# [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] - [[👤Nassim Nicholas Taleb]]> - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]]= - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Definition - What is the book about]] - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Structure - What is the structure of the book]] - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Purpose - Why this book is helpful or inspiring]] - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Collections]] - [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Others]] - [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] *** ## Definition - What is the book about Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is about how certain systems can benefit and grow stronger from shocks, randomness, volatility and uncertainty. The key points are: 1. Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. While the resilient resists shocks and stays the same, the antifragile gets better and stronger from them.[^2] 2. Examples of antifragile systems include evolution, where individual organisms are fragile but the overall system benefits from randomness and shocks over time to grow stronger.[^5] The mythological Hydra which grew two new heads each time one was cut off is another example.[^7] 3. Many modern systems are fragile because they try to suppress randomness and volatility for stability. But this makes them vulnerable to large shocks. Taleb argues we need more antifragility.[^7] 4. Overprotection, over-intervention and naive optimization can increase fragility. Examples include helicopter parenting, overly aggressive medical treatment, and economic policies that try to smooth out normal fluctuations.[^7] 5. By allowing frequent small stressors, we enable systems to handle larger ones. Deprivation of these stressors can be harmful. Examples include the immune system, bones and muscles which require stress to grow stronger.[^1] In summary, Taleb proposes antifragility as a solution for a world growing increasingly complex, interdependent and prone to unpredictable large-scale events he calls "Black Swans". The book combines ideas from his previous works to argue for systems that gain from disorder. [^1]: https://www.nateliason.com/notes/antifragile [^2]: https://fourminutebooks.com/antifragile-summary/ [^3]: https://www.grahammann.net/book-notes/antifragile-nassim-nicholas-taleb [^4]: https://www.supersummary.com/antifragile/summary/ [^5]: https://accessorytosuccess.com/blogs/books/antifragile [^6]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile_%28book%29 [^7]: https://www.norberthires.blog/antifragile-summary/ [^8]: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/books/antifragile-by-nassim-nicholas-taleb.html > 🔝 [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] *** ## Structure - What is the structure of the book The book is composed of seven main sections which Taleb calls "books", plus a notes section[^2]: 1. Book I, The Antifragile: An Introduction, presents the concept of antifragility and discusses evolution and organic systems as examples of antifragile systems. It also looks at the tradeoff between the antifragility of the collective and the fragility of the individual. 2. Book II, Modernity and the Denial of Antifragility, describes what happens when volatility is removed from systems, especially political systems. It discusses the invention of the nation-state and the idea of harm done by those trying to help. 3. Book III, A Nonpredictive View of the World, introduces the character Fat Tony and his intuitive detection of fragility. It presents the foundational asymmetry of fragility and antifragility. 4. Book IV, Optionality, Technology, and the Intelligence of Antifragility, explores the difficulty of predicting the future and the concept of optionality as a source of antifragility. 5. Book V, The Nonlinear and the Nonlinear, discusses the importance of nonlinearity in understanding fragility and antifragility. 6. Book VI, Via Negativa, looks at how subtractive actions and indirect knowledge can foster antifragility. 