Categories
Thought

Beyond the rays

Since he released his book, Principles, I have grown eager to read almost everything Ray Dalio produces.

There are some areas I don’t fully agree with him – to my own peril – and some other areas I do.

This, however, is spot on.

“The three big questions worth answering are 1) What is the value of human life relative to a unit of economic activity, 2) What is the value of necessities relative to luxuries and 3) Who will and should benefit from all the money that is being created?”

One of the beauty these times have given us is a clear way of filtering through the noise and focusing on signals that matter – our collective humanity, the place of social connection, of family and flourishing, using technologies to accelerate the functions we want, without being slaves to the technologies themselves.

It is sad that we needed a global pandemic to remind us of the importance of love. Now, that we have this reminder, we can hold on to the lessons we’ve learnt in improving this civilization, pruning away the less relevant norms, and influencing what practices, systems, and policies stay with us.

We can do, and be, better.

Categories
Thought

Principles and Consequences

When making a decision, it’s best to think from the first principle. Most problems are better solved when they are directed from the first principle order.

Though the first principle lens is often the best in solving problems, I’ve observed that several people prefer ignoring this, and put forth solutions that may be easy in the interim but have a poor effect in the long term.

Which are you more interested in? Solving a problem or ensuring the problem is solved?

For the first, you may ignore the principles and get a patch-up that works in the interim until time unveils the truth.

The second requires we delve into the root cause and make amends from the first principle.