Consensus failure
Sources:
Consensus failure occurs when different participants or systems cannot agree on a common decision or state. This phenomenon can arise in various contexts, such as technology and political science.
In Technology (Ethereum)
Vitalik Buterin discusses consensus failure within Ethereum, highlighting how the MultiClient architecture helps mitigate such failures. In the Ethereum network, multiple clients process and verify blocks. When these clients disagree due to bugs, it can lead to consensus failures. Ethereum's diverse client system (e.g., Prism, Nimbus, Teku, and Lighthouse) allows for some clients to continue operating even if others fail, providing resilience against attacks and bugs. This contrasts with Bitcoin's monoculture, which can be more vulnerable to consensus failures from bugs in a single client implementation 1 2.
In Political Science
Consensus failure in politics often stems from ignorance about the consequences of policies and a lack of trustworthy authorities. Robin Hanson notes that political systems tend to fail not because people lack goodwill, but because they are often loyal to their respective tribes rather than working towards the common good. This lack of authoritative consensus leads to misguided actions, such as unnecessary wars 3.
General Observations
Implementing basic, widely agreed-upon ethical standards into technology could be a practical approach to avoid paralyzing debates and delays caused by striving for complete consensus. Max Tegmark suggests starting with universally accepted "kindergarten ethics" in automated systems to prevent misuse and harm, making the point that avoiding the conversation guarantees failure 4.
These different perspectives illustrate that consensus failure is a significant issue both in technology and politics, and diverse strategies are required to mitigate its impact.
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