7. Book VII, The Ethics of Fragility and Antifragility, explores the ethical dimensions of fragility and antifragility, including the idea of "skin in the game". The book also includes an appendix that presents a comprehensive table mapping the world along the fragility spectrum, called the "Triad"[^2]. [^1]: https://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/0812979680 [^2]: http://kgt.bme.hu/files/BMEGT30M400/Taleb_Antifragile__2012.pdf [^3]: https://www.deanyeong.com/book-notes/antifragile [^4]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13530973-antifragile [^5]: https://adams.marmot.org/Record/.b37624489 [^6]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaU7Sxk6Yk4 [^7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile_%28book%29 [^8]: https://softwaredominos.com/home/books-that-everyone-should-read/book-review-antifragile-things-that-gain-from-disorder/ > 🔝 [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] *** ## Purpose - Why this book is helpful or inspiring ### Risk-taking and norm-breaking for ideas align us with the cosmos, integrating our existence into cosmic exploration and bringing synchronicity and peace > ___ embrace risk and break norms是为了什么 Taleb认为应该是为了一个idea 而对于一个人来说 最大的风险莫过于 为了一个idea不惜牺牲自己的生命 这是一种高尚的死亡 其条件也极为苛刻 首先你必须有能力理解idea 也要能够预见到idea的结果是什么 而从某种意义上来说 你是宇宙本身 你是一个有意识的局部宇宙 是宇宙的微尘组成的 而你探索并尝试理解某个idea 就是宇宙本身探索并尝试理解某个idea 而你的存在本身就是宇宙尝试理解它自己 当你愿意为了理解并一个idea 去embrace risk and break norms 然后你意识到这个idea的价值 愿意为了传播这个idea不惜再次embrace risk and break norms 你将与宇宙同道 事实上 你的出现就是宇宙试图理解他自己 宇宙尝试让一部分微尘以某种特殊的结构而涌现出意识 然后他们会尝试理解他自己 与宇宙同道 将使你能感到宇宙就做在你身边 其巨大的身躯 憨厚的样态 混沌地围绕着你 虽然你看不见他 但你知道他就在那 什么不是宇宙呢 哪里不是宇宙呢 而你为了理解一个idea 以及 传播一个idea的行为跟想法不惜embrace risk and break norms 他都看在眼里 他会用他的方法给你启示作为奖励 通常是精妙的巧合synchronicity 要么是绝佳的时机kairos 你作为一个有意识的宇宙的尘埃组成的局部宇宙 本身也终将复归于宇宙 每个人都有这样一天 但是结局的局面是不同的 有的人因为与宇宙同道 他将是安详宁静地复归于宇宙 而抵抗宇宙试图理解他自己的意志的人却会像丧家之犬一样在惊恐与不安中复归宇宙 你应该有意识地选择安详宁静的生活方式 与宇宙同道 那就要为了试图理解一个idea 一个理念 一个想法 一个机制 去embrace risk and break norms ___ ![[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery]] *** ### Civilizations flourish through true heroism; exploiting systems under false heroism leads to their decline > ___ take risk and break norms之所以重要 其原因在于其背后的英雄主义 在taleb看来 崇尚英雄主义 以英雄主义为美的文明会繁荣 反之 文明会自然衰亡 因为自然与宇宙并不在意任何一个文明 在各种各样的挑战与不确定面前 不崇尚英雄主义的族群与文明 没有足够的能力去利用自然与宇宙中不确定性 风险 以及脆弱性背后的非线性成长的机会 会被崇尚英雄主义的文明所征服 奴役 同化 进而消亡 而taleb对英雄主义的定义是 通过主动地承担不利益 承担风险 特别是承担打破规则可能面临的惩罚的风险 而这种行为的后果反倒使得自己以及自己所在群体受益 而一个文明的反脆弱性则会随着英雄主义的消亡而消亡 在一个堕落的文明 大行其道的是 巧妙地利用制度与规则 让他人承担不利益与风险 而使自己受益或者规避自己的风险 并且 为了维护这种风险与利益上的不对称局面 利用系统将自己伪装成英雄 伪装成英雄的人通常会散发一种特殊的气味 特别的浮躁与喜欢戏剧性 ___ ![[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes]] *** ### Taking risks to challenge established beliefs fosters breakthroughs and significant insights > ___ 真正重要的知识 是try and error的结果 也就是对本以为对的东西进行质疑 然后证实原来的观点是错误的 然而这里的关键在于 要获得这些关于否定的知识 本身必须建立在对原本肯定的知识的质疑之上 这种对肯定的质疑则势必要承担风险 因为很多东西 甚至一些系统都建立在肯定的知识之上 动摇这些肯定的知识本身就要动摇这些系统 肯定会带来系统甚至范式的变化 而这些系统的变化则必定会触动利益甚至人们的心里的舒适 而且你不得不展开有风险的验证并得出否定的结论 因此这里势必要embrace risk break norms 因此 要获得真正重要的 关键在于embrace risk break norms ___ ![[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths]] *** ### Readiness to challenge conventional and harmful rules is crucial when restrictions impede freedom and intellectual growth > ___ 我们之所以要理解并且养成一种自然地无意识地生活习惯 去进行take risk break norms 是因为只有这样 我们才能在必要的时候 有足够的能力以及相应的早已准备好的mindset 以及 toolset 来做出正确的选择 采取正确的行动 而不会被规则桎梏 不敢 也无能去进行take risk 做出正确的决策 在taleb看来 当规则 道德 法律 约束的目的本身成为造成人们伤害的原因时 你必须要做好足够的mindset 以及 toolset的准备 take risk break norms 特别是当这种伤害是对人们的自由的发展以及智力的成长的伤害时 ___ ![[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#actions should aim to prevent harm]] *** ### Cultivating an intuitive mindset and toolset, deeply rooted in habits and principles, enables automatic adaptation and exploitation of the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities, allowing one to thrive amid chaos > ___ 之所以要embrace risk break rules 其关键在于是在日常训练自己并培养一些工具包 toolset 也就是说 embrace risk break rules本身需要一些mindset 一些思维习惯 一些惯性 一些生活理念 一些审美观 这种东西 当你习以为常 能够融入到你的身体之中 你才能在稍纵即逝的机会来临时捕捉到 而这些形而上的东西首先不会自然呈现 特别是你的成长过程本身就是一段社会化 把社会的规则内化的过程 因此你需要依靠自力创造出这些部件 这些理念 审美 但仅仅如此 偶尔的发明依然不够 你更需要让自己与这些你发明的工具 部件 融为一体 这就需要一种不断在压力下适用这些工具的具体的生活 在这种生活中浸泡 你会不断地需要不断地进入使用该工具 该部件的进程来应对压力 减少不适 避免困扰 或者收获喜悦 如此 这些理念 审美 mindset 才能成为一种活生生的具体的能够摆脱你的意识的命令而自发进行反应的实在行为 脱离了你的意识而存在的自然而然地反应 这种脱离你的意识而存在本身就是一种物化 你通过刻意训练将你的一部分本来隶属于内部意识控制的托管给外部环境了 这就是一个主动物化自己的过程 为什么要进行这样的主动将自己物化为无情的环境呢 taleb给出的意见是 因为世界在不断崩坏 这种主动物化自己的过程 能够让自己在机会来临的时候 能够更好地embrace risk and break norms 从而利用这种自然发生的崩坏 与之对赌 用这种对赌来为自己的生存谋取利益 至少避开与之一荣俱荣一损俱损 而这种世界中不断自然崩坏的东西就是世界中的脆弱的东西 fragile 而你之所以能利用世界中广泛存在的脆弱的东西因为随机性的冲击而自然崩坏来为自己的生存谋取利益 关键在于你通常能提前判断什么是脆弱的 脆弱的东西有一种气味 有一种审美上的特征 有一种围绕着的光晕 你通过对这种气味 审美 以及光晕的敏感 来提前判断脆弱的东西 并用你的财产或者行动去赌 它在不久地将来将会因为不可提前预知的随机性的冲击而自然垮塌 这些脆弱的东西通常不是孤立存在的 你顺藤摸瓜寻找以这种脆弱的东西为基础的东西 避开他们 然后尝试做一些工作 去替代该脆弱的东西的自然崩塌可能波及到的一些服务与产品 把自己的注意力放在这些替代性的服务和产品的打磨与演化上 静静地等待 随机性的到来 ![[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities]] > 🔝 [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] *** ## Collections ### the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery Heroism has evolved through civilization from the martial arena to that of ideas. Initially, in preclassical times, the Homeric hero was someone principally endowed with physical courage—since everything was physical. In later classical times, for such people as the great Lacedaemonian king Agiselaus, a truly happy life was one crowned by the privilege of death in battle, little else, perhaps even nothing else. But for Agiselaus, courage had already evolved from purely martial prowess into something greater. Courage was often seen in acts of renunciation, as when one is ready to sacrifice himself for the benefit of others, of the collective, something altruistic.Finally, a new form of courage was born, that of the Socratic Plato, which is the very definition of the modern man: the courage to stand up for an idea, and enjoy death in a state of thrill, simply because the privilege of dying for truth, or standing up for one’s values, had become the highest form of honor. And no one has had more prestige in history than two thinkers who overtly and defiantly sacrificed their lives for their ideas—two Eastern Mediterraneans; one Greek and one Semite. [Page 498](x-devonthink-item://E3E13C12-2875-4235-8C8E-004006E90CB8?page=497&start=113&length=1164&search=Heroism%20has%20evolved%20through%20civilization%20from%20the%20martial%20arena%20to%20that%20of%20ideas.%20Initially,%20in%20preclassical%20times,%20the%20Homeric%20hero%20was%20someone%20principally%20endowed%20with%20physical%20courage%E2%80%94since%20everything%20was%20physical.%20In%20later%20classical%20times,%20for%20such%20peo) | | | | :--: | ---- | | 🪐 | [the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery](brain://api.thebrain.com/wJOt9X_NfUOoSRFsxtdayA/A-OPcYD4_UOjYZDd6OtEQg/TheThrillOfStandingForBeliefsAndDyingForThemAsTheUltimateHonor) | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery]] | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Risk-taking and norm-breaking for ideas align us with the cosmos, integrating our existence into cosmic exploration and bringing synchronicity and peace]] | | 🌲 | [[🌲Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery]] | | 🐿️ | [[🐿️Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#! 📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Risk-taking and norm-breaking for ideas align us with the cosmos, integrating our existence into cosmic exploration and bringing synchronicity and peace]] | | 🗿 | [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#the thrill of standing for beliefs and dying for them as the ultimate honor defines contemporary bravery]] | *** ### true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes It is, of course, an agency problem.And the agency problem, is of course, an asymmetry.We are witnessing a fundamental change. Consider older societies—those societies that have survived. The main difference between us and them is the disappearance of a sense of heroism; a shift away from a certain respect—and power—to those who take downside risks for others. For heroism is the exact inverse of the agency problem: someone elects to bear the disadvantage (risks his own life, or harm to himself, or, in milder forms, accepts to deprive himself of some benefits) for the sake of others. What we have currently is the opposite: power seems to go to those, like bankers, corporate executives (nonentrepreneurs), and politicians, who steal a free option from society.And heroism is not just about riots and wars. An example of an inverse agency problem: as a child I was most impressed with the story of a nanny who died in order to save a child from being hit by a car. I find nothing more honorable than accepting death in someone else’s place.In other words, what is called sacrifice. And the word “sacrifice” is related to sacred, the domain of the holy that is separate from that of the profane.In traditional societies, a person is only as respectable and as worthy as the downside he (or, more, a lot more, than expected, she) is willing to face for the sake of others. The most courageous, or valorous, occupy the highest rank in their society: knights, generals, commanders. Even mafia dons accept that such rank in the hierarchy makes them the most exposed to be whacked by competitors and the most penalized by the authorities. The same applies to saints, those who abdicate, devote their lives to serve others—to help the weak, the deprived, and the dispossessed.So Table 7 presents another Triad: there are those with no skin in the game but who benefit from others, those who neither benefit from nor harm others, and, finally, the grand category of those sacrificial ones who take the harm for the sake of others. [Page 496](x-devonthink-item://E3E13C12-2875-4235-8C8E-004006E90CB8?page=494&start=703&length=972&search=%0AIt%20is,%20of%20course,%20an%20agency%20problem.