From the New World Michael Millerman - the Technologist and the Republic
Oct 21, 2024
Michael Millerman, a philosopher and founder of the Millerman School, dives deep into the interplay of technology, politics, and philosophy. He contrasts ancient and modern views on human excellence and critiques the dangers of quantification in modernity. Millerman advocates for a blend of technical and philosophical expertise among leaders, navigating the implications of AI and cryptocurrencies. The discussion also explores the mystical facets of existence, emphasizing individual experience over grand narratives, while highlighting the Socratic approach to citizenship and moral contemplation.
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Ancients Versus Moderns
- Strauss contrasts ancients who sought human excellence with moderns who lower political aims to common needs like self-preservation.
- Modern political science tries to make regimes calculable by focusing on quantity and predictability.
The Limits Of Quantification
- Quantification seduces by offering precision, repeatability, and calculability across domains.
- Strauss and critics warn this homogenous, numeric view neglects the qualitative, mysterious ends of the soul.
Two Divinely Sanctioned Drives
- Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik shows two divinely sanctioned drives: inward faith and majestic exploration.
- Millerman uses SpaceX as an example of technology expressing the majestic, God-given human impulse.