Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg What's wrong with society, and how can we fix it? (with Tim Urban)
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Aug 2, 2023 
Tim Urban, writer and co-founder of Wait But Why, dives deep into society's most pressing issues. He explores the clash between our 'primitive mind' and 'higher mind', affecting our decision-making in an era of rapid technological change. Urban discusses the concepts of 'golems' and 'genies' to illustrate human potential and destructive group dynamics. He critiques the tactics of the woke movement and emphasizes the need for open debate over division. Lastly, he examines the role of identity in shaping beliefs and the urgent call for political unity.
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Paleolithic Emotions, Medieval Institutions, Godlike Technology
- Humanity faces a challenge: we possess advanced technology but retain primitive emotions and outdated institutions.
- This mismatch, highlighted by E.O. Wilson, creates a dangerous imbalance with potentially disastrous consequences.
Wisdom Lag
- Rapid technological advancement requires increased societal wisdom.
- Without faster wisdom development, things could go wrong, as our powerful technology could be misused.
Primitive Mind vs. Higher Mind
- Tim Urban's "primitive mind" is ancient, automatic software programmed for survival in a bygone era.
- The "higher mind" understands long-term consequences and sometimes overrides primitive impulses, like resisting Skittles.
