Draft:Hiito Sato

The Nameraka (Smooth) Society and Its Enemies

Nameraka na Shakai to Sono Teki (なめらかな社会とその敵, lit. "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies") is a book by Ken Suzuki published by Keiso Shobo in January 2013. The book presents a vision for a new social system designed to embrace the complexity of modern society. The author takes a long-term perspective, looking 300 years into the future, to point out the limitations of current social institutions and technologies, and develops innovative ideas to overcome them. The book has attracted attention from various fields including economics, political science, philosophy, biology, and information science. Its foresight has been highly praised, especially in the context of the rise of blockchain technology and the concept of DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations). In October 2022, a paperback edition was published by Chikuma Shobo, which included a new essay, "Fragments towards a Smooth Society 2013-2022," reflecting on social changes and technological advancements in the decade since the first edition.

Overview

"The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" critiques the binary structures and rigid institutions of modern society, exploring the possibility of a more flexible and inclusive "smooth society." The author applies the concept of biological systems to social systems, proposing a more fluid understanding of the boundaries between individuals and society, self and other. The main theme is the question, "Is it possible to live in this complex world as it is, in all its complexity?" The book argues that to achieve this, social systems need to be updated over a 300-year period.

Key Concepts

A "smooth society" refers to a society that has diversity but does not fall into binary oppositions.

A "flat society" is a uniform society where everywhere is the same and there is no diversity. Such a society does not automatically come into being, but requires strong intervention by the state or authority to unify people's values.

A "step society" has diversity, but these diversities do not mix and are separated and in opposition. When people with different values are left alone, they may voluntarily separate and oppose each other, or there may be forces that intentionally create structures of opposition.

The main concepts presented in this book are as follows:

1. Smooth Society: A "smooth society" refers to a society that has diversity but does not fall into binary oppositions. The concept of "smoothness" is introduced and contrasted with traditional "step" (with clear boundaries) or "flat" (without boundaries) social structures. It is explained that a smooth society is one where "everyone is a minority" because there are many intermediate states.

It is also a society where it is permissible to smoothly change to a state different from one's previous self by going through these intermediate states.

In this book, societies different from a smooth society are explained using sigmoid functions: "flat society" and "step society".

By changing the λ parameter of the sigmoid function, "smooth society", "flat society", and "step society" themselves transition smoothly.

2. PICSY (Propagational Investment Currency SYstem): A new monetary system where value propagates. Unlike conventional monetary systems, it has a mechanism where value propagates through chains of transactions.

3. Divicracy (Dividual Democracy): A new form of democracy that recognizes the multifaceted nature of individuals. Instead of democracy based on the "individual" as a unit, it is based on multiple personalities (dividuals) that exist within an individual.

4. Constructive Social Contract Theory: A new approach to social contracts utilizing technology. It aims to realize a more direct and dynamic social contract using technologies such as blockchain.

Through these concepts, the author fundamentally reconsiders traditional capitalist and democratic systems and proposes a more inclusive and sustainable social model.

About the Author

Ken Suzuki (鈴木 健, Suzuki Ken, born 1975) is a Japanese complex systems scientist, natural philosopher, and entrepreneur. He graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University in 1998 and received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo in 2009. He has served as a senior researcher at the Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM) at the International University of Japan and as a fellow at the Virtual Center for Advanced Studies in Institution (VCASI) at the Tokyo Foundation. Currently, he is a project researcher at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo. His research specialties include electronic money, local currencies, complex systems theory, cognitive science, and information sociology. He is the vice chairman of the NPO FTEXT. In 2012, he co-founded the news application "SmartNews" with Kaisei Hamamoto and currently serves as the chairman and president of the company. He ranked first in Forbes Japan's 2020 ranking of Japanese entrepreneurs. His major works include "NAM Generation" (co-authored, 2001) and "The Ultimate Meeting" (2007). He explores the fusion of complex systems science and social systems, proposing new forms of economic systems and democracy.

Content

Part I: Smooth Society

Part I develops the theoretical basis for applying the concept of biological systems to society. The author discusses the possibility of redesigning social institutions as artifacts, referencing complex systems science and autopoiesis theory. "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" begins its discussion of social systems from the origin of life. The author argues that to understand why society has the nature of private ownership and division into enemies and allies, one must start from the fact that its origin lies in cells. Based on theories such as autopoiesis, it is stated that although the world is a network of complexity, nuclei and membranes repeatedly emerge. It also argues that for humans with cognitive limitations to realize such a society, it is necessary to borrow the power of technology.

