The Thin Veneer
- Martin Enlund
- 12/6/24
The Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal coined the term “veneer theory” in his book “Our Inner Ape” in 2005. The veneer theory posits that human moral behavior is merely a thin veneer over an inherently unpleasant nature. This viewpoint can be traced back to Thomas Henry Huxley, an anthropologist and biologist who was a contemporary of Darwin. However, de Waal criticized the idea because humanity is far more cooperative than predicted by simple anthropological or economic models. However, it is possible to question how thick this “civilizing veneer” really is.
Trust - best built on solid ground
- Martin Enlund
- 11/6/24
TL;DR: J.D. Vance recently observed that many in the Democratic Party are attempting to manufacture trust from the top down, neglecting the fact that genuine trust is often born from grassroots connections. There’s indeed a stark contrast between trust that’s artificially constructed through manipulation and censorship, and trust that’s organically cultivated from the ground up.
AI as magic goggles
- Martin Enlund
- 10/24/24
Navigating today’s complex information landscape can be a daunting task. Algorithms, bot armies, censorship authorities, and trolls contribute to a thick fog of disinformation, reminiscent of the industrial smog that once shrouded the Ruhr Valley in Germany. Many fear that AI technology will exacerbate the problem.
The mathematics of trust (in the media)
- Martin Enlund
- 10/23/24
A recent wedding celebration for Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson resulted in controversy, as one of the guests in attendance was reportedly linked to organized crime. Following this “wedding scandal”, a columnist noted that the party’s voters had not been significantly affected. Instead of a decrease in trust - which one might have expected - 10% of them stated that their confidence in the party had actually increased. “Over the years, the Sweden Democrats have surprisingly emerged unscathed from their numerous scandals,” she wrote. But is this really so surprising?