415 | James Pethokoukis: Conservative Futurism & Up Wing Politics - Building the Sci-Fi Future We We're Promised
Oct 13, 2023
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James Pethokoukis, AEI Senior Fellow and author of The Conservative Futurist, discusses the 'Great Downshift' of post-1970s America and the potential for a technologically advanced future. Topics include failed retro-futuristic visions, the importance of progress and innovation, the trade-off between climate change and space exploration, the changing perception of the future, and the American ethos of embracing technology and research.
Embracing progress and technological accomplishments can lead to an optimistic future with continued economic growth and technological advancements in areas like AI, space exploration, and energy.
Retro futurist visions from the 1950s and 1960s, while not fully realized, still serve as inspiration for progress in biotechnology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence.
Deep dives
The Importance of Embracing Progress and Technological Accomplishment
The podcast episode discusses the importance of embracing progress and technological accomplishment. It challenges the pessimistic views often associated with the future by presenting an optimistic vision, rooted in the belief that economic growth and technological progress will continue at a rapid pace. The episode highlights the significance of economic and technological advancements in areas such as space exploration, energy, and artificial intelligence, and explores how these developments can contribute to creating a better future. It emphasizes the need for a politics oriented around progress and the opportunities that come with it.
The Retro Futurist Vision and its Impact on the Present
The episode delves into the retro futurist vision that was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, which depicted a future characterized by economic growth, technological progress, and a mastery of the solar system. It examines how this vision contrasted with the reality that unfolded over the years and discusses the factors that contributed to the divergence between the envisioned future and the present. The episode explores the gap between the retro futurist vision and the practicality of certain ideas, while also acknowledging the potential for progress that has been realized in areas like biotechnology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence.
The Role of Faith and Creativity in Shaping the Future
The podcast episode reflects on the intersection of faith and creativity in shaping the future. It emphasizes the importance of embracing humanity's creative capacity and the divine spark of creativity within individuals. The episode highlights the need to go beyond utopian ideals and instead focus on nurturing creativity and utilizing the tools, wisdom, and agency of human beings, regardless of political affiliations, to solve significant problems and create a better world. It emphasizes the value of building upon the inheritance of political and economic freedom, fostering a connection between the past and the future, and working towards progress grounded in a liberal tradition.
Building a Persuasive Upwing Agenda for the Future
The episode discusses the need for an upwing agenda that encompasses a mix of ideas from across the political spectrum. It emphasizes the importance of constructing a plausible and aspirational future, rooted in innovation, risk-taking, and abundance. The episode suggests the need to invest in research and development, increase economic openness, and enact policies that promote growth and progress. It challenges the mindset of retreat and stagnation, advocating for an embracing of change and disruption while ensuring that opportunities and capabilities are available to all. The episode concludes by highlighting the power of persuasion and competition of ideas in shaping the future.
James Pethokoukis, AEI Senior Fellow and author of The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised, joins The Realignment. Marshall and James discuss his why he describes post-1970s America as suffering from the "Great Downshift," a sharp decline in technological progress, economic stagnation, and downsized dreams, why we should be optimistic about the future, despite fears of a looming technopocalypse, the role of developments in AI, space exploration, and energy abundance, the agenda for recovering the expansively futuristic spirit of the 1950s and 1960s, and why conservative futurism isn't an oxymoron.
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