Kevin Kelly on Wisdom and Excellent Advice for Living
Jun 15, 2023
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In this podcast, Kevin Kelly discusses the significance of wisdom and the need for a long-term perspective in a rapidly changing world. The speakers explore the definition of wisdom and its connection to the true, good, and beautiful. They also discuss the power of individuals in a technological age and the relationship between power, luck, and humility. The impact of AI on society is explored, including its potential role as co-pilots, interns, and partners to humans. The hosts praise Kevin Kelly's book and discuss his future projects.
Having a long-term perspective is crucial for wisdom and decision-making in a rapidly changing world.
Learning from individuals with different opinions or perspectives is a sign of wisdom and promotes personal growth.
Wisdom involves recognizing the role of luck and practicing humility in using power to effect change.
Deep dives
The Importance of Long-Term Perspective
Having a long-term perspective is a key aspect of wisdom. This perspective allows individuals to think beyond the present moment and consider the long-term impacts and consequences of their actions. In a fast-paced world where everything is constantly changing, having a longer view is even more crucial. It enables individuals to navigate the rapid changes and make informed decisions. Wisdom involves not only the ability to think long term, but also to recognize the value of pursuing the true, good, and beautiful in order to maximize positive outcomes for the maximum number of people over time.
Learning from Those Who Disagree or Offend Us
One of the signs of wisdom is the ability to learn from people who hold different opinions or even those who may offend us. It requires humility and the willingness to set aside personal biases in order to understand and appreciate differing perspectives. Wise individuals recognize that even those they disagree with or find disagreeable have something to offer, whether it's knowledge, a different quality, or a unique insight. Being open to learning from diverse sources expands one's understanding and fosters personal growth. This skill of learning from disagreement can be regarded as a superpower, as it broadens one's capacity to learn beyond one's own perspective.
Acknowledging Luck and Humility in Power
Wisdom entails recognizing the role of luck and humility in obtaining power. Understandably, successful individuals often attribute their achievements solely to their hard work and talent. However, wise individuals acknowledge that luck has played a significant part in their success by being born in the right time, place, family, or with particular opportunities. Embracing this perspective cultivates humility and prevents the small-minded belief that they are inherently superior. While power provides the ability to effect change, wisdom urges individuals to exercise that power with humility and a sense of gratitude for the fortunate circumstances that contributed to their success.
The Role of Technology in Individual Power
The podcast explores the idea that although technology has increased individual power, there is no evidence to suggest that individuals can cause mass harm by themselves. While advancements in technology have allowed for greater damage potential, the speaker argues that the collective power of society is more significant than individual capabilities.
The Importance of Wisdom in Dealing with Technological Power
The conversation highlights the need for wisdom to accompany technological advancements. The gap between technological power and wisdom is growing, and without the appropriate level of wisdom, technological progress can exacerbate existing problems. The speaker emphasizes the importance of closing this wisdom gap, along with enhancing our imagination and ability to envision a better future, to effectively navigate the challenges posed by increasing technological power.
When I started blogging and podcasting back in 2009 topics like wisdom were near-invisible, if not considered irrelevant to the conversations of AI, transhumanism, genetic engineering, and human enhancement. So bringing ethics to the technology conversation became my longstanding goal and unique selling proposition for both Singularity Weblog and Singularity.FM. At the time, most conversations […]
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