The Erosion of Memory
How to think about legacy. In a world of fleeting data and crumbling empires, what truly endures?
Who will remember us in the next century? Why? And what about the next millenium?
As we hurtle through the digital age, leaving behind terabytes of data rather than stone monuments, the nature of legacy is shifting beneath our feet. Our descendants may have unprecedented footage of our lives, yet paradoxically, we may be more forgettable than ever.
Distal Thinking
Nobody will come looking for us in history books. For a while, we will stay within our descendants hearts. Then, we will become files and folders in someone else’s archive: words, photos and videos. Never will our descendants have more footage to choose from, if they wished to reconnect with our way of living. Eventually, the backups will be lost, overwritten, flushed out.
Maybe we’ll become an immutable entry in some unusable blockchain. At some point, no one will even know where and how to look for us. Our memory will vanish.
When even the last of our footprints on these shores will be erased, what will we have left this world?
In Pompei, the same smothering ashes that erased a city overnight preserved it from the slow erosion of time.
Order, chaos
then order again.
Such is the way
of the great
untangling.
Entropy spreads inexorable, yet fleeting emergent phenomena are dancing and recombining on its surface. One day we’ll harmonise back into the whole and its rhythmic flow between order and chaos.
Emperors built monuments, yet legacy feels uncontrollable. We can build something that can physically withhold a few centuries. But do we have any clue on what will be meaningful in 2124? Will the frame of reference of our values still make sense?
Will there be still someone defending the liberal world order from its detractors?
After all, our democracy feels ever so fragile. It’s always at odds with concentrated power. Individual liberties are under continued stress and assault. Who has never thought looking at their neighbours: they should do better? Perspectives are as volatile as ever. Cultural memes drift fast, like a memecoin’s valuation rollercoaster. We don’t read books. We consume shorts we forget the next second. It’s the coming of entropy. It’s the coming of anarchy.
“Century-long projects, please abstain from inquiry”
Greatness cannot be planned. Time will wash away all our traces on the shore, but good and bad ideas alike can hibernate for centuries. They can trade form, entangle with each other, impact the most unexpected life arcs.
There is some relief in knowing that legacy is largely a job beyond our paycheque. In most cases, we are better off asking ourselves whether the attention we give to our reputation, or public influence is serving efficiently our present happiness or making us - all in all - rather miserable.
We may name a bench, a book, a building or a scholarship; but in the end, aren’t we maybe better surrendering to the unexpected character of our legacy?
Maybe. Though, if we still wanted to reason about factors impacting our legacy, how would one think about it?
Some factors will be rather extrinsic, outside of our control. Others intrinsic qualities of our ideas. Most of them are fully relational, depending on a the whole sum of interactions.
As finance geeks, we can reflect back that this question is not very far off from asking What is a good investment? What will have value in the next decade?
The 12 Factors Impacting Legacies
Zeitgeist and historical context: The spirit of the times plays a crucial role in shaping legacy. Ideas, actions, or innovations that resonate with or challenge the prevailing zeitgeist are more likely to leave a lasting impact. Conversely, contributions that are out of sync with their historical moment may be overlooked or undervalued initially, only to be rediscovered later—or perhaps never fully appreciated.
Power structures and gatekeepers: The creation and propagation of legacy often depend on existing power structures. Those in positions of influence—be they academic institutions, media outlets, or political entities—can amplify or suppress potential legacies. This dynamic can lead to the perpetuation of certain narratives while marginalising others.
Cultural values and shifts: What a society values changes over time. Legacies that align with enduring human values (like compassion or justice; gloria is the righteous fame of the righteous) may have more staying power, but even these are subject to reinterpretation through different cultural lenses.
Reproducibility and scalability: Ideas, inventions, or methods that can be easily reproduced, taught, or scaled up are more likely to create enduring legacies. This is particularly true in fields like science, technology, and education. Think printing press.
Narrative and myth-making: The stories we tell about individuals and their contributions play a significant role in legacy formation. A compelling narrative can elevate a minor contribution to legendary status, while a lack of storytelling can obscure even significant achievements. What’s the antagonist? What are the intention and obstacle?
Adaptability and reinterpretation: Legacies that can be reinterpreted or applied to new contexts have a better chance of enduring. Abstract qualities lend themselves well to new challenges across cultural lenses. This adaptability allows the core idea or contribution to remain relevant across changing times.
Documentation and preservation: The survival of physical or digital records plays a crucial role in legacy preservation. Cultures with strong traditions of documentation may produce more lasting legacies simply because the information persists.
Collective vs. individual legacy: While we often focus on individual legacies, many of the most profound impacts on society come from collective efforts. The tension between recognising individual contributions and acknowledging collective achievements affects how legacies are formed and perceived. What is the collective you most belong to? A family, a company, an institution, a city, a country?
Global vs. local impact: The scope of influence can affect the nature of a legacy. Some legacies are profound but localized, while others achieve global recognition but may have less deep impact in any one place. Culture is becoming global, yet some problems are radically local. Not everything needs to be bland and maximally adaptable.
Timing and serendipity: Sometimes, the right idea at the right time can create an outsized legacy, while brilliant contributions may be overlooked due to poor timing or lack of recognition.
Resistance and controversy: Paradoxically, attempts to stifle or discredit ideas can sometimes reinforce their legacy by drawing attention to them or casting their proponents as martyrs or visionaries.
Interconnectedness and network effects: Legacies don't exist in isolation. They're often part of a web of influences, building upon or reacting to other ideas and legacies. This interconnectedness can either reinforce a legacy or dilute its perceived originality.
All in all, time will tell. What did I miss? How do you approach questions around your legacy? Do let me know in a comment or private message.
Stay well.
D.
