Depósito Lógico Podcast

• Thinking in Systems: A Primer - study guide

  Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.* What are the three fundamental components of a system, according to Meadows?* Explain the difference between a stock and a flow within a system.* How do reinforcing feedback loops contribute to system behavior, and what are the potential outcomes?* Why is understanding delays in feedback loops crucial for analyzing systems?* Describe how a system's purpose can be deduced, even if it's not explicitly stated.* What is the competitive exclusion principle, and how does it apply to systems?* Explain why a diverse system is often more stable and resilient than a uniform one.* How does the concept of 'bounded rationality' influence how people interact with systems?* What does Meadows mean when she says "everything we know about the world is a model"?* How does 'suboptimization' undermine a system's overall goals?Quiz Answer Key* A system is comprised of elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose. These three components are all essential and interact with one another to define how a system operates. Without any one of them, the system would not function as intended.* A stock is an accumulation of something (like water in a bathtub or the population of a city) that builds up over time, while a flow is the rate at which that stock changes (like the rate of water entering or leaving a bathtub, or the rate of births/deaths in a population). Stocks are the foundation of any system.* Reinforcing feedback loops are self-enhancing and can lead to either exponential growth or rapid collapse within a system. They enhance any direction of change by generating more input to a stock the more that is already there, often leading to runaway positive or negative effects.* Delays within feedback loops significantly impact system behavior, often causing oscillations or overreactions. Understanding these delays is crucial for predicting and managing a system's response to changes.* A system's purpose is often inferred from its behavior rather than its stated goals, or rhetoric. Observing how a system acts over time is the best way to discern its true purpose.* The competitive exclusion principle posits that if a reinforcing feedback loop rewards winners with the means to win further, it will eventually lead to the elimination of all but a few competitors. This principle results in a scenario where 'the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer'.* A diverse system with multiple pathways is more resilient to external shocks because it has redundancies and alternative ways of functioning. Uniform systems, lacking this variety, are more vulnerable to disruptions and collapse.* 'Bounded rationality' is the idea that we can only focus on a limited number of factors, which can lead to ineffective and unintended actions. This limited perspective makes it difficult to understand and respond appropriately to systems as a whole.* Meadows emphasizes that all our perceptions, language, and tools are models, which are simplified representations of the complex world. These models can be flawed and therefore our understanding is limited and never complete.* 'Suboptimization' occurs when the goals of a subsystem are prioritised over the overall goals of the entire system. This can lead to outcomes that are detrimental to the system as a whole.Essay Questions* Discuss the concept of "leverage points" within a system, and using specific examples from the text, describe what makes them effective. Explore the ways leverage points can be used to bring about positive change within complex systems, and discuss the limitations of this approach.* Critically evaluate the importance of information flow within systems, exploring the challenges of biased, delayed, and missing information. Provide real-world examples of how these challenges influence system behaviour.* Analyse the dynamics of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops in achieving both stability and instability within systems. Explain how the interplay between these loops can create both equilibrium and disequilibrium, illustrating with examples from the text.* In what ways does a systems thinking approach challenge traditional, linear problem-solving methods, and why? Explain with reference to Meadows's ideas of models, interconnectivity, and purpose.* Evaluate the importance of resilience, self-organisation, and hierarchy as properties of dynamic systems. How do these properties contribute to long term viability? What can systems design do to encourage the beneficial effects of these properties?Glossary of Key Terms* System: An interconnected set of elements that is coherently organised to achieve a purpose. It consists of elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose.* Elements: The parts or components of a system.* Interconnections: The relationships and linkages between the elements of a system, often operating through the flow of information.* Function/Purpose: The reason a system exists, or what it is intended to achieve, which can often be deduced from its behaviour.* Stock: An accumulation of material or information within a system that can be measured at a specific point in time. It acts as a memory of changing flows within a system.* Flow: The rate at which a stock changes over time. It's the input or output that affects the level of the stock.* Feedback Loop: A circular process where an output of a system influences its input. They are essential to understanding how a system creates its own behaviour.* Balancing Feedback Loop: A feedback loop that aims to maintain a stock at a certain level. It seeks equilibrium by counteracting any deviations from a desired state.* Reinforcing Feedback Loop: A feedback loop that amplifies changes in a system, leading to either exponential growth or rapid collapse. It enhances whatever direction of change is imposed on it.* Delay: A pause or lag in the flow of information or a process within a system. Delays often contribute to oscillations and instability.* Dynamic Equilibrium: A state in which the level of a stock remains constant despite the continuous flow of inputs and outputs.* Competitive Exclusion Principle: The idea that reinforcing feedback loops can lead to a concentration of power by rewarding the successful.* Resilience: A system's capacity to recover from disruptions and shocks. It refers to the ability to restore or repair itself after a perturbation.* Self-Organization: The ability of a system to structure itself, creating new complexity and diversity from relatively simple organizing rules.* Hierarchy: The organization of a system into different levels, with each level having a degree of autonomy.* Suboptimization: When a subsystem's goals dominate at the expense of the overall system's goals, leading to dysfunction.* Model: A simplified representation of the real world that helps us understand, analyse, and predict system behavior. All our knowledge is based on models.* Nonlinear Relationship: A relationship where the cause does not produce a proportional effect.* Bounded Rationality: The limitation of an individual's cognitive capacity to process information, leading to simplified decision-making within a system.* Leverage Point: A location within a system where a small change can produce a large effect.* Drift to Low Performance: A system dynamic caused by lowering standards when performance is poor, allowing a system to decline.* Oscillation: A fluctuation or repeating pattern in a system's behaviour.* Stock-Limited Resource: A resource that is non-renewable and finite, with the entire stock being available at once.* Flow-Limited Resource: A renewable resource that can only be extracted or harvested at a rate equivalent to its regeneration rate. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit depositologico.substack.com

