
EconTalk Conversation, Interintellect, and Arcadia (with Anna Gat)
In this engaging discussion, Anna Gat, a poet and founder of Interintellect, explores how to revive meaningful conversation in the digital age. She emphasizes the importance of moderation and format for facilitating dialogue. Anna also delves into Tom Stoppard's play, Arcadia, discussing its resonance in both live and reading formats. She shares insights on the intersections of science and the humanities, and how Interintellect fosters civil discourse across diverse perspectives, all while highlighting the enduring power of human connection.
01:22:15
Conversation Is A Structured Craft
- Conversation is a craft informed by theatrical rules and formats that free creativity rather than constrain it.
- Anna Gat argues hosts, formats, and ritualized spaces let real people have better, deeper conversations.
Seating And Gaze Shape Dialogue
- Physical arrangement and gaze shape how people perceive confrontation or cooperation in dialogue.
- Gat notes diagonal seating or shared vistas reduce the 'face-to-face fighting' instinct and ease conversation.
Use A Host To Free Up Conversation
- Use a temporary host to outsource listening and manage turn-taking at group conversations.
- The host should summarize, connect participants' points, and move the discussion to a third place.
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
Why Anna Founded Interintellect
01:24 • 5min
What Makes Good Conversation
06:16 • 4min
The Role of a Host in Conversation
10:03 • 9min
Interintellect's Formats and Impact
18:58 • 2min
Typical Salon Size and Dynamics
21:14 • 1min
Online vs In-Person Salon Technology
22:40 • 2min
Handling Dominant Participants
24:14 • 4min
Host Skill Development and Routines
28:05 • 1min
Member Activities and Events
29:29 • 1min
Introducing Tom Stoppard and Arcadia
30:35 • 1min
Interintellect Play Readings
31:38 • 7min
Arcadia's Structure and Stage Directions
38:36 • 6min
Chaos Theory's Influence on Arcadia
44:30 • 4min
Reading Arcadia Alone vs. Live
48:30 • 4min
Arcadia's Humor and Emotional Power
52:15 • 4min
Science, Poetry, and Missed Talent
56:12 • 5min
Living with Lost Knowledge
01:01:31 • 5min
Bernard vs Valentine: Competing Ways of Knowing
01:06:32 • 4min
Interdisciplinary Tensions in Academia
01:10:36 • 8min
Interintellect's Future and AI
01:18:42 • 3min
Outro
01:21:30 • 37sec

#37605
Várj, míg felkel a nap
Anekdota három felvonásban

Ferenc Molnár
A Várj, míg felkel a nap (eredeti címén A Play at the Castle) Molnár Ferenc utolsó színdarabja, amelyet 1952-ben írt, közvetlenül halála előtt.
A darab egy előkelő társaság szerelmi játszmáit és titkait mutatja be egy várkastélyban, tipikus molnári humorral és iróniával ábrázolva a budapesti szalonéletet.
Bár nem tartozik a legismertebb művei közé, illeszkedik életművébe, amelyben gyakran foglalkozott emberi kapcsolatok és társadalmi maszkok témájával.

#35606
Three Uses of the Knife


David Mamet
Three Uses of the Knife is a book on playwriting and dramatic theory.

#215
• Mentioned in 96 episodes
Chaos
Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O’Neill


Dan Piepenbring
This book is the result of twenty years of meticulous research by Tom O'Neill, who questions the Helter Skelter scenario presented by Vincent Bugliosi.
O'Neill's investigation delves into police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents.
The book explores the connections between Charles Manson, Hollywood figures, and the CIA's mind-control experiments, presenting a complex and alternative view of the Manson murders and their place in American history.

#5197
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
Shakespeare in love


Richard Penn Smith
The provided text describes a fictional scenario involving Shakespeare but does not match any known play or book by Richard Penn Smith.

#4202
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
A primate's memoir


Robert Sapolsky
In 'A Primate's Memoir', Robert M. Sapolsky recounts his years spent studying a troop of baboons in Kenya.
The book combines scientific observations of the baboons' social behaviors, stress levels, and health with personal anecdotes about Sapolsky's cultural awakening and adventures in Africa.
Sapolsky describes his interactions with the local Masai tribe, his experiences during political unrest, and the emotional impact of a tuberculosis outbreak among the baboons.
The book is a blend of humor, science, and personal growth, offering insights into both primate society and human culture.

