Modern paradoxes

"Freedom of opinion is greater than in any other country; so too levels of prejudice & superstition" - Iranian magazine (1923) on Britain

— Tom Holland (@holland_tom) October 27, 2017

I am not so sure about levels of prejudice and superstition. Perhaps, but there is a lot of competition for first place in prejudice and superstition in countries with no freedom of opinion.

But the comment does spark two paradoxes.

So far, in the OECD, we cannot seem to accomplish increased prosperity without also increasing inequality. For all countries, the wealthier they become, the more unequal they become. It is not that the poor become immiserated. Almost without exception, the rising tide raises all boats but the bigger boats rise faster.

I do suspect that the 1923 observation does translate into a slightly different point, one that is almost a tautology. The more freedom of opinion there is, the greater the variance in opinion there will be. However, the more complex your social system, and the more free it is, the more continued prosperity depends on shared opinions.

You are left with probably five paradoxical truths.

Greater prosperity arises from greater socio-economic complexity.

Greater socio-economic complexity depends on greater freedom of communication.

Greater prosperity is associated with increased inequality.

Greater freedom drives greater variance in thought and opinion.

However, greater complexity requires greater conformity of assumptions to achieve greater prosperity.