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  21:15
• The Sovereign Individual: A Study Guide

  The Sovereign Individual: A Study GuideShort-Answer Quiz* How does the book argue technology will impact the nation-state?* What are the three main stages of economic life identified before the "Information Society" and how do they differ?* Why does the book suggest that incomes will become both more unequal within jurisdictions and more equal between them?* How did the emergence of farming change the structure of society according to the text?* What role did the Church play in medieval society and how does this relate to modern governments?* What is the "cybereconomy" and how does it differ from traditional economies?* What is the concept of the "Sovereign Individual" as described in the book?* According to the text, how does inflation act as a hidden form of taxation?* How do micro-parasites relate to the megapolitical predominance of technology, according to the book?* What impact did the invention of the stirrup and improved horse equipment have on medieval society?Answer Key* The book argues microprocessing will subvert and destroy the nation-state, creating new forms of social organisation due to the ability of technology to decentralise power and transactions into cyberspace.* The three stages are hunting-and-gathering, which was characterised by small nomadic groups; agricultural societies, which saw the development of settled communities, private property and social hierarchy; and industrial societies, which introduced mass production and centralised power.* The book proposes that the ability of individuals to operate globally in the information age will lead to more competition and opportunities globally, but within any given jurisdiction, the skills and talent needed for success in the cybereconomy may lead to greater income disparity.* The emergence of farming led to settled communities, the concept of private property, and the need for inventory accounting. This shift led to a division of labour and the emergence of social hierarchies, including the role of specialists in violence and the accumulation of wealth.* The Church undertook many functions now associated with government, such as providing infrastructure, regulating commerce, and administering justice. The book uses this to suggest that like the Church, nation-states may ultimately lose their power to regulate and extract rents as people pursue parallel institutions that render them irrelevant.* The cybereconomy refers to the economic activities that occur online, characterised by borderless transactions, increased anonymity, and the potential to avoid predatory taxation. In the cybereconomy, individuals can participate on equal terms, irrespective of physical attributes or social status.* A "Sovereign Individual" is someone who is able to leverage the opportunities presented by the information age to become independent from nation-states and other large institutions, controlling their own wealth and affairs, free from the traditional constraints of citizenship.* Inflation reduces the value of currency held by individuals, thereby effectively acting as a tax on those holding the currency. It represents a transfer of wealth from those who save in a national currency to the government or central banks.* The book indicates that microparasites, such as viral pandemics, are a greater threat to the dominance of technology than large-scale changes in climate or topography. They are seen as capable of rapidly disrupting the global interconnectedness that technology promotes.* The stirrup, along with advancements in horse equipment, dramatically enhanced the effectiveness of armed knights on horseback. This led to the decline of the military importance of smallholders who could not afford this technology, thus furthering the feudal system.Essay Questions* Discuss the ways in which the authors of The Sovereign Individual use historical examples to support their arguments about the future of nation-states and the emergence of sovereign individuals.* Analyse the argument that technological advancements, specifically microprocessing, will lead to the decline of the nation-state. Evaluate the merits and potential limitations of this theory.* Explain the concept of "the logic of violence" as presented in The Sovereign Individual and how it relates to the authors' predictions about the future of social and political organisation.* Consider the claim that the Information Age will create more opportunities for social and economic mobility. What are the potential benefits and disadvantages of this transformation?* Discuss the parallels between the challenges faced by the Church in the face of the printing press revolution and the challenges currently faced by nation-states in the face of the internet and the cybereconomy.Glossary* Cybereconomy: The economic activity that takes place online, characterized by digital transactions, borderless markets, and anonymity.* Information Society: A societal structure where information and digital technology are the primary drivers of economic and social progress, moving beyond agricultural and industrial models.* Microprocessing: The miniaturization of computer processing technology, enabling the creation of powerful, small and widely available devices and systems.* Sovereign Individual: An individual who, leveraging the power of technology and the Information Age, gains autonomy from the traditional authority of nation-states.* Megapolitics: The study of the largest scale of political developments, covering vast changes in power, economic systems, and social structures over time.* Gunpowder Revolution: The period when gunpowder-based weapons transformed warfare and led to changes in military and social structures, impacting the Church's power.* Closed Village: A premodern form of economic organisation where peasant households operate together like a corporation, dealing with a single landlord.* Predatory Taxation: The imposition of taxes by states which extract wealth from people and reduce economic activity.* Assarting: The process of clearing forested land for agricultural use in medieval Europe.* Microparasites: Microscopic organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, that can disrupt populations and societal structures, often by causing outbreaks or pandemics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit depositologico.substack.com

