Mark Stahlman, a biologist and former Wall Street technology strategist, discusses Trump as a symbol of the digital transformation affecting society. He explores how digital technology reshapes politics and governance, contrasting Eastern and Western approaches to digital systems. The conversation touches on neo-feudalism's rise, the implications of Game B principles, and the importance of a multicultural understanding of technology's impact on humanity. Stahlman also emphasizes the need for educational reform to keep pace with rapid technological changes.
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insights INSIGHT
Trump as Avatar of Digital Shift
Trump is not what he seems, but rather an avatar of a digital paradigm shift.
This shift forces a reevaluation of current political structures and assumptions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Prediction to the Pentagon
Mark Stahlman predicted to the Pentagon in 2013 that the two-party system would not survive the 2020 election.
He attributed this to the disruptive force of digital technology on established political structures.
insights INSIGHT
Three Spheres
The world is fragmenting into three spheres: East, West, and Digital.
These spheres interact differently with the digital sphere, shaping distinct societal responses.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Cixin Liu's 'The Three-Body Problem' is a critically acclaimed science fiction novel that blends hard science with compelling storytelling. The story follows a group of scientists who make contact with an alien civilization, leading to unforeseen consequences for humanity. Liu's intricate world-building and exploration of complex scientific and philosophical themes have earned him widespread recognition. The novel is known for its ambitious scope and its exploration of the potential challenges and dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. It's a thought-provoking work that has captivated readers worldwide.
Science and civilisation in China
Joseph Needham
This monumental series, initiated in 1954, surveys the history of Chinese chemistry, mechanics, navigation, medicine, and other scientific disciplines. It examines the relationship between Confucian and Taoist traditions and Chinese scientific innovation, and it contrasts Chinese and Western philosophies of scientific inquiry. The series, which has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonfiction books of the 20th century by the Modern Library Board, continues to be updated under the guidance of the Needham Research Institute. Needham's work challenges Eurocentric historiography by highlighting the significant contributions of Chinese science and technology to global knowledge.
Analogia
George Dyson
In *Analogia*, George Dyson presents a historical journey through the analog age and into the digital revolution, culminating in a vision of a future where machines operate beyond programmable control. The book weaves together historical figures like Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and personal experiences to explore the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
Aristotle's on the Soul
Hippocrates G. Apostle
Aristotle
Aristotle's treatise "On the Soul" is a cornerstone of Western philosophy, exploring the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body. Aristotle rejects the Platonic notion of a separate, immortal soul, instead arguing for a hylomorphic view that integrates matter and form. He examines various aspects of the soul, including its vegetative, sensitive, and rational capacities. The work explores the relationship between the soul and the body, arguing that the soul is the form or essence of the living organism. "On the Soul" has had a profound influence on subsequent philosophical and scientific thought, shaping our understanding of consciousness, life, and the human condition.
Jim talks with Mark Stahlman about Trump as an avatar of the current digital transformation. They discuss the GameB movement & complexity theory, predictions made to the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment, security through development as alternative to war, the three spheres (East, West, Digital), China's approach to digital vs. the Western approach, Catholic social teaching principles, neo-feudalism vs. the scribal paradigm, Humanity 2.0, Aristotelian concepts of soul & hylomorphism, Cyber Sabbath practices, transitions between oral/scribal/digital paradigms, technological change as evolutionary pruning, Jonathan Rauch's Constitution of Knowledge, memory & imagination as key faculties, versions of the Enlightenment project, Daoism & Eastern philosophy, coherent pluralism, and much more.
Episode Transcript
JRS EP 174 - Fred Beuttler and Mark Stahlman on Trivium University
Center for the Study of Digital Life
Exogenous (Mark's Substack)
The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin
Analogia: The Emergence of Technology Beyond Programmable Control, by George Dyson
JRS EP 287 - Jonathan Rauch on the Epistemic Crisis
Science and Civilization in China, by Joe Needham
Mark Stahlman is a biologist, computer architect and ex-Wall Street technology strategist. He is the President of the not-for-profit Center for the Study of Digital Life (CSDL, 501(c)3, digitallife.center) and its educational project Trivium University (Triv U, trivium.university). He is also CEO of Exogenous, Inc. (EXO, exogenousinc.com), a strategic risk analysis group and on the editorial staff of its publication, the Three Spheres Newsletter (TSN). He studied for but did not complete advanced degrees in Theology (UofChicago) and Molecular Biology (UW-Mad). He has been widely interviewed and published, including teaching online courses (available on YouTube via 52 Living Ideas).