Cycles of Change

Engineering practical systems and exploring the physical world.

Human history moves in regular waves where public trust rises and falls over long decades. In their studies of American life, William Strauss and Neil Howe charted an eighty-year wave. This long cycle divides history into four distinct turnings. The fourth era brings a time of deep national trial. [...]
A free country depends on drawing a firm line between what you think and what you do. For generations, our legal tradition has guarded the human mind as private ground beyond the reach of state power. You can hold odd beliefs, read banned books, or harbor deep dislikes without breaking any law. In [...]
Stability in a complex civilization depends on a shared map of reality. This map usually consists of agreed-upon social rules and linguistic definitions. When these definitions change quickly, a "map-territory" mismatch occurs. This mismatch generates social friction. Currently, topics like gender [...]