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  17:06
• Tao: The Pathless Path - Study Guide

  Short Answer Quiz* What is the central idea of Taoist philosophy regarding life's journey?* According to the text, how do Taoist masters approach the concept of truth?* How does Taoism differ from other major religions in terms of its approach to faith and tradition?* How does the text describe the source of true order within an individual?* What is the Taoist perspective on the role of knowledge in attaining truth?* What does the text suggest about the nature of thinking and its relation to truth?* How does Taoism view the ego and its impact on happiness?* What is meant by "the poor in spirit" within the context of Taoist teachings?* What does the text say about the role of a master in the process of learning?* How does the text describe a genuinely rebellious person within the context of Taoism?Answer Key* Taoism encourages a philosophy of "let-go," where one should flow with life like a river, trusting it will reach the ocean without unnecessary tension.* Taoist masters believe that truth cannot be expressed directly, and that any attempt to do so will only ever provide a reflection, not the thing itself.* Unlike other religions that offer prescribed paths, Taoism emphasizes individual freedom and rebellion against conformity, encouraging people to find their own way and avoid second-hand ideologies.* True order arises from facing and living through disorder and chaos, rather than imposing an external pattern.* Taoism suggests that knowledge is actually a barrier to truth, while ignorance is not and that real truth comes from direct experience.* The text argues that thinking is often a form of dreaming with words, not true reflection, and that thinking cannot deliver truth because truth is found through direct experience that exists beyond thinking.* Taoism views the ego as a barrier to happiness, as the strengthening of the ego strengthens unhappiness. True happiness is found in dissolving the ego and recognizing oneself as part of the whole.* "The poor in spirit" refers to someone who possesses nothing, knows nothing, and is nothing. It is through this emptiness that one becomes part of the whole.* A master does not teach but creates an environment in which learning is possible, because they cannot give you the truth, you must find it yourself through your own experiences.* A rebellious person is one who disregards societal expectations, lives from their innermost core, and follows their own Tao, rather than conforming to norms.Essay Format Questions* Discuss the concept of 'let-go' in Taoism, as presented in the text, and analyse its implications for living a fulfilling life. Consider how this contrasts with other approaches to life.* Explore the Taoist understanding of the relationship between thinking, reality, and truth. How does this understanding impact the individual's journey toward self-discovery?* Compare and contrast the Taoist idea of individuality and rebellion against the societal norms and expectations of modern Western culture.* Analyse the critique of ambition and the pursuit of material possessions within Taoism, as outlined in the text. How does this relate to the concept of happiness and fulfillment?* Using evidence from the text, examine the concept of ‘being nothing’ and how it leads to becoming whole within the Taoist worldview.Glossary of Key Terms* Tao: Often translated as "the Way" or "the Path," it represents the fundamental principle of the universe and the natural order of existence. In the text, it is described as a pathless path to truth.* Let-go: A core principle of Taoism, it refers to the practice of allowing things to unfold naturally without resistance or tension, much like a river flowing to the ocean.* Secondhand religion/God: Taoism rejects blindly accepting established religious beliefs or concepts of God, urging individuals to find their own truths and experiences.* Ego: The sense of self as a separate entity, which Taoism identifies as a barrier to happiness and connection with the whole.* The poor in spirit: Refers to a state of emptiness and humility, where one understands that they possess nothing and know nothing; seen as a prerequisite for wholeness.* Nonconformism: The rejection of societal norms and expectations. Taoism is described as a profound form of nonconformism, urging individuals to follow their own inner guidance.* Agnoticism: A philosophical position that neither affirms nor denies the existence of ultimate realities, such as God, which is seen as a characteristic of genuine wisdom in the text.* Rebellion: Not a violent or disruptive force, but an act of living authentically and individually, rather than blindly following social norms or traditions.* Thinking: Often described as "dreaming with words," it is seen as a substitute for reality, which prevents direct experience of the present moment and thus of truth.* Master (Taoist context): Not someone who imparts knowledge, but someone who creates an environment where others can learn and discover for themselves by acting as a guide and inspiration.* Authenticity: Living one’s life genuinely and spontaneously, in alignment with their inner self. In the text, it is one of the key markers of a Taoist. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit depositologico.substack.com

