IS A DIVORC+ ( OPPRESSION FROM ANY?+ CONCRETE4 ,N[ OPPRESSION ISN'T CONTROLL+ PEOPLE OR CON/RA9+ !IR OPTIONS 9 LIFE1 IT'S JU/ ANY?+ ?AT CONJURES BAD FEELS4 ,FRE$OM8 ,WELL !RE'S NO SU* ?+ REALLY4 ,JU/ ! FRE$OM FROM ?\<T1 ! FRE$OM FROM *OICE1 COMPLEXITY1 VIGILANCE1 ETC4 

,?IS K9D ( OBSESSION ) ! DELUSION ( C]TA9TY IS ! HALLM>K ( DEPRESSION4 ,! DESP]ATE HUNG] = ! PA9 ( HAV+ NO REAL OPTIONS4 ,MANY COMM5TATORS HAVE NOT$ ! TURN ( \R MILIEU T[>DS TREAT+ DEPRESSION1 ANXIETY & O!R M5TAL HEAL? ISSUES AS ! ESS5TIAL EXP]I5CE ( \R RADICALISM4 ,WE BOND OV] %>+ 9 IT2 & 5D UP FETI%IZ+ & RE9=C+ !SE AILM5TS4 

,ONLY 9 SU* LI<T PRIMITIVISM CAN PRET5D TO BE COH]5T ) AN>*ISM4 

,BUT TO HUNG] = ! G5OCIDE & ECOCIDE ( A COLLAPSE IS TO MI/AKE M5TAL HEAL? ISSUES = RADICALISM4 ,MISAN?ROPIC $G9ESS = CRITIQUE4 ,EMOTIONAL /ATES = VIGILANT PURSUIT ( ROOT DYNAMICS4 

,CONCLUSION 

,:AT ,I'VE SKET*$ \T H]E IS DECID$LY NOT COMPREH5SIVE -- & 9T5TIONALLY SO4 ,PRIMITIVISM B5EFITS FROM A VA/ >RAY ( DIFF]5T >GUM5TS ?AT 5D UP MULTIPLY OV]LAPP+ EA* O!R 9 AN EV]-*ANG+ PAT*WORK4 ,AS ) 0#b ,PRO(S ,E>? IS ,NOT A ,SP9N+ ,BALL0.<#b.> :AT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE IS ?AT ! 9DIVIDUAL >GUM5TS DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE MU* IMPORTANCE4 ,ONE C\LD SP5D YE>S RESPOND+ TO EV]Y?+ ,Z]ZAN HAS WRITT51 SY/EMICALLY BREAK+ D[N HIS >GUM5TS & GETT+ 9TO CITATION W>S1 BUT ?OSE :O HAVE COME TO ID5TIFY AS PRIMITIVI/S !N HAPPILY %IFT !IR FOCUS TO O!R WRIT]S ) ALT]NATIVE >GUM5TS4 ,ONCE ONE BECOMES 9VE/$ 9 ! TRAPP+S ( ! IDEOLOGY1 ! COMMUNITY1 ! CULTURE1 ! MY?OS1 ! FANTASIES444 !RE'S LITTLE AV5UE LEFT = *ANG+ ONE'S M9D4 0,ANTI-CIV0 & 0PO/-CIV0 W]E SUPPOS$ TO PROVIDE MORE FRE$OM FROM ! IDEOLOGICAL PRISON ( PRIMITIVISM1 BUT ! 5D RESULT HAS BE5 A L>G] MORE AMORPH\S IDEOLOGICAL PRISON1 /ILL *A9$ TO A C5T] ( MASS DEF9$ BY ! SAME OLD PRIMITIVI/ MI/AKES4 

,MY 9T5TION H]E HAS 9/EAD BE5 TO PROVIDE AN OV]VIEW ( & GATEWAY TO CRITIQUES ?AT ?OSE 9 ! ANTI-CIV MILIEU >E TYPICALLY UNAW>E (4 7,EV]YONE AT ?IS PO9T IS WELL AW>E ( PRIMITIVISM'S VULN]ABILITY ON TRANS ISSUES & ABLEISM47 ,:AT'S BE5 SO FRU/RAT+ TO A LOT ( AN>*I/ HACK]S1 SCI5TI/S1 & =M] PRIMITIVI/S IS ?AT ! PO9TS ,I'VE COV]$ >E BL9D+LY OBVI\S TO US4 ,BUT PRIMITIVI/ MILIEU 9 ITS RELATIVE MEMETIC ISOLATION HAS GR[N A ?ICK %ELL ( UNCRITICALLY EMBRAC$ >GUM5TS & CLAIMS ?AT EXT5D 9 MANY MANY FIELDS & MAKE DEBATE A H]CULEAN TASK4 