Membranes and nuclei repeating in life history

1.1 From Life to Society

This chapter applies the biological concepts of "membrane" and "nucleus" to social systems, biologically considering the origins of private property. The author explores the possibility of applying Francisco Varela's autopoiesis theory to the relationship between life systems and the environment in society. This perspective provides a view of social systems as an evolutionary development of life systems, which differs from Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory.

1.2 Smooth Society

Suzuki's unique concept of "smoothness" is introduced and contrasted with traditional "flat" (without boundaries and with unified values, lacking diversity) or "step" (with clear boundaries, having diversity but leading to division) social structures.

In this book, societies different from a "smooth society" are explained using sigmoid functions: "flat society" and "step society".

The sigmoid function is a mathematical function that draws a smooth S-shaped curve, with the following main characteristics:

1. Regardless of the input value, the output always converges between 0 and 1. 2. As the input increases, the output gradually approaches 1. 3. Conversely, as the input decreases, the output approaches 0. 4. For intermediate input values, the output changes rapidly.

By changing the λ parameter of the sigmoid function, "smooth society", "flat society", and "step society" themselves transition smoothly.

A "flat society" is a uniform society where everywhere is the same and there is no diversity. Such a society does not automatically come into being, but requires strong intervention by the state or authority to unify people's values.

A "step society" has diversity, but these diversities do not mix and are separated and in opposition. When people with different values are left alone, they may voluntarily separate and oppose each other, or there may be forces that intentionally create structures of opposition.

The author states:

This chapter proposes a more flexible and adaptive social model through analysis of power structures and social networks. The author argues that modern digital technologies and network structures have the potential power to realize such a "smooth" society.

Part II: Propagational Investment Currency PICSY

Part II explains in detail the new monetary system PICSY (Propagational Investment Currency SYstem) conceived by the author. PICSY is a monetary system where value propagates, making every transaction an investment. If every transaction can be considered as a kind of in-kind investment, all goods, including labor, are treated as investments, resulting in a property where value propagates back through the transaction network. In practice, transactions are represented as a matrix, and by calculating its eigenvector, the contribution to the entire society is calculated, and this contribution is treated like a stock price and can be used as currency. The technical method is close to Google's PageRank algorithm, but Suzuki came up with this method independently.

2.1 Currency Where Value Propagates

The basic concept of PICSY is introduced, and its differences from conventional monetary systems are discussed. The author proposes a method to incorporate the indirect effects of economic activities into the monetary system using the concept of value propagation.

This concept aims to properly evaluate and reward not only direct transactions but also indirect influences and contributions in complex modern economic systems.

2.2 PICSY Model

The theoretical model of PICSY is explained in detail. The functions of PICSY are analyzed from both static and dynamic model perspectives, and its implementation methods and potential challenges are discussed.

The author mathematically explains the PICSY algorithm, discussing its calculation methods and implementation possibilities. He also explains how this system differs from conventional economic models using concrete examples.

2.3 PICSY, Its Possibilities and Scope

The possibilities brought by PICSY and the challenges towards its realization are considered. The author discusses the potential of PICSY to promote "smoothness" not only in the economic system but in society as a whole.

This chapter also discusses how the introduction of PICSY could change the concepts of labor and ownership, and what impact it might have on social security and environmental issues.

Part III: Divicracy (Dividual Democracy)

Part III develops the concept of "Divicracy" (Dividual Democracy) proposed by the author.

Elections are at the core of democratic decision-making, but the current system doesn't allow people's true intentions and feelings to be directly reflected. Within a single person, there are fluctuations, different opinions may conflict, and opinions may change over time. Suzuki uses Deleuze's term "dividual" to express this quality, and Divicracy is a voting system that can express this dividual nature. Votes can be divided and cast, and one can vote for both policies and people. Also, delegated votes can be re-delegated, and cast votes can be changed at any time. This system, like PICSY, is realized using matrix calculations.

Drawing on the ideas of French philosopher Deleuze, the author proposes a new view of democracy. That is, instead of treating individuals as indivisible units, by recognizing them as divisible (dividual) beings, it aims to reconsider democracy while acknowledging the essential contradictions within individuals.

