Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

What causes progress? And how can we stop it from slowing? (with Jason Crawford)

Nov 3, 2021

Jason Crawford, founder of The Roots of Progress, dives deep into the philosophy of progress and its impact on human well-being. He examines how the Industrial Revolution sparked a wave of advancements and why large-scale progress has slowed in recent decades. The conversation tackles the misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy, emphasizing its potential in combating climate change. Additionally, Crawford addresses the challenges posed by bureaucracy on scientific innovation, urging for a renewed belief in progress as essential for future development.

01:26:04

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Episode guests

Jason Crawford

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Evolution of Progress

17min

The Tipping Point of Population and Technological Growth

2min

Barriers and Breakthroughs in Progress

20min

The Paradox of Progress

11min

Nuclear Energy: Myths and Realities

11min

Understanding Radiation Safety Through Engaging Anecdotes

2min

Bureaucracy and Innovation in Science

6min

The Double-Edged Sword of Progress

9min

10.

Reexamining Progress

6min

Read the full transcript here.

What is progress? How do we (and should we) measure progress? What are the most important questions to ask in progress studies? What are the factors that lead to progress? Why has large-scale progress taken so long (i.e., why did we not see much progress until the Industrial Revolution)? Why did industrial revolution, scientific revolution, and democratic revolution all seem to start within a relatively short period of time of each other? How can we prevent progress from slowing down, stopping, or even reversing? What factors have contributed to the slowing of progress in the last 50 years? What's the state of progress in nuclear energy? What is the history of attitudes towards progress? And why is it important for people to believe that progress is good?

Jason Crawford is the founder of The Roots of Progress, where he writes and speaks about the history of technology and the philosophy of progress. Previously, he spent 18 years as a software engineer, engineering manager, and startup founder. Follow him on Twitter at @jasoncrawford.

Staff

Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director
Josh Castle — Producer
Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer
Uri Bram — Factotum
Janaisa Baril — Transcriptionist

Music

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