Kevin Simler argues that prestige-based (not dominance-based) status, i.e. granting social standing to those who advance shared goals, is the only minimum viable architecture for turning self-interested individuals into a functioning superorganism (firms, sports teams, governments, Linux kernel devs etc), by solving the free-rider problem. Proper credit assignment is key here, as getting unearned credit corrupts the superorganism trust & attention allocation signal.
Kevin Simler argues that prestige-based (not dominance-based) status, i.e. granting social standing to those who advance shared goals, is the only minimum viable architecture for turning self-interested individuals into a functioning superorganism (firms, sports teams, governments, Linux kernel devs etc), by solving the free-rider problem. Proper credit assignment is key here, as getting unearned credit corrupts the superorganism trust & attention allocation signal.