2022-06-29

• Illegibility is the origin of hostility. Can be seen at multiple scales. Heated arguments between people, typically over non-fundamental ideas, almost always boil down to a lack of understanding between the two people. The position of the other is illegible, and if it were legible, there would be no argument (in vast majority of cases). At the societal level, we have war. The illegibility here is easier to see. At the base of it, soldiers do not understand the humanity of soldiers from the other side. The humanity of the other is again illegible here. But it can also be internal to a society. Government officials have often felt threatened by parts of society that are illegible. An example would be what goes on in slums, places often considered on the fringe or outside the bounds of normal society. The illegibility in this case creates concern and leads to policies to improve legibility. Fear isn’t the only reason to resolve illegibility. Sometimes it is reasonably clear that improving legibility can lead to a positive outcome that isn’t necessarily zero-sum. New relationships/cooperation between people is a form of reducing illegibility to advance teh interests of all involved. But it is worth remembering that if you find yourself in a hostile situation (as either the initiator or recipient), illegibility is a central concern in the situation.

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