Nothing New under the Sun: Why Modern Systems Keep Recreating Ancient Power Structures

In his book Nothing New Under the Sun, author Solomon Harrington argues that human behavior changes very slowly and therefore “ambitions that shaped ancient kingdoms still shape modern corporations. The incentives that structured medieval economies still appear in modern digital markets”.

To demonstrate his thesis, the author highlights the parallel between old and new systems using case studies showing how it is human behavior and incentives, not technology, that sets up power and organisational structures.

C.S. Lewis described modern bias as chronological snobbery as it assumes that something new is also wiser and more advanced. The author has done a good job of showing how human incentives remain remarkably consistent across show more centuries and that systems still evolve in ways that benefit those who design and control them.
Full review here: https://courtofthegrandchildren.com/chronological-snobbery/ show less