In the post-Covid-19 era, society is grappling with the fallout from a breakdown in critical thinking, ethics, and rational decision-making. Extreme measures like lockdowns, mandates, and the rapid deployment of novel therapies were widely accepted, despite their initial violation of the precautionary principle and subsequently mounting evidence of their inefficacy and potential harm [1]. The stark contrast between mainstream narratives and reality underscores the need for a thorough examination of the factors that rendered society susceptible to such widespread folly.

While it’s tempting to attribute failures to simple explanations like corporate greed or fall into the “cockup versus conspiracy” trap, I advocate for a more nuanced approach. Blaming bad actors is easy, but even they can only exploit existing systemic vulnerabilities. To create meaningful change, we must move beyond assigning blame and focus on addressing the underlying frailties exposed by this crisis.