The Orthogonal Bet

Jason Crawford on The Techno-Humanist Manifesto

Apr 16, 2025

In this conversation, Jason Crawford, founder of the Roots of Progress Institute, dives into the essence of progress in our society. He shares his journey from blogging to establishing a dedicated organization. The duo discusses storytelling's cultural significance and how it shapes societal values. Jason explores the unique aspects of the progress movement, especially in relation to effective altruism. They touch on the importance of optimism and industrial literacy in education, aiming to inspire a proactive mindset for the future.

36:18

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Episode guests

Jason Crawford

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Quick takeaways

Crawford highlights the importance of storytelling and writing in shaping societal attitudes towards progress and inspiring action.

The Roots of Progress Institute aims to integrate progress-oriented thinking into education and popular culture to promote a more optimistic future.

Deep dives

The Journey of Progress Writing

Jason Crawford began his exploration of progress in early 2017, developing a blog titled Roots of Progress from a side project into a full-fledged cultural institute. His interest in understanding the history and impact of progress led him to analyze how societal standards of living have improved dramatically over the last few centuries. Initially, his writing garnered a small audience, but significant growth occurred by mid-2019 alongside the emergence of a broader progress movement, sparked by influential articles in major publications. Transitioning from the tech industry, Crawford fully committed to advancing the conversation about progress, ultimately shaping it into a community through events and conferences.

Intro

2min

Cultural Progress: A Journey of Ideas and Impact

20min

Cultural Engagement with Progress and Technology

4min

Industrial Literacy and Uplifting Narratives

6min

Exploring the Dual Nature of Optimism and Agency

3min

Redefining Progress: The Interconnection of Agency and Meaning

2min

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Jason Crawford, a writer and thinker who explores the idea of progress in modern society. Jason is the founder and president of the Roots of Progress Institute, an organization dedicated to developing a modern philosophy of progress. As part of this mission, the institute runs a fellowship for individuals writing about progress-related themes. Jason himself is a prolific writer and is currently working on a book-in-progress titled The Techno-Humanist Manifesto.

Together, Samuel and Jason discuss Jason’s journey from blogging about progress to founding an entire institution devoted to the topic. They explore his goals in writing, the cultural importance of storytelling in shaping societal values, and the distinct nature of the progress movement and how it compares to effective altruism and effective accelerationism. The conversation also touches on Jason’s broader ambitions for embedding progress-oriented thinking into pop culture and education, and concludes with a reflection on the role of optimism in shaping the future.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Gates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Suno