The Ineffable Existential Abyss of Cognosco is a titanic, genial nation, ruled by The pessimistic ghost of Schopenhauer with a fair hand, and notable for its daily referendums, sprawling nuclear power plants, and unlimited-speed roads. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 11.485 billion Cognoscans are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The large, corrupt, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Manentia. The average income tax rate is 99.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Cognoscoan economy, worth a remarkable 3,060 trillion Life Chances a year, is quite specialized and mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an amazing 266,452 Life Chances, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Government employees have reverted to carrier pigeon due to never-ending virus scans, museum visitors often bring lemons and black lights, life is somewhat repetitive, and diplomats miss flights while wandering Manentia Airport's endless art maze. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Cognosco's national animal is the Cognoscan Eagle, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is High-Spirited Schadenfreude.

Cognosco is ranked 1,318^th in the world and 3^rd in Philosophers for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring 128.41 on the Kitten Softness Rating.