,IT MU/ BE ADMITT$ ?AT ?IS K9D ( IDEOLOGICAL CATA/ROPHE IS A SIDE EFFECT TO ! POSITIVE FE$BACK LOOPS 9 COMPLEXITY UNLEA%$ BY MOD]N COMMUNICATIONS TE*NOLOGIES4 ,WE EXI/ 9 AN E>LY /AGE :]E IT'S /ILL EASY = C]TA9 POSITIONS TO QUICKLY ACCUMULATE RE9=C+ CRUFT UNTIL !Y PASS AN >GUM5T-COMPLEXITY EV5T HORIZON ?AT MAKES !M BASICALLY UN*ALL5GEABLE4 ,:]E P]SPECTIVES CAN W9 NOT ?R\< GOOD >GUM5TS BUT TANGL$ ONES2 (T5 %IFT+ >\ND BETWE5 5DLESS FALLBACKS OR IMPLICITLY COMPLEX BUT EXPLICITLY SIMPLE APPEALS TO 0COMMON S5SE0 NOTIONS4 

,>GU+ ) PRIMITIVI/S IS A PROCESS ALMO/ ID5TICAL TO >GU+ ) /ATI/S4 ,TE> D[N ONE CLAIM & !Y FALL BACK ON A HUNDR$ O!RS4 ,TE> D[N ?OSE & !Y />T AGA9 9VOK+ ! /UFF Y\'VE ALREADY DEMOLI%$4 ,TRY TO LAY \T EV]Y?+ AT L5G? & !Y APPEAL TO H[ MU* MORE HAS BE5 WRITT5 BY /ATI/S1 GIV5 !IR SUP]IOR NUMB]S4 ,Y\R >GUM5T IS N[ TOO LONG TO READ1 OR TOO TE*NICAL & 9ACCESSIBLE4 ,Y\ HAV5'T DIRECTLY ADDRESS$ ?IS SPECIFIC >GUM5T MADE BY ?IS SPECIFIC P]SON 9 ?IS SPECIFIC BOOK4 ,DO ?AT & !Y DECL>E ?AT P]SON IRRELEVANT4 ,TRY TO HIT G5]AL TR5DS 9 !IR DISC\RSE & !Y DECRY ?AT AS UNFAIR & DISCONNECT$4 ,!SE PROTECTIVE /RATEGIES US$ BY DOM9ANT IDEOLOGIES REFLECT REALLY BASIC ,MANUFACTUR+ ,CONS5T /YLE TE*NIQUES :]E ALL BURD5 IS PLAC$ UPON ALT]NATIVE OR DISSID5T P]SPECTIVES & !Y >E BO? EXPECT$ TO P]SUADE ) V]Y LITTLE SPACE TO BUILD COMPLICAT$ RESPONSES & TO TACKLE EV]Y >GUM5T IMM$IATELY4 ,& :ATEV] Y\ DO1 NO MATT] H[ MU* GR\ND Y\ =CE !M TO CONC$E1 ! CONV]SATION ALWAYS 5DS ) A SC(F4 ,Y\R POSITION IS UNPOPUL> BECAUSE MY POSITION IS COMMON S5SE AMONG MY FRI5DS4 ,OR1 EV5 SILLI]1 >GUM5TS AB\T TONE1 :]E9 ! DISSID5T IS DISMISS$ = NOT BE+ SUFFICI5TLY POLITE & DEF]5TIAL :ILE BANG+ ON ! LOCK$ DOORS ( !IR DOGMA4 

,& !N !Y CLAIM %IT LIKE 0! EXI/+ NE$S NO FUR!R DEF5D]S0 :I* IS JU/ ! MO/ ABSURD HEI<TS ( SWEEP+ SIMPLIFICATION4 ,& ( C\RSE TAKES AS ITS />T+ PO9T ! ABSURD NOTION ?AT \R EXI/+ SOCIETY IS ANY?+ BUT HO/ILE TO TE*NOLOGICAL DEVELOPM5T & DIV]SITY4 

