“For any given topic, there is a gap between the supply of what we actually know and the demand for what we feel we need to know. Everything that fills this gap is bullshit”
For the longest time, humanity didn’t have any answers to some big questions - why are we here, what should we do with our lives, how do we know what is right and wrong?
Back then, philosophy was science was mostly religion. In hindsight we know that we desperately felt the need for some answers, so we made them up. We made frameworks centered around omnipotent omniscient beings who had laid down rules for us . These frameworks structured our lives and explained the world to us. Our desire to meet these heavenly beings eventually led to study the skies and jump into outer space where we found … nothing.

This has troubled many. Some want to go back to the comfort of made-up answers, some want to pretend science has all the answers. Neither is a sensible path . No matter how hard you pray, serious sicknesses will be better cured with a doctor’s visit. And no matter how much you read about cognitive biases; it won’t heal your from feeling envious about your neighbour.

“The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent, but if we can come to terms with this indifference, then our existence as a species can have genuine meaning. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” Well modern problems need modern solutions. It’s starts with understanding your values. It starts using our knowledge to set some sensible rules of co-operation. When I saw the Prisoner’s Dilemma video from Veritasium and saw the qualities of successful algorithms, it felt like receiving the Ten Commandments. Most delightful was how well these rules gel with human intuition . Mature individuals strive to be nice and forgiving to strangers. And when we experience behaviour we don’t like. We usually avoid the person, or (ideally) make our needs clear and retaliate . Only immature individuals start fights or hold grudges - but everyone has their moment of weakness! He who hasn’t felt the need to take an eye for an eye may raise their hand🤚

The meta-point here is we didn’t need to make up this “answer”. We as a species have gained enough knowledge to discover this truth about co-operation. So, we are on a quest to keep asking questions and trying our best to discover, not make up answers . It’s a long quest and will need patience. Of course, then comes the hard part of respecting and acting in accordance with the wisdom of the answers. A whole different ball game.