80,000 Hours Podcast

#134 Classic episode – Ian Morris on what big-picture history teaches us

92 snips
Jan 15, 2025
Ian Morris, a bestselling historian and Willard Professor of Classics at Stanford University, dives deep into the evolution of human values over millennia. He discusses how moral landscapes have transformed from slavery being deemed natural to modern views on gender and equality. The conversation covers the interplay of warfare, energy sources, and social dynamics in shaping cultural norms. Morris argues for a provocative view that society evolves towards organizational systems that enhance survival and efficiency, revealing the fascinating parallels between past and present.
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ANECDOTE

Brexit's Geographical Roots

  • Brexit reflects a historical debate about Britain's global position, influenced by evolving geography.
  • The focus should be on China's rise, not just European relations.
INSIGHT

Western Dominance

  • Western dominance resulted from an early agricultural revolution in the Middle East.
  • This provided a head start, but later, geographical and technological factors played key roles.
INSIGHT

Europe's Rise

  • European dominance arose from a combination of technological and organizational changes.
  • These changes altered the meaning of geography, leading to new questions and incentives for innovation.
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