Part 5/7:
Allowing disruption and change—rather than resisting it—tends to lead to collective improvement.
Rules and Regulation in a Dynamic Society
While rules are necessary—whether through government laws or private customs—they should be flexible enough to accommodate innovation. Overly detailed or rigid regulation may hinder progress because it is based on current knowledge, which can become obsolete quickly.
The technocratic impulse to impose comprehensive, prescriptive rules often stifles creativity. Instead, advocates should favor simple, adaptable regulations that provide a framework within which experimentation can occur. Keeping rules broad and flexible helps society benefit from new ideas and better understandings as they emerge.