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  12:49
• The Price of Time: A Study Guide

  The Price of Time: A Study GuideShort-Answer Quiz* Explain Proudhon's view of interest and his proposed solutions.* How does Bastiat differentiate between a good and bad economist and what is the key fallacy that a bad economist falls prey to?* What is Schumpeter’s concept of ‘creative destruction’ and how is it related to interest rates?* How did central banks react to the 2008 financial crisis, and what were the unexpected consequences of their actions?* What is the historical relationship between low interest rates and speculative manias?* What is the ‘time value of money’ and why does the author consider it the most encompassing view of interest?* How did ancient Mesopotamians use interest, and what were some common payment methods?* What was the key innovation that allowed northern Italian bankers to engage in lending despite religious restrictions?* According to the text, what is the problem with the idea that money is only meant for exchange and not a store of value?* How does the text describe the role of low interest rates in market concentration, and why does that hinder economic growth?Quiz Answer Key* Proudhon viewed interest as theft, arguing that it exploited the poor. His solutions included nationalising the Banque de France, expanding the money supply, reducing interest rates to near zero, and implementing a tax on capital.* A good economist considers both the immediate and long-term consequences of a policy, while a bad one focuses only on the immediate effects. The key fallacy is overlooking secondary consequences, thereby favouring short term gain.* Schumpeter describes capitalism as a process of continuous transformation, with old structures being destroyed and new ones created. The text shows how interest facilitates creative destruction by determining what investments are viable or not.* After the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, central banks pushed interest rates to historically low levels, even negative in some regions. This led to slow income growth, proliferation of low-paying jobs and increased borrowing at high rates for the less well-off.* Speculative manias often coincide with periods of low interest rates as it encourages investors to seek out riskier ventures. The text shows this happened during the Dutch Tulip mania, the canal building craze of the 1790s and in the housing bubble leading up to the 2008 crisis.* The 'time value of money' acknowledges that money is worth more now than in the future, hence a price of time. It is the most encompassing view of interest as it highlights how interest rates affect every economic deliberation.* Ancient Mesopotamians charged interest on loans, often in the form of the same commodity that was lent such as silver, or in kind with dates, firewood or labour services. Temples and palaces were major providers of these loans.* Northern Italian bankers concealed interest using euphemisms such as "yield", "gain", or by incorporating interest in foreign exchange transactions, which were called 'dry exchange', where no sea was crossed. This practice allowed them to bypass religious prohibitions.* The claim that money is only for exchange overlooks that money is also a store of value, which is the reason why lenders charge interest for the use of their money over time as it is an intertemporal transaction.* Low interest rates have led to increased market concentration, which in turn has led to higher profits for some and fewer new firms. According to the text, monopolies create barriers to entry which discourage innovation and slow economic growth.Essay Questions* Discuss the role of custom, law and monetary regimes in determining interest rates throughout history, using examples from the text to support your argument. How have these factors interacted to shape economic outcomes?* Evaluate the arguments for and against interest, considering different perspectives like those of Proudhon, Bastiat, Aristotle, and modern economists. Is interest a necessary evil, or a fundamental component of a healthy economy?* Analyse the relationship between low interest rates and speculative bubbles, using historical examples from the text to illustrate your arguments. How do central banks contribute to this phenomenon, and what measures can be taken to mitigate its consequences?* Explore the concept of ‘malinvestment’ and its connection to ultra-low interest rates. How does malinvestment occur, and what are its long-term consequences for economic growth and stability?* Examine the challenges and controversies associated with central bank inflation targets and the pursuit of low interest rate policies in the 21st century. How have these policies affected different groups and what alternatives are proposed in the text?Glossary of Key Terms* Creative Destruction: A concept by Joseph Schumpeter describing the capitalist process where new innovations and businesses replace older ones.* Time Value of Money: The idea that money available now is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity.* Usury: The practice of lending money at an unreasonably high interest rate. Historically viewed negatively.* Malinvestment: Investments made unwisely, often during periods of low interest rates, that do not generate adequate returns.* Liquidity Trap: An economic situation where low interest rates do not stimulate investment or spending.* Zombie Firms: Companies that are unable to cover their interest payments from profits, kept afloat by low interest rates.* Fiat Money: Currency that is not backed by a physical commodity like gold, but rather by government decree or public confidence.* Carry Trade: A trading strategy in which an investor borrows money in a currency with a low interest rate and invests it in another currency with a higher rate.* Moral Hazard: A situation where one party takes more risks because they know that another party will bear the cost of those risks.* Dry Exchange (Cambi Secchi): A method used by northern Italian bankers to conceal interest by incorporating it into foreign exchange transactions without any real transaction taking place.* Inflation Target: A specific level of inflation that a central bank aims to maintain, often set at 2%.* Quantitative Easing: A monetary policy in which a central bank introduces new money into the money supply by purchasing assets.* Debt Jubilee: A periodic debt cancellation or wiping clean of slates to help relieve debtors.* The Wage of Abstinence: An older view of interest, where the interest rate is seen as payment for a lender's saving and not spending.* Monetary Regime: A set of rules and customs that determine the nature and value of a country's currency.* Financial Drag: The impact of debt on an economy, where households and businesses reduce spending to repair balance sheets.* Rentier: A person who lives off interest.* Leverage: The use of borrowed capital to increase the potential return of an investment. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit depositologico.substack.com

