Most people have a strong urge to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Not all, but most.
It could be a tribe, gang, nation, religion, political ideology, technological ideology, military hierarchy, artisan guild, their own family, or something else. A set of virtues that they adhere to, that stirs them up emotionally, and that even in certain contexts they would put their career or reputation or life on the line to defend.
When trying to understand other people, it helps to understand what bigger context drives you, and what bigger context drives those you are interacting with.
Always try to ascertain, “what bigger context drives this person, if any?”
I can tell you are a good parent.
Lot of good quotes in Meditations about this
that is to say that people are dumb cattle and fight each other over collectively held delusions without ever making an effort to discover objective truth
there are people like me who aren't like that but they are very hard to find because they are ostracized by ALL groups
every group DEMANDS adherence to its norms. i have NEVER found a group in which i could fit in without getting expelled for refusal to accept some obvious BS.
for example Vegans demanded i accept Vegan diet is complete even though it has no active forms of Omega 3, Vitamins A, D, B12 or K2 ... and Carnivores demanded i accept that Steaks is all i need to eat even though it doesn't contain Vitamin C which is essential. Neither of those groups GIVE A SHIT what objective reality is - they simply DEMAND adherence to their insane dogma, even if it literally kills them.
this is why Goth Girls used to object to being called "Goth" when i was a teenager. because being put in a box is dehumanizing. but people put themselves in these boxes - i am just an observer.
I grew up an Artist type, and this took me decades to learn…that I NEVER wanted to be part of the pack, always wanted to take the ‘road less travelled’ etc. It was a devastating, but fruitful road before I reigned myself in.
But at the same time, I can honestly say - and as a long-time investor/professional - when you stop believing that either You or the Others know what works or what is right…you realize it’s a free for all. Everyone is a failed imperfection of a Human Being. It’s our shared experience!
So Bitcoin can win. It can win stunningly, without mercy.
Because the sociopaths are making this up as they go along as well as the rest of are. They just don’t have any math/engineering on their side.
Sex, drugs, money seems to be the theme pitched from hollywood. I would say if anyone has higher goals it would have to do with morals and growth within your community. Separate ends of the spectrum.
The money abstraction separates goal from action. What would be good things to pay attention to to identify higher goals that drive a person?
Worship is deeply engrained in the human psyche, studies have started to explore this idea (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19471985/), it is almost hardwired into our way of being. I think history and anthropology shows this again and again.
So be very careful of what you elevate to the highest station. Do not erect a false idol. And better to remain agnostic than atheist (I don't have enough faith to be an atheist 😂).
For most people these days it seems to be themselves, Money or sex. But regardless of whether you think we created God or God created us. I argue that from a logical point of view, given that we are hardwired for worship, you better put some unfallible, benevolent being on your throne or get rekt.
I've often said we are living in a time where we have more material wealth and comfort than the past, but we are in historic poverty in terms of feeling this sense of higher purpose you are talking about. Society is largely atomized, alienated, and miserable.
Great food for thought and also something that can be applied in our daily lives. Can you summarize what narrative drives you the most in one word? I would also imagine these are not mutually exclusive, as folks often align with multiple groups.
Oddbean new post about login | logout 