3.1 From Individual Democracy to Dividual Democracy

The limitations of traditional democracy based on individuals as units are pointed out, and a new form of democracy based on the concept of "dividual" that recognizes the multifaceted nature of individuals is proposed.

The author points out the diversity and fluidity of individual identities in modern society and discusses the need for a new form of democracy to correspond to this.

3.2 Propagational Delegation Voting System

A propagational delegation voting system is proposed as a concrete system to realize dividual democracy. The implementation methods, challenges, and social significance of this system are discussed in detail.

The author explains how this system would function using concrete examples:

This chapter discusses in detail how the propagational delegation voting system differs from traditional representative democracy or direct democracy, and what kind of transformation this system could bring to society's decision-making processes.

Part IV: Natural Intelligence

Part IV historically examines the relationship between intelligence and computation, presenting a perspective that views social systems as a kind of intelligence.

Natural intelligence refers to the realization of intelligence using the computational capabilities inherent in nature itself. According to this view, the world is not a dualistic view of artificial and natural, but rather artificial and non-artificial exist within nature, meaning all intelligence is natural in a sense. Intelligence produced by artificial systems, such as artificial intelligence, is also a natural phenomenon in this sense. Society can also be said to be a kind of collective intelligence.

It is also argued that with the advancement of technology, people in future societies will increasingly live in parallel worlds. The parallel worlds referred to here are states where, while sharing the same physical world, people subjectively live in different worlds, avoiding conflicts. It is argued that for a society to exist while tolerating the complexity of the world, a parallel world-like situation is necessary.

4.1 Computation and Intelligence

The changing views of intelligence that have developed in parallel with computer science are analyzed, and a new concept of intelligence in the network age is proposed.

The author organizes how the concept of intelligence has changed over time as follows:

1. The Era of Universal Machine Theory (1936-)

2. The Era of Embodied Environmental Theory (1968-)

3. The Era of Network Theory (1995-)

Through this historical analysis, the author presents a perspective that views society as a whole as a kind of intelligence and discusses how this contributes to the realization of a "smooth society."

4.2 Living in Parallel Worlds

Using the concepts of media and games, the multi-layered nature of reality in modern society is discussed. The author explores ways to live "smoothly" in these multi-layered realities.

This chapter discusses in detail how the development of digital technologies and virtual reality affects people's perception of reality, and what kind of transformation this could bring to social systems.

Part V: Law and Military

The final part examines the positioning of law and military in the social system envisioned by the author.

5.1 Constructive Social Contract Theory

A new approach to social contracts utilizing technology is proposed.

The author redefines the relationship between individuals and government, exploring the possibility of a more participatory social system.

CyberLang is proposed as a common language of understanding between machines and humans to strengthen the legal system with technology. It's an idea close to smart contracts, but it is argued that it might be possible to actually implement the social contract itself using this.

This chapter concretely proposes new forms of social contracts using digital technology and discusses in detail what kind of transformation this could bring to traditional state and legal systems.

5.2 The Enemy

The "friend-enemy theory" (which defines the essence of politics as the distinction between friend and enemy) developed in Carl Schmitt's "The Concept of the Political" is critically examined, and the possibility of a "society without public enemies" is discussed. The author reconsiders the concept of enemy using autopoiesis theory.

This chapter discusses, through concrete examples and theoretical considerations, how issues of inter-state conflict and war could potentially be resolved in the context of a "smooth society." However, it states that even in such a society, the problem of dividing into enemies and allies and fighting as in Schmitt's friend-enemy theory cannot be solved, and a method to smoothly manage military and violence is necessary. The specific method for this is not stated in this book and remains an unsolved problem.

Background and History of Writing

The concept of "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" was shaped as the culmination of various activities and research that Ken Suzuki had been working on since around 2000.

Around 2000: Involvement with NAM

Around 2000, Suzuki developed a system called GETS, which made the local currency LETS usable on the internet. Philosopher Kojin Karatani, who later won the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, proposed to use the system in the social movement NAM (New Association Movement), and Suzuki became involved in developing the currency system for NAM. Later, Suzuki joined NAM led by Kojin Karatani and others, and contributed an essay titled "Treasure Box of Net Community Currency" to "NAM Generation" (2001, Ohta Publishing). The process of Karatani inviting Suzuki to NAM, Suzuki initially declining, but eventually becoming involved, is described in a dialogue between Kojin Karatani and Akira Asada in "NAM Generation."

