does it also show that authoritarianism predicts parasite prevalence?
Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
21–30 of 72 posts
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
It would seem to me that if you are sick or your health is suffering, several things can result: 1) you dont have the time or energy to consider what the (authoritarian) leader is doing as carefully (cognitive) 2) you may just be too tired/sick to do anything about it (physical)
You're lower on the hierarchy of needs. If you're afraid you're going to get killed or starve you don't care about abstract things like freedom of artistic expression.
Whole history of the Soviet Union is a living proof that theory of hierarchy of needs is bs.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#23I believe it's not just parasites -- it's also things like diseases and famine as well. The reason it's called "parasite-stress theory" is not because parasites are so important for the selection of government, but because it's a reference to parasite-stress theory in biology. It makes sense. If you don't even have basic healthcare or security, a strongman willing to swoop in and take decisive action does sound appea…
It would seem to me that if you are sick or your health is suffering, several things can result: 1) you dont have the time or energy to consider what the (authoritarian) leader is doing as carefully (cognitive) 2) you may just be too tired/sick to do anything about it (physical)
To me, what's interesting is that parasites cause complex interactions in animals. There's a parasite that apparently cures adult onset asthma, e.g.
So I think that while the theory would be hard to prove, the power of parasites causing complex physiological changes should not be ignored.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#24This is junk. Possibly even a case study exemplar of spurious correlations. Take a small set of units (high false positive rate, inter alia). Take some vaguely relevant sounding metrics (entry point for p-hacking). Does a bunch of regressions.
Here's the next paper from the group:
Distance from equator is predictive of authoritarianism. The more constant daily cycle causes a yearning for rigid routines, predisposing populations to authoritarian rule.
If you think I'm merely taking the piss, is it more or less plausible than the proposed causal mechanism here:
"Because many disease-causing parasites are invisible, and their actions mysterious, disease control has historically depended substantially on adherence to ritualized behavioral practices that reduced infection risk [9]."
Or maybe it's because we've already seen the data our whole lives, know which countries are authoritarian and can select any variable which separates democracies from authoritarian countries and bang, you've got p < 0.05.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's beyond reasonable dispute that freedom and democracy work better than authoritarianism on pretty much every dimension. If there's one thing that both right and left agree on, it's this.
Wow - not only is this completely false, but it's also definitely not an idea that has popular consensus. It's easily proven: Singapore, South Korea - considerably 'more authoritarian' have successfully contained Coronavirus. America, UK, France - being devastated by Coronavirus. The intellectual arrogance is staggering. Literally, right in front of your eyes, you can see the central leadership of these places on ful…
It's a good thing there is no history before the coronavirus. Not to mention, the most authoritarian large country, China, is responsible for this whole thing.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow - not only is this completely false, but it's also definitely not an idea that has popular consensus. It's easily proven: Singapore, South Korea - considerably 'more authoritarian' have successfully contained Coronavirus. America, UK, France - being devastated by Coronavirus. The intellectual arrogance is staggering. Literally, right in front of your eyes, you can see the central leadership of these places on ful…
It's a good thing there is no history before the coronavirus. Not to mention, the most authoritarian large country, China, is responsible for this whole thing.
"It's a good thing there is no history before the coronavirus."
There's plenty of history and plenty of examples.
"China is responsible for this whole thing"
This is actually pretty racist.
More importantly, China's 'authoritarianism' has nothing to do with the origin of the outbreak.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's beyond reasonable dispute that freedom and democracy work better than authoritarianism on pretty much every dimension. If there's one thing that both right and left agree on, it's this.
Wow - not only is this completely false, but it's also definitely not an idea that has popular consensus. It's easily proven: Singapore, South Korea - considerably 'more authoritarian' have successfully contained Coronavirus. America, UK, France - being devastated by Coronavirus. The intellectual arrogance is staggering. Literally, right in front of your eyes, you can see the central leadership of these places on ful…
Do you really think that this kind of creative cherry-picking of countries and misrepresentation will convince anyone here?
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're lower on the hierarchy of needs. If you're afraid you're going to get killed or starve you don't care about abstract things like freedom of artistic expression.
Whole history of the Soviet Union is a living proof that theory of hierarchy of needs is bs.
Like so many ideas that persist, the "strong" form is wrong, and the "weak" form is useful. The parent's point stands.
Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#29does it also show that authoritarianism predicts parasite prevalence?
How about hidden variables?
var allFactor = @[poverty, authoritarianism, bad_health];
foreach(var factor in allFactor)
{
var otherFactors = allFactor.arrayByRemoving(theFactor);
print($"{factor} predicts {otherFactors}");
}
}Re: Evidence That Parasite Prevalence Predicts Authoritarianism (2013)
#30This is junk. Possibly even a case study exemplar of spurious correlations. Take a small set of units (high false positive rate, inter alia). Take some vaguely relevant sounding metrics (entry point for p-hacking). Does a bunch of regressions. Here's the next paper from the group: Distance from equator is predictive of authoritarianism. The more constant daily cycle causes a yearning for rigid routines, predisposing…
Looks like the measures for authoritarianism are taken from various indices for present-day countries. I wonder how this would hold up if we ask historians to rank historical civilizations by "authoritarianism" and then see how this holds up when extrapolated there.