This week’s guest is Cadell Last, the creator of Philosophy Portal, author of Global Brain Singularity and Real Speculations, and organizer of myriad conferences, anthologies, and collaborative volumes exploring biocultural evolution, the mind-matter relation, and speculative futures. Cadell has been the director of psychedelic research at Psirenity, a researcher at the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science, a science writer on primatology and paleoanthropology for Scientific American, and the founder, writer, and researcher for The Advanced Apes at PBS Digital Studios.

In this episode, we discuss self-actualization and self-transformation in our age of magical technologies — the domestication of the human being by AI and institutions, how to live in a future of hyper-social neuroplasticity, navigating hybrid physical-virtual relationships, the importance of intergenerational learning, and how we can make a better argument for culture to the social systems that only perceive measurable value. In the climax of this conversation, Cadell makes a case for “staying with the lack” and “working the cracks in being” as ways of cultivating our agency in a highly-automated world.

Become a member to join our hangouts, salons, and study groups:

Project Links

• Explore this project’s essay and episode archives• Make tax-deductible donations (recurring pledges grant membership)• Join the Wisdom x Technology & Future Fossils Discord servers• Browse the books we discuss on the show• Explore the interactive model grown from over 250 episodes• Book me for speaking or consulting

Cadell’s Links

Website (with research and social media links)Philosophy Portal YouTube

(+ My recent appearance as a guest on Cadell’s Philosophy Portal show)

Relevant Papers

Human Evolution: Life History Theory and the End of Biological Reproduction Self Actualization in the Commons Global Commons in the Global Brain Global Brain and the Future of Human Society Information-Energy Metasystem Model Abstraction, mimesis and the evolution of deep learning Landian Exit and Hegelian Love Systems & Subjects: Thinking the Foundations of Science & Philosophy Logic for the Global Brain: Singular Universality as Perfect Opposition

Mentions

Kevin KellyLawrence SteinbergNick LandNora BatesonJessica FlackThomas PicketyMichel BauwensLayman PascalDavid JayPhilip K. DickYanis VaroufakisChris CutroneAndrew TateBenjamin StudebakerGordon BranderAlan TuringKate Raworth

Related Episodes

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelgarfield.substack.com/subscribe

Is "Rich Dad Poor Dad" Still Relevant?