18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
Jon Hillis, co-founder and caretaker of Cabin, posits that human civilization progresses through cycles of centralization and decentralization, invariably tied to the dominant coordination technologies of each era. He argues that from ancient river civilizations to Greek city-states, innovative coordination methods lead to flourishing decentralized systems. However, as these systems grow, economies of scale incentivize centralization, eventually leading to overextension, resource depletion, and ultimately, collapse. Hillis believes we're at the cusp of such a transition today.
Hillis sees our current political climate, particularly in the United States, as a symptom of late-stage capitalism and late-stage democracy. He suggests that the entrenched left-right political divide, with roots in Enlightenment-era philosophy, is inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges.
We're sort of stuck in this political divide that seems intractable. And when these things happen throughout civilization, the way that you solve these problems is by returning to the roots and by starting small, by using these new technologies and trying to build new bottom-up structures.
According to Hillis, blockchain technology presents a unique opportunity to break free from these outdated models. He believes that blockchains empower communities to experiment with novel governance structures, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable systems.
Hillis distinguishes his vision of "network cities" from the burgeoning concept of "network states," drawing parallels and highlighting key differences. While acknowledging shared principles with Balaji Srinivasan's network state concept, particularly the potential for digitally coordinated communities, Hillis emphasizes that Cabin's approach centers around community-driven, locally-rooted initiatives rather than top-down, centrally-controlled structures.
Network cities, as envisioned by Hillis, are networks of physically dispersed neighborhoods acting as co-living hubs for independent online creators. These hubs, strategically situated in nature with high-speed internet access, prioritize community building and localized culture. Hillis believes that fostering both permanent residents deeply embedded in the local community and a transient population traveling between hubs allows for cultural cross-pollination and a richer, more sustainable network.
Hillis acknowledges the long history of intentional communities and ecovillages, recognizing both their aspirations and the challenges they've faced. He highlights the high failure rate of such endeavors and emphasizes Cabin's intention to learn from these past experiences.
The funnel of people who want to do these kinds of land-based projects and then the tiny portion of people who actually can figure out how to get there and turn it into a sustainable thing, it's a rough funnel. And so what we want to do is basically just widen that funnel a little bit, just make it a little bit easier for people to come together and do those things.
Drawing on his experience with the gig economy at Instacart, where he witnessed firsthand the downsides of commodified labor despite the increased autonomy and flexibility offered by technology, Hillis expresses caution. He believes that while blockchain technology can revolutionize coordination, it also has the potential to create new forms of exploitation.
Hillis delves into the potential of blockchain technology to transcend its current focus on cryptocurrencies, advocating for its application in facilitating new coordination mechanisms. He argues that blockchains can empower communities by enabling novel identity and reputation systems, facilitating trust and collaboration among strangers.
Beyond cryptocurrencies, what blockchains can also enable is that they can be a new type of Leviathan. A blockchain Leviathan is basically just a way for strangers on the internet to come together and decide that they want to govern a thing and have a very simple system with a token where they can collectively govern assets or collectively make decisions together without needing some central authority to verify those decisions.
Hillis acknowledges the potential pitfalls of blockchain-based governance, comparing it to a "Leviathan" that could be co-opted for centralized control. However, he remains optimistic that with careful design and community involvement, blockchain technology can facilitate more equitable and participatory governance models.
Hillis outlines Cabin's approach to community building and future planning, emphasizing a balance between a clear long-term vision and an emergent, community-driven strategy. He describes Cabin's 500-year roadmap as a testament to their commitment to long-term thinking and building a resilient, enduring network of cities.
Hillis emphasizes that while he has ideas about the future development of Cabin, he prioritizes community involvement and avoids prescribing specific outcomes. He believes that this approach, allowing the network to evolve organically based on the needs and desires of its members, is crucial for creating a truly decentralized and sustainable system.
Cabin's focus on co-living experiments, skill-sharing initiatives, and community-driven governance through its native token aims to address core societal challenges like housing affordability, social isolation, and disconnection from nature. By combining these elements with a long-term vision and an adaptable, community-centered approach, Cabin seeks to create a new model for living and working together in the 21st century.
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