The question isn’t whether something has already been said before, it’s whether it’s been said by you , right now, in this very moment.

Today, however, intellectual debates have been fragmented by algorithms, intellectual bubbles, and digital pile-ons. Algorithm-driven echo chambers ensure that we only ever hear from people we already agree with. It’s not that people don’t argue anymore—we argue constantly —but the nature of the debate has changed. The goal is no longer to explore... See more

This is what is at the core of this shift. Where public intellectuals once shaped cultural discourse by challenging ideas, most influential figures today shape culture by modeling a lifestyle. The Kardashians and the endless legion of influencers who dictate internet micro-trends don’t engage in public debate or articulate their philosophies in... See more