,A CRITICAL EYE T[>DS H[ TE*NOLOGIES >E US$ OR ! NORMALIZATION ( C]TA9 9FRA/RUCTURAL =MS DOES NOT MAKE Y\ 0ANTI-CIV0 OR A LUDDITE1 IT MAKES Y\ A CONSCI\S HUMAN BE+ ) BASIC CRITICAL ?9K+ FACULTIES4 ,PRIMIVI/S DO NOT HOLD A MONOPOLY ON EXAM9+ TOOLS & 9FRA/RUCTURE4 ,BUT SU* CRITICAL ANALYSIS %\LD BE EXT5D$ TO EV]Y?+1 9CLUD+ \R BODIES & \R BIOSPH]E4 ,RADICALISM MEANS REJECT+ SIMPLI/IC CLAIMS AB\T !IR 0NATURE01 JU/ AS IT ALSO MEANS REJECT+ SIMPLI/IC N>RATIVES AB\T AB/RACTIONS LIKE 0CIVILIZATION04 

,! MEANS WE ADOPT CAN HAVE CORRUPTIVE 9FLU5CES1 !Y CAN B5D 9 C]TA9 DIRECTIONS1 9 LAZ9ESS WE CAN SLIP 9TO VALU+ !M AS 5DS UNTO !MSELVES & DISC>D+ \R ORIG9AL 5DS4 ,& C]TA9 MEANS CAN BE 9COH]5T ) ! 5DS !Y ALLEGE TO WORK T[>DS4 ,AN>*ISM IS F\ND$ ON ! RECOGNITION ?AT 5DS & MEANS >E DEEPLY 9T]CONNECT$1 ALBEIT NOT MAGICALLY ONE-TO-ONE4 ,F]RETT+ \T !SE DYNAMICS IS VALID & IMPORTANT WORK1 & GRE5 AN>*I/S HAVE MADE NUM]\S VALID 9DIVIDUAL PO9TS ON ! OSSIFI$ 9FRA/RUCTURE WE >E IMPRISON$ BY4 ,COV]+ ! ,E>?'S SURFACE ) CONCRETE & ASPHALT IS CLE>LY FUCK$1 AS IS CUTT+ UP ! BIOSPH]E 9TO T9Y PIECES1 ETC1 ETC4 ,WE %\LD OBVI\SLY BE CONSCI\S & 5GAG$ ) ! MEANS WE *OOSE4 ,WE %\LD REMOVE ! SOCIAL & 9FRA/RUCTURAL SY/EMS ?AT D5Y US AG5CY 9 \R MEANS4 ,BUT AS AN>*I/S \R CRITICAL 5GAGEM5T ) MEANS %\LD REFLECT A DESIRE TO EXP& FRE$OM1 NOT CON/RA9 IT1 TO MAKE ULTIMATELY POSSIBLE MORE MEANS -- 9F9ITE MEANS EV5 -- NOT LESS4 

,N[ ONE CAN /ILL DISMISS OPPORTUNITIES = A FRE] FUTURE AS NOT WOR? ! RISK4 ,& ONE CAN 5TIRELY REJECT ! UND]LY+ DESIRES1 IDEALS & E?ICS ?AT VALUE TO 9TELLECTUAL VIGILANCE & POSITIVE FRE$OMS4 ,SU* AN OP9ION IS A COH]5T ONE1 AT LEA/ AS MU* AS 0LIB]ALISM01 BUT IT B>ES ALMO/ NO RELATION TO AN>*Y4 

,=GET BREAD1 =GET CAKE1 =GET EV5 ! BAK]Y1 ! ONLY AN>*I/ DEM& IS EV]Y?+4 

.<#a.> #ae ,PO/-,PRIMITIVI/ ,!SES 

.<#b.> #b ,PRO(S ! ,E>? IS ,NOT A ,SP9N+ ,BALL 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,A ,QUICK & ,DIRTY ,CRITIQUE ( ,PRIMITIVI/ @& ,ANTI-,CIV ,?\<T -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,A ,QUICK & ,DIRTY ,CRITIQUE ( ,PRIMITIVI/ @& ,ANTI-,CIV ,?\<T -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/