# Conquest state of nature Most people know the story of how, coupled with the enlightenment, we figured out that technological growth enabled growth without bloodshed.[^1] I want to frame technological growth as a conquest of nature and make you aghast by arguing that we should embrace being that sort of conquest state. Historians can classify most states throughout history as either “conquest states” or “maintenance states.” The former are characterized by aggressive border expansions, financial surpluses, and warrior cultures. The latter are characterized by static or contracting borders, debts, and scholarly or decadent cultures. [^2] Throughout history, growth primarily happened via conquest. Yes, there were gains from trade and small technology improvements ([[Smithian Growth vs Schumpetarian Growth]]) but they were the tiny minority. Land, slaves, and booty from conquered territory were the primary ways that the pie grew. Of course, a pie that grows by conquest meant a shrinking pie for someone else, so on net, this sort of growth wasn’t great for humanity. You could look at technological growth as a process of exploiting phenomena. [[Technological and scientific paradigms are each based around exploiting a specific phenomenon]]. What are phenomena but the territory and jewels of nature? Our ability to harness more phenomena is pushing ever deeper into Nature’s territory. For most of our history, we subsisted on Nature’s borders. Like an annoying nomadic tribe on the border of the Roman or Han empires, we mounted an occasional raid but for the most part were not a threat and at mostly Natures mercy. Pandemics would decimate our populations, weather fluctuations would create famines, and wild animals regularly killed people. And like annoying nomadic tribes throughout history, we woke up and realized that we are powerful, bending one phenomenon after another to our will. Over time, various states have had varying amounts of focus on natural conquest. China in the 12th century, Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Germany in the early 20th century pushed deep into natural territory. On the other hand, Japan until the mid 19th century explicitly gave up its bellicose (towards nature) ways by explicitly freezing technological development. Like the Ottoman Empire under Suleyman the Magnificent, the US reached its nature conquering Golden age in the 50’s and 60’s. And then, like so many conquerers, it ran out of momentum. Partially this is because Nature put up heavy resistance. Partially this is because Nature seditionists acquired more and more power. Now, we cower in fear at natural phenomena like global warming and pandemics, speaking of peace bargains and tribute to Nature in the hopes of being spared. Scientists and engineers continue to fight rearguard actions but we have lost the cultural will to drive forward. It does not need to be this way! How could I be advocating the rape of Mother Nature that we’ve only recently begun to undo? In the past we were stupid conquerers. Yes, destroyed forests, polluted rivers, and extinct animals are the result of pillaging nature. Only stupid conquerers salt the Earth. [Smart conquerers make life better for their subjects.](https://youtu.be/uvPbj9NX0zc?t=44). As we become more powerful, the more we can leave pristine the territory of nature that we conquer. As much as we might be loath to admit it, conquest states embody so many cultural aspects that we admire. Decisiveness, higher purpose, bravery, cohesiveness, curiosity, and growth. Cowboys, arctic explorers, knights, and great scientists are all the exhaust of conquest state. And at the end of the day, life is better for the average person in a conquest state than a static or declining state. Conquest leads to growth, which means that the pie is getting bigger and people can hope to have a better life than their parents and believe that their children will have a better life than they do. [[People are less worried about equality when the pie is growing]]. Conquest gives cultures shared purpose and drive. ### Related * https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1299430971494731776?s=20 * https://overcast.fm/+Jf3r-yaAk/46:12 * [[We should treat space exploration the same way people in the 13th century treated building cathedrals]] * [[Use NASA as a never-ending Lewis and Clark expedition]] * [[Technology has enabled progress to be a net positive]] * [[storrshallWhereMyFlying2021]] * [[Stagnation]] * [[Optimistic stagnationists]] [^1]: People still resorted to zero sum growth (in part driven by technology as previously worthless materials became valuable resources) [^2]: Obviously these are gross simplifications