To restate: In Japanese, there is an expression ame to muchi ( 飴と鞭 ), which translates as ‘candy and whip’. Apparently this was taken from Otto von Bismarck’s expression of ‘ zuckerbrot und peitsche ’ (pastry / sugar bread and whip). These are generally equated with ‘carrot and stick’ in English, the basic idea of positive and negative incentives to shape behaviour.

A quarter of the way through the year, a quarter of the way through the century. On a recent visit to Australia, I had the opportunity for another in-person meeting with Pete Chambers. Previously we have tried to avoid focusing on the United States, conscious of how much of our collection attention it demands.

In terms of describing the odd mix of the present, Peter Chambers offers the formulation of ‘3SD’ - Surreal, Stubborn, Stupid + Dangerous, Destructive, Dumb. There is something quite remarkable how we seem to be threatened on the one side by incredibly stupid behaviours and decisions, and on the other side, the risk of all-powerful and all-knowing AI to rule them all.

In December, I published a note that finished with: This reflection was connected to a longer piece I was writing for The Journal of Global Ethics . The article is now available and open-access, so it is free to read and download: Christopher Hobson. ‘The Passing of Another Golden Age: Global Ethics in a Time of Deglobalisation.’ Journal of Global Ethics , March 2025.

Last year, Hu Wenhui, an editor in Guangzhou, asked: ‘How should those unfortunate enough to encounter the garbage time of history conduct themselves?’ Good question.

Franz Kafka, The Zürau Aphorisms : - Arthur Miller, ‘Why I Wrote The Crucible ’ : - Robert Musil, ‘Questions for Volume Two’ of The Man Without Qualities : - Joseph Roth: ‘Our Homeland, Our Epoch’ - Neil Postman, ‘Future Shlock’: - Hannah Arendt, ‘Franz Kafka: A Revaluation’: - Franz Kafka, The Zürau Aphorisms : -

A few weeks ago I gave a lecture entitled ‘The Great Disorientation’. It covered a lot of ground, as our present disorientation is indeed very great. Confused, overloaded, we stumble from update to update, constantly refreshing, all the while reducing our individual and collective capacities to comprehend and respond.

As shocks and surprises mount up, in time so do the anniversaries. Another year passes since a disaster was visited on a people and a place. Today is one of those days. On 11 March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the Tohoku region, triggering a massive tsunami and nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

An AI prompt might suggest starting the note with a reference to these being ‘interesting times’. These are certainly eventful, fateful times, but how interesting? As opposed to simply being stupid and dangerous? Brittleness makes breaking more likely, one can be shocked by the shocking, but whether one should be surprised by it is a different matter.

If there are any readers in Canberra, I will be giving a lecture on the evening of Tuesday 25 February entitled, ‘The Great Disorientation’. It is based on a chapter from the book manuscript I am working on. The event is in-person only, but I can try to record and post it if there is interest.

This month will already be the fourth anniversary of ‘Imperfect Notes’, which commenced in February 2021.