2002: Exploratory Software Project

In 2002, Suzuki was selected for the Exploratory Software Project of the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and in 2003, Suzuki was recognized by the state as a genius programmer/super creator. He summarized these contents as a paper in SAINT 2004, and obtained his Ph.D. in 2009 with this research on the currency system. He developed a demo software for PICSY. At this point, the basic concept of PICSY was already formed.

2004: University of Tokyo Ikegami Lab

Around 2004, Suzuki held a reading group on Francisco Varela's "Principles of Biological Autonomy" with Hiroyuki Iizuka, Keisuke Suzuki, and others at the University of Tokyo Ikegami Lab, which studies complex systems and artificial life. This led to deep insights into the theory of life, which contributed to the writing of the first part of this book, "From Life to Society."

2004-2005: ISED Research Group

From 2004 to 2005, Suzuki was involved with NAM led by Kojin Karatani, and due to his recognition in the 2002 Exploratory Software Project, he participated in ISED (Interdisciplinary Studies on Ethics and Design of Information Society), a research group on information society led by Hiroki Azuma and others, where he began to talk about the "smooth society".

2005: Proposal of Constructive Social Contract Theory

In 2005, Suzuki published "XML Style and New Social Contract Theory" in the quarterly magazine "InterCommunication," presenting the possibility of a new social contract using technology. There, he presented the concept of CyberLang, a legal language readable by both machines and humans, and the concept of constructive social contract theory based on it. Although blockchain technology had not yet been announced at the time, this was about 10 years ahead of the current Ethereum concept.

2007: Virtual Center for Advanced Studies in Institution

From 2007, Suzuki was involved in the operation of the Virtual Center for Advanced Studies in Institution (VCASI) at the Tokyo Foundation, presided over by Masahiko Aoki, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and economist, as a member of the steering committee. Through the activities of VCASI, ideas from economics and institutional research were incorporated. The 2013 hardcover edition of "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" featured a recommendation from Masahiko Aoki on the book's obi (paper band).

2009: Proposal of Divicracy

In December 2009, Suzuki proposed Divicracy at the Web Society conference held at Yasuda Auditorium, University of Tokyo. Suzuki gave a presentation titled "Divicracy: Dividual Democracy," publicly presenting the concept of dividual democracy for the first time.

2013: Publication of the Hardcover Edition

These accumulated experiences and research led to the publication of "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" in 2013.

In addition to summarizing these research results, new content was added, and "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" was published by Keiso Shobo in January 2013. Despite being an academic book with equations, it gained many readers from the general public as well.

2022: Publication of the Paperback Edition

After the publication of the hardcover edition, Suzuki focused on his work as CEO of SmartNews, which he had founded, and his research activities related to the "smooth society" came to a halt. However, with the publication of the paperback edition by Chikuma Gakugei Bunko, he wrote a supplementary essay summarizing the progress made in the 10 years since the 2013 publication. There, he discusses insights into American division accumulated through SmartNews, and developments in theories of artificial intelligence and consciousness research. The book cover features "Seascape" by artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Influence and Evaluation of the Book

"The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" has resonated across various fields since its publication due to its innovative social vision and interdisciplinary approach. In particular, as concepts like blockchain technology and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) have gained attention, the book's foresight has been re-evaluated.

Evaluation from Academia

Shinichi Nakazawa (philosopher and anthropologist) has described the book as "the most promising worldview currently emerging from the philosophy of complexity".

Masahiko Aoki (Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and economist) has evaluated the book as "a stimulating attempt with great potential that rewrites the traditional stories of social science and questions their practical meaning".

Takeshi Yoro (Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and anatomist) has stated, "This is a book I would recommend to anyone who feels there are problems in modern society".

Toyotaka Sakai (economist) mentions PICSY in his book "Questioning Majority Rule" (Iwanami Shinsho, 2015) as "a groundbreaking proposal that integrates currency and voting".

Hideaki Takeda (information science researcher) gave a presentation titled "Dividual Society and AI" at the AI Subcommittee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Information and Communications Law Research Group, applying concepts from this book.

The book has also attracted attention in the field of applied ethics. The 2015 "Applied Ethics - Bridging Theory and Practice -" provides a detailed analysis of the ethical implications of this book.

Reactions from Thinkers and Researchers

Masaki Morita (independent researcher) calls the author an "information architect" and sees in him "the figure of a future 'natural architect'".

