Television, with its focus on personality and emotions, is detrimental to democracy and science.
Progress in society relies on individuals learning to think in ways that challenge common sense and embrace new understanding.
Deep dives
The impact of different mediums on democracy
In the podcast episode, Allan K discusses how different forms of media, such as pamphlets, TV, and Twitter, impact democracy. He argues that television, with its focus on personality, storytelling, and emotions, is detrimental to democracy and science, which rely on rational thinking. He also highlights the historical role of stories in society and how they can be used as rationalizations. Allan emphasizes that progress in humanity is often achieved by opposing our genetic tendencies and developing processes that modify our thinking. Democracy, with its idea of equal rights, is a challenging concept to teach and believe in, and progress in society requires training and learning to think in new ways.
The role of writing and education in progress
Allan discusses the role of writing in civilization and education. He shares examples of how writing allowed ideas to be organized, transmitted, and reviewed independently of immediate response. He highlights the importance of teaching students at a young age that the world is not as it seems, encouraging them to question and think critically. Allan believes that progress in society relies on individuals learning to think in ways that are not natural to human beings, challenging common sense and embracing new ways of understanding the world. He suggests that educational institutions should focus on teaching the process of scientific inquiry and critical thinking rather than simply imparting knowledge.
The significance of decentralization in biological systems and the internet
Allan draws parallels between the decentralized nature of biological systems and the internet. He explains that central control in biological systems would require a governing part to contain all knowledge, making effective decision-making challenging. He highlights the benefits of decentralization, redundancy, and feedback in biological systems, which allow for adaptability and robustness. Similarly, the internet was designed to be decentralized to ensure resilience and scalability. Allan acknowledges that building large-scale artifacts in technology, like the internet, is a non-trivial task, requiring careful attention to organization and the avoidance of top-down control.
Influences and tactics in research agenda formulation
Allan discusses his experiences working with Bob Taylor and his approach to research agenda formulation. He notes Taylor's ability to inspire collaboration and encourage researchers to work together towards a common goal. Taylor believed in creating an environment where lone wolves could come together when necessary to achieve a collective vision. Allan also mentions Taylor's use of type one and type two arguments, where arguments are made to strengthen the opponent's position rather than tearing it down. This approach fostered understanding and progress within the research community. Furthermore, Allan highlights the importance of creating an open and inclusive atmosphere in research organizations.
