Paradigm

Naomi is a Harvard University professor of the history of science, and an Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences. She’s a leading voice on the role of science in society, the reality of anthropogenic climate change, and the role of disinformation in blocking climate action.

She’s also a world-renowned author, having co-authored 9 books, including the best-selling book Merchants of Doubt, Climate change denial, and her most recent book, the Big Myth, which explores the idea of free market economics, and its dark and politically laden history.

In this conversation Naomi and Matt discuss:

The relationships between science, economics, and politics

The idea of the free market, and common misconceptions about free market economics

Arguments for and against a free market way of thinking

The incentives systems that influence how ideas spread in a society

Meme theory

Propaganda

... and other topics

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Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro

0:03:15 Myth of the Free Market

0:08:55 Adam Smith vs regulation

0:28:40 Bad incentives vs bad actors

0:34:25 Arguments for and against regulation

0:44:10 Are free markets more fair?

0:53:00 Distrust in government as a cause of free market thinking

0:57:50 Meme theory of free market thinking

1:01:00 Ayn Rand & propaganda

1:09:00 Advice for people in positions of power

1:14:20 The Entrepreneurial State

1:16:50 Book recommendations

1:18:00 Advice for scientists

1:18:00 Who should represent humanity to an AI superintelligence?

Thomas Metzinger is a philosopher and author whose work focuses neuroethics, neurotechnology, and the philosophy of mind. Thomas is the author of books on the philosophy of mind, consciousness, and the self, including the Ego Tunnel, Being No One, and The Elephant and the Blind.

Today’s topics include the prospects for engineering post-biotic conscious systems, and the ethical implications of doing so; psychedelic drugs and psychedelic experiences, and what these might teach us about the nature of the mind; the range of possible conscious experiences available to human beings and other systems; climate change; intellectual honesty; and other topics.

Links:

Twitter: @ThomasMetzinger

Website

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Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:10 Postbiotic conscious systems

0:13:00 The Ego Tunnel

0:20:15 Space of possible experiences

0:29:13 Psychedelics and epistemology

0:36:17 Ethical obligations to explore phenomenal state space

0:50:36 Climate change & culture of consciousness

1:00:45 Can we pull back from the brink?

1:09:00 AI ethics & suffering AI

1:27:20 Minimal forms of consciousness

1:35:40 Book recommendations

1:37:00 Advice (meditate!)

Michael Muthukrishna is an associate professor of economic psychology at the London School of Economics, and the author of the book "A Theory of Everyone".

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• Make a one-off donation here: ⁠https://bit.ly/donate-to-paradigm
• Michael's books: https://www.atheoryofeveryone.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Episode intro

01:00 Energy and nuclear power - reflections

08:00 How do cultural differences impact how we work together?

23:30 Why is human coordination and cooperation so difficult

33:50 Why do we need energy abundance to enable cooperation?

46:05 What is the most efficient energy source?

1:00:00 Why is energy becoming scarce?

1:06:45 Nuclear - why might this be our best bet?

1:11:40 Sustainability - should we pull the brakes?

1:23:16 Major challenge for the 21st century

1:27:50 Book recommendations

#nuclear #energy #sustainability #solarenergy #windenergy #nuclearenergy

Oliver Burkeman is the author of the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks, Meditations for Mortals, and several other books on the philosophy and psychology of time management and happiness.

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Timestamps

00:00 Mortality and Immortality

00:57 The Paradox of Infinite Time

02:51 Polls and Public Opinion on Immortality

05:09 The Concept of Finitude

06:56 The Philosophy of Time and Life's Shortness

10:03 Accepting Mortality and Denial of Death

19:49 Eastern and Western Philosophies

45:14 The Paradox of Productivity and Burnout

45:45 Critique of Capitalism and Personal Goals

47:19 Finding Purpose in a Capitalist System

48:33 Introducing 'Meditations for Mortals'

54:40 The Three to Four Hour Rule

01:04:20 The Fallacy of Effort Equals Worth

01:07:57 Parenting and Personal Development

01:15:06 Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations

Lee McIntyre is philosopher and leading voice on the topics of Disinformation and Science Denial.

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• Make a one-off donation here: https://bit.ly/donate-to-paradigm

Lee's books: https://leemcintyrebooks.com/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro - disinformation

5:05 Flat Earther phenomenon

9:30 What is disinformation?

11:40 How big of a problem is disinformation?

16:40 What should we do when the truth sounds conspiratorial?

22:15 Origins to Big Tobacco

27:50 Amplification of disinformation

31:25 Is social media to blame?

34:30 How should social media companies be regulated?

46:30 Social media business models

50:15 Information diet - what is healthy?

56:45 How can individuals protect themselves against misinformation?

59:25 Book recommendations