Get the latest tech news

My simple theory on why we stopped building beautiful buildings

I recently read a post on Marginal Revolution discussing why we stopped building beautiful buildings. I have a very simple theory that I think explains part of why we stopped building beautiful buildings, and why many other things are much worse than you’d otherwise expect, despite our tremendous wealth.

Or dedicate all your time to constructing a beautiful house when you could instead buy a condo in NYC to spend a few months per year. In the past, individuals could be big fish in small ponds, enjoying their status, position, and wealth. Satisfaction with one’s wealth was more attainable, as people used their money to achieve concrete goals and derive contentment from their accomplishments.

Get the Android app