What You Can't Say

Paul Graham's essay, "What You Can't Say," explores the concept of moral fashions, arguing that these arbitrary social norms are often mistaken for good and can be more dangerous than ordinary fashions. He suggests that our era is likely to have its own set of ridiculous beliefs, just as past eras did, and that we should be skeptical of our own supposed wisdom. He provides several methods for identifying these hidden taboos, including examining what people get in trouble for saying, identifying labels used to silence dissent, and comparing ideas across cultures and time periods. Graham emphasizes the importance of cultivating a skeptical mind and questioning conventional wisdom, even if it means considering ideas that others find shocking, as this is crucial for both intellectual growth and personal progress.

Read the full essay here: https://paulgraham.com/say.html