Contemplating infinity | Seth’s Weblog

Limitless, limitless and extra. These are constructing blocks of capitalism.

Starbucks is aware of that they will’t get you to drink three coffees each morning, however their inventory worth is constructed on the concept that they will proceed to get extra prospects and make more cash from every one.

The Wedding ceremony-Industrial complicated is constructed on the straightforward concept that your wedding ceremony ought to price the identical as your finest pal’s wedding ceremony did (plus somewhat extra).

The standing ratchet is actual, and it’s simple to be seduced by it. “In comparison with what” is a basic element of selling.

One cause this works is that somewhat progress will get you optimistic suggestions, which makes you keen to seek out somewhat extra, a cycle that doesn’t finish. Infinity, all the way in which up.

And, for these looking for social change, the other is price noting:

When asking for penance, self-control and good habits, infinity will not be a useful gizmo. When somebody reveals up and tries to do higher, “that’s not adequate,” will not be a very helpful motivator.

The helpful course of begins by incomes enrollment within the journey towards higher, however it’s not amplified by our criticism of every motion being imperfect.

Go-up infinity is about ‘extra.’ However too usually, social-good infinity is about ‘pure’. And pure is tough to embrace, as a result of something lower than pure looks like failure.

March 9, 2026