Existential Hope Podcast: James Pethokoukis | Conservatism Meets Futurism
Jul 25, 2024
auto_awesome
James Pethokoukis, a senior fellow at AEI, discusses his book 'The Conservative Futurist' and the importance of being pro-progress and pro-growth. He explores the spectrum of upwing vs downwing views, technology's role in solving global challenges, and the need for positive storytelling to create a prosperous world.
Promoting positive narratives of progress and achievement shapes a brighter future vision.
Embracing technological innovations like AI and genetic medicine drives societal advancements and growth.
Deep dives
Importance of Positive Vision for the Future
Creating a positive vision for the future is crucial as it shapes our decisions and actions. The podcast emphasizes the need to envision a world where technology and human decisions work together to create a better tomorrow. By promoting narratives of progress and achievement, individuals are encouraged to believe in their power to shape a brighter future.
Advocating for Technology and Progress
The podcast highlights the significance of technology and progress in driving societal advancements. It discusses the importance of embracing technological innovations like AI, genetic medicine, and space exploration for civilizational resilience and growth. Encouraging a proactive approach to leveraging technology, the episode underscores the transformative potential of advanced technologies in addressing complex challenges.
Balancing Risk-Taking and Innovation
Balancing optimism and caution in adopting new technologies is a key theme explored in the podcast. It delves into the need to manage risks associated with advancements like AI and nuclear power while acknowledging the transformative benefits they offer. By advocating for informed decision-making and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation, the episode urges listeners to embrace a future-driven by technological progress.
Empowering Education and Positive Narratives
The podcast advocates for an up-wing approach in education, emphasizing the value of innovative teaching methods and inspiring stories of human achievement. It highlights the role of AI in enhancing educational outcomes by supporting teachers and personalizing learning experiences. By incorporating narratives of progress and resilience into education, the episode encourages a forward-thinking mindset and a vision of a more hopeful future.
James Pethokoukis is a senior fellow and the DeWitt Wallace Chair at the American Enterprise Institute, where he analyzes US economic policy, writes and edits the AEIdeas blog, and hosts AEI’s Political Economy podcast. He is also a contributor to CNBC and writes the Faster, Please! newsletter on Substack. He is the author of The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised (Center Street, 2023). He has also written for many publications, including the Atlantic, Commentary, Financial Times, Investor’s Business Daily, National Review, New York Post, the New York Times, USA Today, and the Week.
Session Summary
In this episode, James joins us to discuss his book, The Conservative Futurist, and his perspectives on technology and economic growth. James explores his background, the spectrum of 'upwing' (pro-progress) versus 'downwing' (anti-progress), and the role of technology in solving global challenges. He explains his reasoning for being pro-progress and pro-growth as well as highlighting the importance of positive storytelling and education in developing a more advanced and prosperous world.
Existential Hope was created to collect positive and possible scenarios for the future so that we can have more people commit to creating a brighter future, and to begin mapping out the main developments and challenges that need to be navigated to reach it. Existential Hope is a Foresight Institute project.