%0AAnd%20the%20agency%20problem,%20is%20of%20course,%20an%20asymmetry.%0AWe%20are%20witnessing%20a%20fundamental%20change.%20Consider%20older%20societies%0A%E2%80%94those%20societies%20that%20have%20survived.%20The%20main%20difference%20between%20us%20and%20them%20is%20the%20disappearance%20of%20) | | | | :--: | ---- | | 🪐 | [true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes](brain://api.thebrain.com/wJOt9X_NfUOoSRFsxtdayA/lqK8_Y1bS0uQC6_kX-XsFA/TrueRespectPowerAndSocietalRankAreNaturallyEarnedThroughTheSac) | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes]] | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Civilizations flourish through true heroism; exploiting systems under false heroism leads to their decline]] | | 🌲 | [[🌲Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes]] | | 🗿 | [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#true respect, power, and societal rank are naturally earned through the sacred act of sacrifice and facing risks for others, not by exploiting them for self-serving purposes]] | *** ### robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths Now when it comes to knowledge, the same applies. The greatest— and most robust—contribution to knowledge consists in removing what we think is wrong—subtractive epistemology.In life, antifragility is reached by not being a sucker. In Peri mystikes theologias, Pseudo-Dionysos did not use these exact words, nor did he discuss disconfirmation, nor did he get the idea with clarity, but in my view he figured out this subtractive epistemology and asymmetries in knowledge. I have called “Platonicity” the love of some crisp abstract forms, the theoretical forms and universals that make us blind to the mess of reality and cause Black Swan effects. Then I realized that there was an asymmetry. I truly believe in Platonic ideas when they come in reverse, like negative universals.So the central tenet of the epistemology I advocate is as follows: we know a lot more what is wrong than what is right, or, phrased according to the fragile/robust classification, negative knowledge (what is wrong, what does not work) is more robust to error than positive knowledge (what is right, what works). So knowledge grows by subtraction much more than by addition—given that what we know today might turn out to be wrong but what we know to be wrong cannot turn out to be right, at least not easily. If I spot a black swan (not capitalized), I can be quite certain that the statement “all swans are white” is wrong. But even if I have never seen a black swan, I cannever hold such a statement to be true. Rephrasing it again: since one small observation can disprove a statement, while millions can hardly confirm it, disconfirmation is more rigorous than confirmation. [Page 400](x-devonthink-item://E3E13C12-2875-4235-8C8E-004006E90CB8?page=399&start=604&length=1455&search=Now%20when%20it%20comes%20to%20knowledge,%20the%20same%20applies.%20The%20greatest%E2%80%94%20and%20most%20robust%E2%80%94contribution%20to%20knowledge%20consists%20in%20removing%20what%20we%20think%20is%20wrong%E2%80%94subtractive%20epistemology.%0AIn%20life,%20antifragility%20is%20reached%20by%20not%20being%20a%20sucker.%20In%20Peri%20mystikes%20theolo) | | | | :--: | ---- | | 🪐 | [robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths](brain://api.thebrain.com/wJOt9X_NfUOoSRFsxtdayA/3Burwt7YFEi_iphzy18_Fg/RobustAndAccurateInsightsAreGainedMoreThroughTheEliminationOfErr) | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths]]<br>[[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Taking risks to challenge established beliefs fosters breakthroughs and significant insights]] | | 🌲 | [[🌲Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths]] | | 🗿 | [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#robust and accurate insights are gained more through the elimination of errors than through the affirmation of correctness or the accumulation of truths]] | *** ### actions should aim to prevent harm In political systems, a good mechanism is one that helps remove the bad guy; it’s not about what to do or who to put