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  15:44
• Seeing Like a State Study Guide

  Seeing Like a State Study GuideShort Answer Quiz* According to Scott, what is the modern state's aspiration regarding social reality? The modern state aims to reduce the chaotic, ever-changing social reality to something resembling the administrative grid of its observations. This involves simplifying complex systems to make them more legible and controllable by the state.* Why does Scott suggest we should not assume local practice conforms with state theory? Local practices often develop organically and are influenced by various factors not accounted for in state-level planning. Informal systems of knowledge and practice persist that often contradict top-down state-driven initiatives, highlighting the disconnect between theory and lived reality.* How does Scott describe designed or planned social order? Designed social order is necessarily schematic, meaning it ignores the essential, informal features of a real, functioning society. Such planned order relies on simplified rules that are parasitic upon existing, often hidden, informal processes.* Explain the concept of 'work-to-rule' as it relates to Scott's arguments. A 'work-to-rule' strike demonstrates that everyday processes rely on informal practices and improvisations not captured by formal rules. By following rules meticulously, workers can halt or severely slow production, exposing the limitations of planned systems.* How does the text portray the role of language in relation to power? Language, despite being a joint creation of many speakers, is heavily influenced by linguists, educators, and the state. While language cannot be fully dictated, state-backed efforts can significantly shape its trajectory, though everyday spoken language often retains its own organic, diverse character.* What is "high modernism" according to the text? High modernism is a belief that the benefits of scientific and technical progress can be applied to all aspects of human activity, often through state intervention. It involves comprehensive prescriptions for a new society based on rational, simplified plans.* According to Scott, how do standard measures relate to commerce? Standard measures like weight and volume are crucial to commerce as they simplify long chains of transactions, particularly those between anonymous buyers and sellers. Standardisation makes trade more legible, which benefits large-scale exchange.* Why does the text use the analogy of "taxidermy" to describe certain social projects? The analogy of “taxidermy” illustrates how attempts to impose a rigid, planned order on society can stifle its vitality, dynamism, and ability to adapt. The outcome is not a living system, but a lifeless replica.* What does Scott mean by the term “legibility” in the context of statecraft? Legibility refers to the extent to which a society can be easily understood, observed, counted, and assessed by the state. States strive to make populations and their territories more legible to enhance control and administration, through standardisation and simplification.* What is the connection between high modernism and a weakened civil society, according to the text? High modernism finds fertile ground for implementation when a civil society lacks the power to resist state-led projects, allowing the state to impose top-down plans on the social terrain. A weak civil society cannot challenge these plans, contributing to failures in social engineering.Quiz Answer Key* The modern state aims to reduce the chaotic, ever-changing social reality to something resembling the administrative grid of its observations. This involves simplifying complex systems to make them more legible and controllable by the state.* Local practices often develop organically and are influenced by various factors not accounted for in state-level planning. Informal systems of knowledge and practice persist that often contradict top-down state-driven initiatives, highlighting the disconnect between theory and lived reality.* Designed social order is necessarily schematic, meaning it ignores the essential, informal features of a real, functioning society. Such planned order relies on simplified rules that are parasitic upon existing, often hidden, informal processes.* A 'work-to-rule' strike demonstrates that everyday processes rely on informal practices and improvisations not captured by formal rules. By following rules meticulously, workers can halt or severely slow production, exposing the limitations of planned systems.