> Overcoming friction leads to growth. Comfort leads to stagnation.... I’ve come to believe that with the rise of convenience and comfort, it becomes harder for us to reach our potential.... A certain level of convenience can lead to efficiency gains. Automation is important for a reason. Too much convenience though, that's a killer. When friction was inherent in the system, applying ourselves led to growth as we overcame that friction.
There's some kind of logical flaw in all of this where "growth" is circularly defined as the overcoming of friction.
In a world where one could snap their fingers and magically have everything, would "growth" be impossible?
Conversely, just throw out all your technology and live in the woods and re-implement and re-discover agrarian tools and techniques: amazing growth!
The point is that in my opinion "growth" defined in this way is not a helpful goal.
Building/creating/producing something that is more cheap/efficient/better than an existing tech should be the goal, regardless of whether or not there is friction involved in creating it.
Friction in current technology may or may not be a signal that therein lies opportunity. It's not a given.
replies(4):