Tatsuru Uchida (philosopher and martial artist) said about this book, "I was astonished to hear a voice different from my own sounding as if it were my own voice from close by".

Reactions from Creators

Kazunari Yonemitsu (game creator and creator of the "Puyo Puyo" series) likens the new democracy presented in this book to the chains in "Puyo Puyo," evaluating it as "the most interesting book".

Evaluation from Critics

Hiroo Yamagata (translator) has evaluated the book as having "a completely new currency system! Moreover, it even changes the meaning of money and has a far-reaching scope that includes the transformation of society itself".

Social Impact

The concepts in this book have influenced the following areas:

1. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology developer communities

2. Political activists and researchers seeking new forms of democracy

3. Researchers in complex systems science and artificial life

In particular, as concepts like Web3 and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) have gained attention, the vision of a "smooth society" presented in this book is being re-evaluated as the philosophical background for these new technologies and systems.

Influence on Startups

The concepts in this book have particularly influenced startups related to Web3 and blockchain.

Yuya Ishikawa, CEO of Gaudiy, has stated that he was captivated by the Web3 worldview of realizing "smooth value distribution" and started his business. At Gaudiy, "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" is assigned as required reading for new employees.

The influence of this book can also be seen in Mercari and its subsidiary Merpay. In particular, Merpay's mission "Create trust to create a smooth society" directly reflects the concepts of this book. Mercari's CEO Shintaro Yamada and the author Ken Suzuki are old acquaintances, and the book's ideas have influenced Mercari's business model.

Influence on Policy Making

The concepts in this book have also influenced the field of policy making.

Keisuke Murakami, the current Director-General of the Digital Agency, has made a proposal titled "Aiming for the 'Design' of a Smooth State" citing the concepts of this book.

The influence of this book can also be seen at the local government level. At the Civic Tech Summit in Kanazawa City, the possibility of applying the concepts of this book to local communities was discussed.

At the AI Subcommittee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Information and Communications Law Research Group, discussions were held on the theme of "Dividual Society and AI," considering the impact of Suzuki's concept of dividual on administrative systems.

International Evaluation

The influence of this book is not limited to Japan but has also attracted attention internationally. In the Chinese-speaking world, it has been introduced as "平滑社会" (Smooth Society).

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has mentioned the concepts of this book in his own blog, pointing out similarities with the philosophy of Plurality.

Influence on Education

This book is also being taken up in higher education. At the University of Tokyo's Social ICT Global Creative Leader Education Program, discussions based on this book are being held.

Furthermore, in the 2023 academic year, this book was used in an essay question for the Faculty of Law entrance examination at Keio University.

Criticism and Debate

Various discussions have developed regarding the feasibility and ethical aspects of the social system proposed in this book.

The main points of discussion include:

1. Economic stability and implementation challenges of the PICSY system

2. Issues of individual responsibility and rights in dividual democracy

3. How a "smooth society" would address existing power structures and inequalities

These discussions are seen as indicating the importance and complexity of the issues raised by this book.

Media Reception

"The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" has been featured in many media outlets, with interviews and articles published with experts from various fields.

Television and Radio

On April 5, 2023, a conversation titled "Can AI Make Society 'Smooth'?" with researcher and media artist Yoichi Ochiai was broadcast on NewsPicks WEEKLY OCHIAI.

Newspapers and Magazines

On March 7, 2024, a conversation with Masaki Morita titled "From Embodiment to Placeness - Creating a 'Place' for Thinking" was published in the April issue of "Shincho".

On July 7, 2023, a conversation with Masaki Morita titled "AI and the Transformation of 'Human'" was published in the August issue of "Shincho".

On March 12, 2023, an interview article titled "Affirming the 'Complexity' of Humans, Being A and B" was published in Toyo Keizai Online.

On December 16, 2022, an interview article titled "Experiments towards a 'Smooth Society' and Alternative Future" was published in WIRED VOL.47 "THE WORLD IN 2023".

Online Media

On May 10, 2024, a conversation with legal philosopher Takehiro Ohya titled "Is a Smooth Society Approaching?" was published on the official global site of Ghost in the Shell.

On December 4, 2023, a conversation with Joi Ito, former MIT professor and former director of the MIT Media Lab, titled "How to Create a 'Smooth Society'" was published on NewsPicks.

On July 14, 2023, the second installment of the series "Six Dialogues Towards a Smooth Society" was published in WIRED.

