The barbell effect, the smiling curve, and the r/k-selection dichotomy show up for the same reason.

· Bits and Bobs 7/14/25
  • The barbell effect, the smiling curve, and the r/k-selection dichotomy show up for the same reason.
    • There are two stable strategies at the extreme.
      • 1) A small number of very high quality but expensive options.
      • 2) A massive number of low quality but cheap options.
    • Everything in between slides down the slope towards one of the extremes.
    • R-selected systems are open-ended.
    • K-selected systems are close-ended.
    • The benefits of the two types of systems are powerful, and more powerful when in juxtaposition to the other.
    • That's why the world tends to strirate in interleaving layers of r- and k-selected systems.
      • As one side tends towards r-selected, the neighboring region gets a differentially strong pull towards k-selected.
    • The world pushes from mush to posterized, fractal, swirling interleaving of open and closed systems.