The Renaissance of Trust
The Trust-Power Cycle
From medieval times to the present, humankind sought social order through various means. Trust was the lifeblood of medieval society, whereas the nation-state exercised raw power. As we move into the age of network states, we will once again embrace trust-based systems to achieve a thriving and stable society.
Trust: The Foundation of Medieval Society
In the medieval age, folks realized that the key to maintaining order was to build rock-solid bonds of loyalty. They had a whole toolbox of tricks at their disposal, including
The feudal system
Religion, law, military
Social pressure
Under the feudal system, the bigwigs gave land in exchange for loyalty and military service from those lower on the social ladder. In turn, the high and mighty would pledge to protect the folks and the land within their realm from outside threats. Sometimes they'd even grant land in exchange for labor.
Religion, law, and military contributed additional incentives: external social pressure, internal moral pressure, and brute force to keep everyone in line.
This system was about as complicated as assembling a piece of Ikea furniture with a toddler in the room. But they made it work by making promises that everyone could hear. Social pressure served as the glue that held everything together. Promises were held in high regard, even more so than one's own life.
Back then, decentralized politics was a result of the Roman Empire collapsing. A mix of self-inflicted wounds and attacks from smaller enemies made everyone question who was in charge of Rome. In the confusion, everyone quarreled with each other, leading to even more decentralization of power. And that is how we arrived at a new equilibrium known as feudalism.
Overall, trust was the name of the game. Power was also important, but trust was more fundamental. Without trust, things were about as stable as a tower of Jenga blocks. Trust was the foundation that kept the whole thing from falling apart.
Power: The Foundation of Nation-States
In the nation-state era, power reigned supreme as governments employed every trick in the book to maintain control. This included
a monopoly on violence and military power
legal systems
national identity
economic policy
Governments had a license to kill and didn't hesitate to use it. Military power was primarily used to ward off external threats, but governments would flex their muscles whenever it gave them an advantage.
Legal systems were designed to create a consensus of fairness by protecting individual rights and freedoms, leading to increased voluntary compliance.
National identity was the glue that held the nation together. Governments fostered social cohesion and political stability by promoting shared identity through flags, anthems, and cultural practices. This made it easier for citizens to accept state authority and harder for outsiders to challenge it. And if things got too heated, national identity was the ultimate justification for military aggression and territorial expansion.
Economic policy was a game-changer. Governments used protectionist policies, subsidies, and strategic investments to stimulate growth, productivity, and living standards, cementing their power and influence.
For nation-states, power created trust, not the other way around. Governments could promise to enforce a law forever, only to reverse it the next day. Such actions were within the rules of the game. Ultimately, citizens trust that the government had the power to enforce whatever laws existed at the time. They don't necessarily trust that anybody keeps their word, that’s just politics. In principle, that's the opposite of feudalism.
Network States: The Rebirth of Trust
We have just now begun to enter the network-state era, where trust will once again emerge as a crucial concern in response to the re-decentralization of political power. Trust will be established through a variety of mechanisms, including the use of blockchain and highly aligned societies.
In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, public trust in the government took a nosedive, and to this day, it remains near an all-time low. According to a study conducted in 2022 by Pew Research, only a small percentage of people have confidence in their government.
While the exact path forward is uncertain, it seems that in the era of network states, reforming the concept of trust is a necessary step towards restoring credibility in public institutions.
One of the key benefits of blockchain technology is that it can help to address issues of trust. Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent, and immutable data storage technology. It has no central authority and it becomes increasingly expensive to tamper with as it gains mainstream adoption.
Blockchain cannot solve all trust issues. For some issues, it is necessary to trust people. To ensure trust in matters beyond the blockchain, reliance on social alignment is essential. This underscores the importance of having a highly aligned society oriented around one commandment.
A Renaissance of Renaissance
As the power-trust cycle turns again, we see familiar revolutionary changes that affect the way we do things.
A "Renaissance man" was an individual who excelled in multiple fields, from arts to sciences to philosophy and literature. This term originated from the Renaissance period in Europe when we transitioned from the medieval to the nation-state era.
Thanks to new technologies like blockchain and AI since 2009, capabilities that took decades to master are now available to the masses instantly. Welcome to the modern era of polymaths. The potential for radical change in several areas suggests a new Renaissance
Writing, art, and education:
The ChatGPT AI democratizes high-quality writing for the average person.
Generative AI art systems create unique, high-quality images instantly.
NFTs completely alter the economics of funding art, bringing creators and admirers closer together.
These and future AI tools will revolutionize education.
Science, history, and politics:
Blockchain allows for automated consistency checks on historical events, providing accurate information to everyone.
Balaji Srinivasan sees this technology being used to demonstrate scientific results in the open, creating supporting arguments all the way back to Newton. This makes science accessible to all.
Putting publications on the blockchain exposes self-referencing sock-puppet journalists who manipulate public opinion for political gain.
Exploration
SpaceX's breakthrough in rocket technology, using AI, modern computing, and 3D printing, allows their rockets to be reused, which reduces costs and could make interplanetary travel accessible to the average person.
Technology is blazing a trail, transforming the way we live, create beauty, engineer solutions, advance science, and journey beyond the stars. And it's no longer just for the privileged few. Technology is empowering everyone to levels that seem like magic. As we enter uncharted territory, we must navigate our evolving relationship with trust and power in this new era of discovery.