#3930
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Much ado about nothing

William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, is a comedy that explores themes of love, deception, and mistaken identity.
The play features a compelling narrative, where two pairs of lovers navigate the complexities of courtship and marriage.
Much Ado About Nothing's witty dialogue and clever plot twists have entertained audiences for centuries.
The play's use of humor and irony creates a sense of lightheartedness and amusement.
Much Ado About Nothing's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes and engaging storytelling.

#3175
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Information
A History, a Theory, a Flood

James Gleick
In 'The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood', James Gleick delves into the history of information technologies, from the invention of written alphabets and African talking drums to the modern era of digital communication.
The book profiles key figures such as Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, Samuel Morse, and Claude Shannon, and explores how our understanding of information has transformed human consciousness.
Gleick discusses the mechanical and meaningful aspects of communication, including the development of telegraphy, telephony, and the internet, and examines the implications of information theory on various fields such as physics, genetics, and sociology.

#2201
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead


Tom Stoppard
The play revolves around Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, childhood friends of Hamlet, who are summoned by King Claudius to investigate Hamlet's apparent madness.
The story intertwines with the events of Hamlet, but focuses on the existential crises and philosophical musings of the two protagonists as they navigate their roles in the larger drama.
The play is known for its witty dialogue, absurd situations, and deep exploration of fate, free will, and the nature of reality.

#1117
• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Wild Problems
A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us


Russ Roberts
In 'Wild Problems,' Russ Roberts addresses the big, uncertain decisions in life—such as who to marry, whether to have children, where to move, and how to forge a life well-lived—that cannot be solved using data, science, or traditional rational approaches.
He suggests focusing less on the path that promises the most happiness and more on figuring out who you actually want to be.
Roberts draws on the experiences of great artists, writers, and scientists to lay out strategies for reducing fear and the loss of control when facing these 'wild problems.
' He argues that life should be experienced as a mystery rather than a problem to be solved, and he critiques the idea of relying solely on cost-benefit analysis and utilitarianism for making life's major decisions.

#4054
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

Dave Eggers


Dion Graham
This memoir by Dave Eggers chronicles his life after his parents' deaths from cancer within a short period.
At 21, Eggers became the legal guardian of his 8-year-old brother Toph and moved to California.
The book is known for its innovative writing style, which includes stream-of-consciousness narratives, humor, and poignant reflections on grief and family.
Eggers's story delves into the challenges of raising a younger sibling, dealing with personal and emotional struggles, and navigating the complexities of growing up under extraordinary circumstances.

#3683
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


Edward Albee
The play, first staged in 1962, delves into the marital strife of George and Martha, a couple who draw a younger couple, Nick and Honey, into their bitter and frustrated relationship.
The evening exposes the dysfunction of their over twenty-year marriage, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
The play is a critique of American society's illusions of prosperity and equality, and it explores universal themes such as identity, representation, and the future.

#5324
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
A streetcar named Desire

Tennessee Williams
The play revolves around Blanche DuBois, who, after a series of personal losses, including the loss of her family home and her job as an English teacher due to a scandal, moves to New Orleans to live with her younger sister Stella and her husband Stanley.
The tension between Blanche and Stanley, fueled by their contrasting backgrounds and desires, leads to a tragic confrontation.
The play explores themes of desire, reality vs.
fantasy, and the decline of the Old South, set against the vibrant and tumultuous backdrop of New Orleans' French Quarter in the post-World War II era.

#2794
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Arcadia


Tom Stoppard
Set in Sidley Park, an aristocratic estate in Derbyshire, England, 'Arcadia' by Tom Stoppard navigates two distinct time periods: the early 1800s and 1993.
The play follows the intellectual growth of Thomasina Coverly, a brilliant teenage girl in the 19th century, and a group of modern-day scholars who attempt to uncover the truth about the past.
It delves into themes such as the nature of truth and time, the difference between classical and romantic temperaments, and the disruptive influence of sex on human lives.
The garden at Sidley Park serves as a central symbol, representing the shift from classical order to romantic mystery and the Gothic style.
If technology is ruining the art of conversation, maybe it can save it, too. Anna Gat--poet, screenwriter, playwright, and founder of Interintellect--talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts on how she's reviving the French salon in the digital age. They discuss why authority, moderation, and clear formats make conversation freer, not more constrained. They also explore why one of the greatest of modern plays--Tom Stoppard's Arcadia--is so resonant not only as a live theatrical performance, but also when read aloud, both alone and in a group. They conclude the episode by connecting Arcadia's themes to Gat's mission at Interintellect: Namely, preserving the value of thinking together across generations, disciplines, and worldviews.

