procrastinating about externalities

Forgive me. It's been a few months since my last confession. I have had severe writer's block since the release of my latest book - the Peithosian Curse - The Peithosian Curse : Cristina Archer : 9781913662486 (bookdepository.com)

I started writing the third and final part of the Peitho trilogy - the Peithosian Legacy - a few months ago, during a brief period when my city was almost in a 'normal' state (read: in between pandemic waves).  Before the lockdowns resumed with the spread of the Delta strain. And then I struggled to write.

I am back in the confines of home - complete with a very short list of reasons I can leave my home - and it looks like it will be like this for a while. Unlike the last long stretch, most of the country is facing similar restrictions and, for the first time, friends in other cities are 'relating' to my city's experience last year (the longest lockdown then was 112 days).  My city's sixth - clocking up over 200 days (so far) in collective days over those several lockdowns - there is a definite vibe of frustration I am hearing in the voices of those I am chatting with 'virtually' this time around.

Sure, there is plenty of blue sky moments each day for opportunities to walk in breezy suburban loops outside of those video calls.  Yet, feeling the essence of Groundhog Day permeating our collective bones. When I see passers-by on my daily walk, I want to lecture those who are breaking the rules. I find myself swearing at news streams about anti-lockdown protests.  For the more those people resist, the longer the rest of us suffer.

It's more than a mental health issue. As I walk, in my mind, I am working out the debating points on what I would say if I had to explain to a person why the laws that protect civil liberties can be a threat to society.

There's a concept in economics - an externality - that relates to a side effect or consequence of an activity which is not reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved - positive (such as the pollination of surrounding crops by bees for honey) and negative (such as pollution from a factory). In that particular discipline, a lot of thinking has occurred to figure out ways to internalise a 'price' for those externalities so that markets can adjust (mainly to produce less of the negative ones).  Carbon prices are an example.

I tend to contemplate individual choices with a similar construct. The only circumstance  in which I would not have any impact on other people in the choices I make is (likely) if I was living alone on an island and there were no other people.  As soon as I am in any enviroment where there are other people, unless I am a totally selfish person, I believe I need to consider whether there are any potentially negative (and positive) impacts on others in the choices I am making.  There are MANY philosophical approaches to the "how should I choose" question - and, in truth, I have a lot of books on ethics on my bookshelf. Yet, I tend to consider this question from a cost-benefit point of view - both in terms of costs and benefits for me AND the potential costs and benefits for the person or persons on which my choice will have an impact. At some unconscious level, I think most people do this, but place more weight on the impact on themselves compared to others.

The odd analogy I considerd on my walk today was along these lines...

Imagine you and I are talking. I suddently slap you (and it hurts). You grumble, why did you do that. I say, it was an involuntary spasm, I couldn't help myself. But I am aware of this tick so I could have made the choice to keep my twitching hand in my pocket and thereby spare you the harm. Instead, I chose to ignore the potential negative impact on you.

To me, the person who walks around without a mask, knowing they might contract and then pass on a contagious disease is essentially doing the same as above.  

Individual selfishness versus societal good. The rule breaker is in it for themselves. But if more people placed a little more weight on the consequences of their choices/actions, wouldn't society be better off?

Anyway, I've procrastinated enough for today. I really should get back to the writing.