On June 11 and 12, 2023, a two-part conversation with Masaki Morita titled "Let's Talk About 'Ideals' Especially in the Age of 'Division'" was published in Foresight.

On December 13, 2022, an archive of a conversation with Yusuke Narita, Assistant Professor at Yale University and CEO of Hanjuku Kasou Co., Ltd., titled "Yusuke Narita vs. Ken Suzuki: The Authors of '22nd Century Democracy' and 'The Smooth Society and Its Enemies' Discuss 24th Century Society #NameTeki" was published on YouTube. This conversation was originally held on Twitter Spaces on November 19, 2022. In fact, Yusuke Narita had been involved with Kojin Karatani's NAM and Masahiko Aoki's VCASI when he was a student at Azabu Junior High School, and he and Suzuki have known each other since then. This conversation, which brought together the authors of two books that envision future social systems - Narita's "22nd Century Democracy" and Suzuki's "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" - attracted attention for its discussion of democracy and the future of society from a long-term perspective.

Academic Lectures

On July 25, 2024, Suzuki spoke at "Funding the Commons Tokyo 2024" held at the United Nations University (Tokyo). Funding the Commons Tokyo is part of a series of conferences aimed at developing new models for sustainable funding and value alignment of public goods, held in various locations around the world. This was the 10th event, held in Tokyo.

The conference featured globally renowned practitioners and researchers, including Audrey Tang, Taiwan's former Digital Minister, and Glen Weyl, author of "Radical Markets" and Principal Researcher at Microsoft. Particularly noteworthy was the concept of "Plurality" proposed by Tang and Weyl, which is expected to be a new guideline for the future supply and management of public goods and digital democracy, as a technology for collaboration beyond social differences. In this context, Suzuki presented his views on the concepts proposed in "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" and the future of global commons. This lecture developed a discussion on how the idea of a "smooth society" resonates with and differs from the concept of Plurality. This appearance demonstrates that Suzuki's ideas are influencing not only academia but also the international community interested in the intersection of technology and social systems, and are being discussed in a global context. The lecture is available as an archived video on the conference's official YouTube channel.

On February 23, 2023, a conversation titled "The Future of Democracy and Digital Media" with Larry Diamond and Francis Fukuyama was held at Stanford University and published on YouTube.

On December 16, 2022, Suzuki gave a lecture at a seminar of the Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience (CHAIN) at Hokkaido University, and its archive was published on YouTube.

These diverse media reactions demonstrate that the content of this book is influencing not only academia but also general readers and experts from other fields.

Future Prospects

The vision presented in "The Smooth Society and Its Enemies" is beginning to be discussed in more concrete forms as technology advances and society changes. Particularly, the following points are attracting attention for future developments:

1. Experiments with new social systems enabled by the development of blockchain technology and AI

2. The search for a "smooth" international order amidst the tension between globalization and national sovereignty

3. The possibility of a "smooth" approach to environmental issues and inequality problems

The author, Ken Suzuki, continues to speak out on these issues, and there is interest in how the vision of this book will be reflected in real social systems in the future.

Related Items

Complex Systems Autopoiesis Local Currency Web3 Blockchain Smart Contract Decentralized Autonomous Organization DAO Social Contract Theory Forms of Democracy New Associationist Movement Dividualism Deliberative Democracy Quadratic Voting Radical Markets Plurality PICSY Constructive Social Contract Theory Divicracy Voting Systems Liquid Democracy Direct Democracy Representative Democracy Military Strategy Asymmetric Warfare Cyber Warfare Political Systems Currency Systems Central Bank Digital Currency Complex Adaptive Systems Emergent Phenomena Self-organization Fractal Chaos Theory Free Energy Principle Predictive Coding Bayesian Inference Machine Learning Deep Learning Reinforcement Learning Cybernetics Life Systems Theory Post-capitalism Post-nation-state Digital Commons Cryptoeconomics Social Token Decentralized ID Complex Systems Biology

References

• 1. 鈴木健 (2013) 『なめらかな社会とその敵』 勁草書房
• 2. 鈴木健 (2022) 『なめらかな社会とその敵』文庫版 筑摩書房

External links

• 鈴木健『なめらかな社会とその敵』公式サイト
• 鈴木健 "【入魂1万字】鈴木健が目指す「なめらかな社会」の全貌" NewsPicks 2023/01/04

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