Michael Muthukrishna: A Theory of Everyone - The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going
Nov 17, 2023
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Michael Muthukrishna, Associate Professor of Economic Psychology, discusses his new book exploring cultural evolution, cooperation, the impact of the industrial revolution, skepticism in the age of Google, Tasmanian culture, the influence of cultural tools on geniuses, controversial ideas about energy and the environment, the potential of nuclear power, hope for the future, and concluding reflections.
Advancements and progress in human societies have been driven by shifts in energy sources and technologies throughout history.
Cultural evolution, intertwined with genetics, plays a crucial role in shaping human societies and culture.
Cooperation within groups and competition between groups are influenced by cultural variation and play a significant role in human behavior.
A comprehensive and systematic science of culture is essential for addressing complex societal issues and fostering progress and well-being in human societies.
Deep dives
The Importance of Energy Revolutions
The podcast episode explores the significance of energy revolutions in the development of human societies. It explains that throughout history, major advancements and progress have been driven by shifts in energy sources and technologies. The industrial revolution, for example, led to a massive increase in prosperity and set the stage for modern society. The episode highlights the role of energy return on energy investment (EROI) and how excess energy drives cooperation and competition. It emphasizes the need for continued energy advancements, particularly in nuclear power and fusion, to sustain and expand the benefits of abundant energy.
The Theory of Dual Inheritance and the Science of Culture
The podcast delves into the concept of dual inheritance theory and its significance in understanding human societies and culture. It clarifies that humans possess a unique ability to acquire and transmit cultural knowledge across generations, allowing for the development of complex societies. This cultural evolution is intimately tied to genetic adaptation. The episode underscores the need for an overarching theoretical framework in the human and social sciences, similar to the progress made in fields like physics, chemistry, and biology. It emphasizes that by adopting a comprehensive theory, such as dual inheritance theory, we can better comprehend and address societal challenges, develop social technologies, and shape better policies.
Cooperation, Multi-Level Selection, and Cultural Variation
The podcast explores the dynamics of cooperation and competition in human societies, drawing on concepts from biology and cultural evolution. It explains how culture plays a crucial role in shaping human behavior and cooperation within communities. The episode discusses the importance of multi-level selection, whereby cooperation is favored within groups and competition exists between groups. It emphasizes that humans are unique in their ability to cooperate at large scales and highlights the influence of cultural variation in shaping norms, institutions, and behaviors. The episode highlights that a comprehensive understanding of cooperation and cultural evolution is crucial in addressing our world's challenges and creating a more harmonious and prosperous future.
Building a Comprehensive Science of Culture
The podcast episode emphasizes the need for the human and social sciences to advance towards a more comprehensive and systematic science of culture. It draws parallels with the development of physics, chemistry, and biology, highlighting the importance of having guiding theories and frameworks. The episode underscores the significance of gaining a deep understanding of cultural dynamics, norms, institutions, and social technologies to address complex societal issues. By integrating insights from various disciplines such as evolutionary biology, economics, psychology, and anthropology, researchers can work towards building a more unified and robust scientific approach to culture. This comprehensive science of culture can offer valuable insights and solutions to longstanding problems, fostering progress and well-being in human societies.
The Impact of Education and Cultural Evolution on Intelligence
Education and cultural evolution have led to improvements in intelligence and IQ test performance over time. IQ tests are influenced by cultural factors, and human intelligence is shaped by cultural transmission. Education and cultural complexity have played a significant role in the development of new cognitive abilities and ways of thinking. The learning process has led to the creation of new software in the human brain, allowing for advancements in reasoning, numeracy, and other abilities. The idea of a culture-free intelligence is being questioned, suggesting that cultural context and education are crucial factors in intelligence development.
Historical Perspectives on Cultural Progress and Decline
Historical examples shed light on the impact of education, cultural complexity, and environmental factors on human progress. The downfall of the Tasmanian culture illustrates how the loss of interconnectivity and transmission of knowledge led to a decline in cultural complexity. The example of early civilizations highlights the effect of rising sea levels and resource constraints on cultural development. The book challenges the notion of a zero-sum world where de-growth is seen as a solution. Instead, it advocates for continued growth, increased abundance, and the enhancement of social cooperation for sustainable progress.
The Connection between Genetics, Education, and Intelligence
Intelligence, measured by IQ tests, is influenced by genetics, but its expression is heavily dependent on cultural context and education. IQ tests reflect the knowledge and information transmitted through education systems. Cultural evolution and advancements in software development within the human brain have contributed to improved IQ test performance. The book explores the role of genetics, nutrition, environment, and historical factors in shaping intelligence. It demonstrates that intelligence is not solely determined by genetic factors, but also by the cultural and educational environments in which individuals are raised.
The Power of Nuclear Energy and the Importance of Renewable Technologies
The book advocates for a diversified energy strategy that combines nuclear power, solar energy, and other renewable technologies. Nuclear power, despite some historical controversies, is seen as a vital component of the future energy mix due to its high energy return on investment (EROI). Conversely, the book criticizes the concept of de-growth and highlights the need for continued growth to drive innovation, environmental stewardship, and resource abundance. It emphasizes the importance of cooperative efforts and decentralized approaches to tackle global challenges, such as climate change and energy sustainability.
A Theory of Everyone is an ambitious book with arguably galactic ambitions. The chapters jump from topics like the Cambrian Explosion to the ever-increasing amount of energy needed to get at the fossil fuels that power our civilization. But to start off, Razib asks Muthukrishna about his background as a “third culture kid” and how that might have influenced his anthropological interests. Muthukrishna observed firsthand social and political chaos in Papua New Guinea, while his family’s background in Sri Lanka illustrated for him the salience of ethnic tensions, even when differences might seem minimal to outsiders. Then Razib talks about A Theory of Everyone’s fixation on energy and its role in powering organic life, about our technology-driven civilization and about our potential interplanetary future. Here, Muthukrishina thinks like an engineer, albeit with a broad historical and evolutionary perspective. He and Razib also discuss the problems of “degrowth economics” and why it is a dead-end for a dynamic civilization’s flourishing. Razib also probes Muthukrishna for his views on IQ, its utility as a psychological measure, the variation between individuals and groups, and how those might relate to cultural evolutionary frameworks for considering cognitive aptitudes. The conversation concludes with a consideration of future possibilities as we hurtle past our current energy constraints as a civilization (Muthukrishna is bullish on nuclear), and the role of decentralized political experimentation in improving our social technology.
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