EconTalk Walter Russell Mead on Innovation, Religion, and the State of the World
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Aug 21, 2023 
Walter Russell Mead, a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute and professor at Bard College, dives into the interplay between innovation, religion, and the complexities of today's world. He discusses how technological advancements reshape social interactions and political landscapes, while also examining humanity's search for meaning amid chaos. Mead emphasizes the dual nature of progress—its potential for both democratization and misinformation—and reflects on how ethical frameworks are challenged in modern society, all within a historical context.
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The Adams Curve
- Henry Adams's curve measures historical change by charting the growth of human-commanded power.
- It suggests a singularity where change accelerates so rapidly that the past becomes irrelevant.
Politics as Religion
- Modern society hasn't abandoned religious concerns but has infused politics with them.
- Political competitions become like religious wars when the stakes involve existential threats.
Numinous Hunger
- Religion, or contact with the numinous, transcends belief in a personal God.
- People find meaning in devotion to transcendent realities like justice.