* Language, despite being a joint creation of many speakers, is heavily influenced by linguists, educators, and the state. While language cannot be fully dictated, state-backed efforts can significantly shape its trajectory, though everyday spoken language often retains its own organic, diverse character.* High modernism is a belief that the benefits of scientific and technical progress can be applied to all aspects of human activity, often through state intervention. It involves comprehensive prescriptions for a new society based on rational, simplified plans.* Standard measures like weight and volume are crucial to commerce as they simplify long chains of transactions, particularly those between anonymous buyers and sellers. Standardisation makes trade more legible, which benefits large-scale exchange.* The analogy of “taxidermy” illustrates how attempts to impose a rigid, planned order on society can stifle its vitality, dynamism, and ability to adapt. The outcome is not a living system, but a lifeless replica.* Legibility refers to the extent to which a society can be easily understood, observed, counted, and assessed by the state. States strive to make populations and their territories more legible to enhance control and administration, through standardisation and simplification.* High modernism finds fertile ground for implementation when a civil society lacks the power to resist state-led projects, allowing the state to impose top-down plans on the social terrain. A weak civil society cannot challenge these plans, contributing to failures in social engineering.Essay Questions* Drawing from the text, discuss how the concept of "legibility" facilitates state power, and provide examples of how states attempt to simplify social realities for easier management.* Analyse the relationship between high modernism, state power, and the failures of social engineering projects as described in the text. What are the key factors that contribute to these failures?* Using examples from the text, critically evaluate the notion of "scientific planning" in the context of social and urban development. What are the inherent limitations of such approaches?* Compare and contrast the perspectives of Jane Jacobs and Le Corbusier regarding urban planning, as presented in the text, and explore the underlying ideological differences between them.* Based on the readings, discuss the role of both high modernism and resistance to it in state-building efforts. What are the key factors that influence outcomes and which are most significant for success?Glossary of Key Terms* High Modernism: A belief in the transformative power of scientific and technical progress applied to all areas of life, often through state intervention and planning. It often seeks to impose a rational, simplified order on society.* Legibility: The capacity of the state to understand, observe, count, and manage its population and territory through simplified and standardised information.* State Simplification: The process by which states reduce complex social realities into simplified, manageable categories for administrative purposes, often resulting in the loss of valuable information and context.* Work-to-Rule: A form of protest in which employees strictly adhere to all formal rules and regulations, thus demonstrating that informal practices are essential for smooth functioning and exposing the limitations of formalised systems.* Social Taxidermy: A metaphor for the process by which attempts to impose a fixed, planned order on society stifle its vitality, dynamism, and ability to adapt, resulting in a lifeless, static replica of the intended social form.* Internal Colonization: The process by which a state applies its administrative techniques within its own borders, often with similar effects on local populations and customs as external colonial projects.* Utopian Vision: An idealised, often unrealistic vision of a future society based on principles of order and progress, which can become dangerous if implemented with authoritarian power.* Informal Practices: The unwritten rules, customs, and improvisations that govern everyday life and work, often existing outside the purview of formal, state-sanctioned systems.* Administrative Grid: The simplified, standardised framework through which the state observes and manages its population and territory, reducing complexity to facilitate control.* Technocracy: A system of governance in which decision-making is based on scientific and technical expertise, often leading to the exclusion of other perspectives and values. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit depositologico.substack.com

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  16:16

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