What are the Laws Governing the Evolution of The Law? with James Holehouse
Why rules multiply—from tax code to touchdowns to your DNA
The Laws governing society are becoming increasingly complex. Each year tax returns become more difficult to fill out. More forms, more exceptions, more hours spent reading small print. In sports, with every subsequent season more rules are introduced. Each year more time is spent deliberating holding calls, more tactics are developed to expose new laws, and more time is spent with commentators debating the ins-and-outs of increasingly nuanced situations. Many people find this increase in bureaucracy excessive, appealing to the joy of simpler times. However, as society evolves so must how society is regulated—but is bureaucratic growth really necessary?
In this talk, using case studies from governance, sports, and biology, I will paint a picture of how and why bureaucracies increase in size and complexity as they evolve. This picture attempts to unify descriptions of regulatory architectures across all scales of life, pointing towards a universal Science of Regulation. Using this science, I will then suggest how principles from cell biology could help to better regulate society.
This lecture will be recorded and made available for viewing after the event.