Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11) cover image

True Crime, banking edition

Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

INSIGHT

High Modernism and Complex Systems

  • High modernism attempts to simplify complex systems for easier management by large bureaucracies.
  • This simplification can lead to problems when it ignores crucial details or cultural aspects.
  • However, many large bureaucracies (like the IRS, Social Security, water departments) do function in society.
  • The lesson is not that it's impossible to run complex systems, but that there are specific dangers and failure modes to be aware of.
  • Big Tech companies demonstrate that it's possible to manage even larger bureaucracies effectively, though not without challenges.
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