Lachlan Phillips Proposes 'Bicameral Brain' Model for Societal Intelligence

Lachlan Phillips, a figure associated with the "exo/acc" (effective accelerationism) movement, recently articulated a conceptual framework suggesting that society functions akin to a "bicameral brain." In a detailed tweet, Phillips posits that all intelligence processes, from biological brains to social superstructures, inherently utilize both "costly and diverse policy exploration" and subsequent "resource efficient policy frameworks." He argues that these two functions, casually termed "progressive" and "conservative," are mutually essential for societal advancement.

Phillips's perspective aligns with the broader "effective accelerationism" ethos, which advocates for unrestricted technological and societal progress, often viewing stagnation as a significant risk. His framework extends this forward-looking philosophy to an understanding of how societies evolve and adapt. He contends that periods of resource abundance and security foster "abundant policy exploration," while times of scarcity lead to "conservative policy consolidation."

According to Phillips, a crucial insight is that "both progressive and conservative functions exist in service of one another." He emphasizes that if this "intelligence superstructure" were better understood, societies could optimize it for collective benefit. This optimization would involve ensuring "diversity" is "highly intelligent, highly creative, and maximally free," citing examples like "highly skilled migration" and robust "freedom of speech, association and thought."

Conversely, Phillips suggests that the conservative function should maximize "security, borders and culture," adopting new policies slowly and methodically after "multigenerational successes." He critiques what he perceives as an imbalance, stating, "We go too far in the other direction, maximising policy exploration at the expense of proven policy and homeostasis." He further highlights that "diversity of thought and utility is our strength, just like in any ecosystem or intelligence structure."

Phillips concludes that a "mature and bicameral society fully understands, fully integrates and fully optimises toward both of these functions." He envisions a dynamic where "progressivism servicing policy for conservatism" and "conservatism consolidating successful policies uncovered by progressivism" operate in a continuous, synergistic loop, mirroring the constant processes within an individual mind.