Historian Ada Palmer recently blew my mind with the idea that history has always moved quickly, and that the idea that change has accelerated in modernity (which is taught in both history books and games such as Civilization) is a lie.
My initial reaction was the same as Dwarkesh Patel’s (the interviewer), which was to point out the technological change has obviously accelerated, with AI being a big one. But Palmer has a great counterpoint: we just don’t care about historical technological progress because we take all of it for granted. But in fact big changes were always happening just as quickly: chairs with backs, scissors, advances in metallurgy, new paint pigments, etc.
Maybe her argument breaks down if you go all the way back to the Stone Age. But maybe even then, the discovery of a new medicinal plant, or a new freshwater spring, or a new type of flint tool might have changed everything for a small tribe, and quickly.
What we’ve gotten better at, as a global civilization, is retaining and sharing new knowledge and inventions. If there’s been any acceleration of change (and/or progress), it’s because of that.
Life Updates
- My kid is touring colleges, and will soon make a decision! Life moves so quickly…
- I posted my first TikTok (for the new Jondi & Spesh release, throwback to clubbing days at 111 Minna)
- I’m still writing my second Saint Arcology novel, which takes place in San Francisco, and will in fact be the first in the series (followed by the Mumbai book, which I wrote first). I’m 60k words in, about halfway through the first draft. Progress is slow, but I’m having a blast, and it might even be good.
