Crazy Wisdom

Episode #477: Why Curiosity Isn’t Just a Virtue—It’s Our Oldest Technology

Aug 4, 2025
Edouard Machery, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, dives into the intriguing roots of curiosity and question-asking. He explores how ancient Sumerian writing shaped societal norms and the evolution of curiosity from a vice to a celebrated virtue during the Renaissance. The discussion covers the cross-cultural perceptions of AI and how curiosity distinguishes humans from other species. Insightful links between early scientific practices and philosophical inquiry further illuminate our unique drive to ask 'why' and seek understanding in an ever-changing world.
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INSIGHT

Curiosity's Shift in Western History

  • Curiosity in the West was considered a vice until the late 15th century. - The 15th century marks a turning point, making curiosity central to intellectual life and the rise of science.
INSIGHT

Birth of Experimental Science

  • Experimentation became integrated with knowledge around the 13th to 14th century. - Before that, knowing and making were separate traditions in science and engineering.
INSIGHT

Philosophy as Meta-Curiosity

  • Philosophy's foundation is meta-curiosity: questioning what we know. - Socrates pioneered this by exposing ignorance through relentless questioning.
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