[T]he text is somewhat incoherent. It claims that in-between positions are not sustainable and also that both extremes are Schelling points, yet the title suggests that the truth-telling extreme is the “right” focus point. I happen to share the author’s belief that the extremes may be points of attraction, but the claim at the end that they form dual Schelling points needs further evidence. A system with two points of attraction is inherently unstable, negating the feedback cycle that seems necessary for a Schelling point in the first place, and it is not clear why out of band signalling about the current consensus cannot lead to an in-between position as the “obvious” future consensus point. Keeping in mind the paradigmatic Schelling point that people prefer “heads” in a game involving choice between heads or tails, I think the fable is trying to create a future consensus around the truth telling extreme via out of band signalling to children, making this extreme a priori more salient to future generations than a socially signalled non-truth position. In contrast, my takeaway from this piece is that the author is either arguing badly, or the text is meant as a kind of rationality koan, promoting enlightenment via engagement with its flawed argument.
The Straussian reading is definitely not intended on my part—I wouldn’t play that kind of mind game with you guys! Or at least, it definitely wasn’t consciously intended, but I have to concede that it’s probably not a coincidence that the title ended up being “Speaking Truth to Power Is …” rather than “Preferred Narratives of the Powerful Are …”. Every author should hope to attend her own funeral.
Comment of the week goes to hillsump at /r/TheMotte (emphasis mine):
The Straussian reading is definitely not intended on my part—I wouldn’t play that kind of mind game with you guys! Or at least, it definitely wasn’t consciously intended, but I have to concede that it’s probably not a coincidence that the title ended up being “Speaking Truth to Power Is …” rather than “Preferred Narratives of the Powerful Are …”. Every author should hope to attend her own funeral.