Society Archives

The Rise of the Useless Class: Is It Inevitable?

What is a useless class? Is the emergence of a useless class an inevitable consequence of advances in technology? In his book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Harari makes a point that advances in technology, specifically AI, are likely to lead to the creation of a useless class, much like mass industrialization created the working class. And although the AI will create new jobs, it’s likely that there will still be a net loss in employment, creating a useless class of unskilled workers. Keep reading to learn about the rise of useless class and what can be done

21 Lessons for the 21st Century Book Overview

What is the book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century about? What are the biggest problems of the 21st century, according to its author Yuval Noah Harari? In his book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari highlights the three most urgent challenges of the 21st century: 1) the nuclear challenge, 2) the ecological challenge, and 3) the technological challenge. He also shares some thoughts on how to approach these issues, but his main aim is to spur the reader to keep exploring and to participate in shaping the future. Keep reading for more about the book 21

The Rise and Fall of the Ideology of Liberalism

What are the values that underpin the political ideology of liberalism? Why is liberalism becoming irrelevant as technology advances? The ideology of liberalism—which values personal freedoms, free trade, and free elections—is the dominant political model today. However, technological advances are transforming the political, social, and economic structures on which liberalism stands. Keep reading to learn about the slow rise and the looming fall of the ideology of liberalism.

Be Compassionate Like a Buddhist Bodhisattva

What is a bodhisattva in Buddhism? How can you work to rid yourself of feelings of otherness? Why is it so important to expand your group? In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is someone who could enter Nirvana, but chooses to stay on Earth and help others reach it instead. While it would be difficult for most of us to start making sacrifices for others, we can still work to be more compassionate and to eliminate the lines between “us” and “them.” Continue on to learn more about bodhisattvas and selflessness.

Delaying Marriage: Here’s Why It’s the Wrong Move

Is delaying marriage a bad idea? Why do so many people delay marriage? Delaying marriage is more common than you might think. Especially today, young people delay marriage due to fear of a possible divorce. Read more about delaying marriage and what it means.

The Dangers of Groupthink in Politics

What is groupthink? What are some examples of groupthink in politics? Groupthink occurs when a group’s desire for internal harmony supersedes critical reasoning. In politics, groupthink is particularly dangerous because it leads to irrational, dysfunctional decisions that affect entire nations. For example, politicians with no scientific training are creating policies on climate change that affect not just their nation but the whole world. Keep reading to learn about groupthink in politics.

How Does the Military Chain of Command Work?

How does the chain of command work in the American military? What are its main limitations? The U.S. military chain of command has long been structured in a bottom-up fashion: information flows from the field up the chain of command, where decisions are made and orders are sent back down. While it allows for structured communication, running decisions up and down the chain of command takes too much time and creates too much risk. Keep reading to learn about the military chain of command in the US task force, its history, and key limitations.

Technology & Inequality: Transcending Biology

How does technology affect inequality? What can future technology give to the wealthy and take away from the poor? With the rise of technology, the inequality gap is becoming wider. There’s even speculation that advances in tech will eventually create a useless class, just like mass industrialization created the working class. Making matters worse, developments in biotech could enable wealthy elites to become biologically superior and turn into a separate species. Keep reading to learn how advances in technology contribute to inequality going forward.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century Quotes of Note

What are the most noteworthy 21 Lessons for the 21st Century quotes? What are the key challenges of the 21st century, according to its author Yuval Noah Harari? In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari highlights the biggest challenges in the modern world and offers advice on how to tackle them. The following 21 Lessons for the 21st Century quotes highlight some of his key ideas about making sense of and navigating these transitional times. Keep reading for 21 Lessons for the 21st Century quotes by Yuval Noah Harari.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century: Discussion Questions

Are you looking for discussion questions for 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari? What are some of the key themes and ideas to discuss? From AI and unemployment to morality and the meaning of life, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century has a wealth of discussion-worthy topics to talk about. The following 21 Lessons for the 21st Century discussion questions and exercises will help you internalize the book’s lessons and consider them in the context of your own life. Here are some 21 Lessons for the 21st Century discussion questions and exercises that tackle some of