in. For the bad guy can cause more harm than the collective actions of good ones. Jon Elster goes further; he recently wrote a book with the telling title Preventing Mischief in which he bases negative action on Bentham’s idea that “the art of the legislator is limited to the prevention of everything that might prevent the development of their [members of the assembly] liberty and their intelligence.”And, as expected, via negativa is part of classical wisdom. For the Arab scholar and religious leader Ali Bin Abi-Taleb (no relation), keeping one’s distance from an ignorant person is equivalent to keeping company with a wise man.Finally, consider this modernized version in a saying from Steve Jobs: “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” [Page 402](x-devonthink-item://E3E13C12-2875-4235-8C8E-004006E90CB8?page=401&start=238&length=1151&search=In%20political%20systems,%20a%20good%20mechanism%20is%20one%20that%20helps%20remove%20the%20bad%20guy%3B%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20about%20what%20to%20do%20or%20who%20to%20put%20in.%20For%20the%20bad%20guy%20can%20cause%20more%20harm%20than%20the%20collective%20actions%20of%20good%20ones.%20Jon%20Elster%20goes%20further%3B%20he%20recently%20wrote%20a%20book%20with%20th) | | | | :--: | ---- | | 🪐 | [actions should aim to prevent harm](brain://api.thebrain.com/wJOt9X_NfUOoSRFsxtdayA/xxBO1PW4Xkyb7zTe-Ruxtw/ActionsShouldAimToPreventHarm) | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#actions should aim to prevent harm]]<br>[[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Readiness to challenge conventional and harmful rules is crucial when restrictions impede freedom and intellectual growth]] | | 🌲 | [[🌲Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#actions should aim to prevent harm]] | | 🗿 | [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#actions should aim to prevent harm]] | *** ### exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities Via negativa. What is fragile will eventually break; and, luckily,we can easily tell what is fragile. Positive Black Swans are more unpredictable than negative ones.“Time has sharp teeth that destroy everything,” declaimed the sixth-century (B.C.) poet Simonides of Ceos, perhaps starting a tradition in Western literature about the inexorable effect of time. I can trace a plethora of elegant classical expressions, from Ovid (tempus edax rerum—time devours everything) to the no less poetic twentieth-century Franco-Russian poetess Elsa Triolet (“time burns but leaves no ashes”). Naturally, this exercise triggered some poetic waxing, so I am now humming a French poem put to music titled “Avec le temps” about how time erases things, even bad memories (though it doesn’t say that it erases us as well in the process). Now, thanks to convexity effects, we can put a little bit of science in these, and produce our own taxonomy of what should be devoured the fastest by that inexorable time. The fragile will eventually break—and, luckily, we are capable of figuring out what is fragile. Even what we believe is antifragile will eventually break, but it should take much, much longer to do so (wine does well with time, but up to a point; and not if you put it in the crater of a volcano). [Page 410](x-devonthink-item://E3E13C12-2875-4235-8C8E-004006E90CB8?page=409&start=1956&length=66&search=Via%20negativa.%20What%20is%20fragile%20will%20eventually%20break%3B%20and,%20luckily,) | | | | :--: | ---- | | 🪐 | [exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities](brain://api.thebrain.com/wJOt9X_NfUOoSRFsxtdayA/3I8P8-Rluka_igjU838_LQ/ExploitTheWorldsInherentUncertaintiesAndVulnerabilities) | | 📚 | [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities]]<br>[[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#Cultivating an intuitive mindset and toolset, deeply rooted in habits and principles, enables automatic adaptation and exploitation of the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities, allowing one to thrive amid chaos]] | | 🌲 | [[🌲Embrace risk and break norms to cultivate a bold, rule-breaking character#exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities]] | | 🗿 | [[🗿Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#exploit the world's inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities]] | *** > 🔝 [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] *** ## Others > 🔝 [[📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb#📚Antifragile - Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] ***