Lex Fridman Podcast #191 – Daniel Schmachtenberger: Steering Civilization Away from Self-Destruction
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Jun 14, 2021 
Daniel Schmachtenberger, a philosopher and founding member of the Consilience Project, delves into the dynamics of civilization and self-destruction. He discusses the consequences of humanity's historical cycles and the urgent need for social innovation to avoid repeating past mistakes. The conversation weaves through themes like collective intelligence, the delicate balance of creation and destruction, and alternative methods to resolve conflict. Schmachtenberger emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and the implications of technology on our future.
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Alien Perspective on Humanity
- Daniel Schmachtenberger notes that aliens observing Earth would have seen technological advancements and losses.
- They'd see humans making similar rivalry-based decisions as in the Stone Age, despite technological progress.
Government Secrecy and UFOs
- Governments might struggle to effectively communicate alien contact due to secrecy and bureaucratic issues.
- There's interest in unexplained UFO phenomena, like the Tic Tac incident and Stephen Greer's Disclosure Project.
Collective Intelligence
- Human intelligence developed through group selection, not individual survival.
- A good social system aligns individual and collective well-being, creating synergy.