Philosopher and technologist David Shapiro discusses defeating nihilism, Moloch, the meaning crisis, post-nihilism, complexity destruction, radical alignment, AI, competition, and myths. They explore AI alignment, game theory, incentive design, and Silicon Valley's culture. Liv Boeree and David delve into neurodivergence, culture wars, and creating a third attractor state.
Embracing competition and status games as intrinsic aspects of humanity is essential for integration.
Post-nihilism is a proposed solution to the crisis of meaning and disenfranchisement in society.
Exploring abandonment in various levels sheds light on societal issues and technological impacts.
Achieving radical alignment involves harmonizing physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being for meaningful lives.
Deep dives
The Importance of Embracing Humanity's Permanent Features
Competition, status games, and epistemic tribes are discussed as permanent aspects of humanity that should not be pathologized. Embracing these features is highlighted as crucial for integrating all aspects of humanity.
Exploring the Concept of Nihilism and Its Destructive Impact
The podcast delves into nihilism, its definition, and why it poses a destructive force in society. Post-nihilism is proposed as a potential solution to the crisis of meaning and disenfranchisement affecting contemporary society.
Addressing Abandonment at Various Levels
The idea of abandonment is examined across childhood, social, cosmic, and self-abandonment levels. Factors contributing to societal issues such as homelessness and the impact of technological advancements are explored within the context of existing philosophical and psychological frameworks.
Promoting Alignment with True Self and Needs
The significance of radical alignment, focusing on living in harmony with one's true self and needs, is underscored. Highlighting the importance of incorporating physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being to foster a meaningful life and positive societal impacts.
Emergence and Ontological Strata in Understanding the World
Emergence explains how fundamental particles lead to larger structures like atoms and molecules, eventually forming complex systems such as societies and narratives. These ontological strata depict the interconnected layers of existence, showcasing the critical philosophical perspective of emergence in comprehending the world.
Convergence in Defining Problems and Solutions
Convergence involves approaching truth collectively, despite the challenges in defining absolute truths or universal values. By combining perspectives like post nihilism, Moloch, and Metacrisis, there is a focus on identifying and resolving problems while progressing towards unified solutions. Amid uncertainties, the process of convergence aims to tackle complex issues collaboratively.
Utilizing Mythic Archetypes for Narrative Construction
Mythic archetypes, rooted deeply in ancient tales and symbols, offer a rich tapestry for constructing narratives and understanding human observations and emotions. These archetypes serve as representations of timeless concepts, with characters like Thanos embodying principles of inevitability and destruction. By drawing upon these archetypes, individuals can enhance the depth and impact of their narratives, aligning with enduring human experiences and values.
Nihilism has become all too popular, and this man is on a mission to fix that! David is a philosopher and technologist focussed on understanding and healing what he calls the "Nihilism Crisis" - the crisis of meaning the world is currently suffering from, especially as it transitions into the AI age.
If you're interested in AI alignment, game theory, incentive design, Moloch and competition, this is very much a conversation for you.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:05 - Defeating Moloch
00:08:02 - The Meaning Crisis
00:14:39 - The Third Attractor
00:15:29 - Post-Nihilism
00:52:28 - AI & Why Silicon Valley's Vibe Seems Off
00:58:14 - Sam Altman as a High Priest?
00:59:02 - Summarizing Everything so Far
01:01:33 - Mythic Archetypes
01:07:50 - Liv's Favourite Axioms
01:11:35 - Neurodivergence
01:16:17 - Culture Wars
01:26:26 - Creating the Third Attractor State
Links:
♾️ David's video: Moloch is Losing! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiCUbJAwmgk
♾️ Slate Star Codex
https://slatestarcodex.com/
♾️ John Vervaeke - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis
https://johnvervaeke.com/series/awakening-from-the-meaning-crisis/
♾️ Daniel Schmactenberger - Finding the Third Attractor State
https://consilienceproject.org/media/daniel-schmachtenberger-in-search-of-the-third-attractor-part-1/
♾️ “Good Enough” Parenting study
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508134511.htm
♾️ The Status Game - Will Storr
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58642436-the-status-game
♾️ An Immanent Metaphysics https://www.amazon.com/Immanent-Metaphysics-Forrest-Landry/dp/B0CPSJ647N
♾️ Roger Walsh - Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes
https://drrogerwalsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/LMH-Summary-for-California-Psychologist-2018-12-20.pdf
♾️ Self Determination Theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination_theory
♾️ Patricia Churchland - Brain Trust
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691180977/braintrust
♾️ William Ury - Power of the Positive No
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/182089/the-power-of-a-positive-no-by-william-ury/
♾️ The Fourth Turning - William Strauss, Neil Howe
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/174648/the-fourth-turning-by-william-strauss/
Credits:
♾️ Hosted by Liv Boeree
♾️ Produced & Edited by Raymond Wei
♾️ Audio Mix by Keir Schmidt
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