Jason Crawford

Jason Crawford is the founder & president of The Roots of Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a new philosophy of progress for the 21st century. Jason has written well over 100 essays on the history of technology and the philosophy of progress, and given numerous talks and interviews on the same. He joins the show to discuss whether humans deserve progress, how to make progress cool, the two types of optimism, and more! Important Links: The Roots of Progress Jason’s Website Jason’s Twitter Discourse on the Arts and Sciences; by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Triumph of the Nerds Why I’m a proud solutionist Show Notes: Why do we need progress studies? Are humans conditioned to resist progress? Increasing the burden of safety What the Roots of Progress is seeking to achieve How can we make progress cool? Pessimism of the intellect; optimism of the will Do we deserve progress? Progress & politics Steelmanning the case against progress How can we defend against bad actors? Calibrating our approach to risk MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Frankenstein; by Mary Shelley Erewhon; by Samuel Butler Darwin Among The Machines; by Samuel Butler The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Ultimate Resource; by Julian L. Simon The Collapse of the Common Good: How America's Lawsuit Culture Undermines Our Freedom; by Philip K. Howard The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams The Jungle; by Upton Sinclair One Summer: America, 1927; by Bill Bryson

Jason Crawford, a former tech startup founder and author of "The Roots of Progress," dives deep into the history and philosophy of technology. He discusses how technological advancements have historically improved living standards and the cyclical nature of progress, urging a renewed focus on innovation. Crawford advocates for establishing progress studies as an academic field to better understand societal changes. He also examines the intertwining relationship between science and technology and emphasizes the importance of building resilience in our economic systems for a hopeful future.

Jason Crawford joins the podcast to discuss the history of progress, the future of economic growth, and the relationship between progress and risks from AI. You can read more about Jason's work at https://rootsofprogress.org Timestamps: 00:00 Eras of human progress 06:47 Flywheels of progress 17:56 Main causes of progress 21:01 Progress and risk 32:49 Safety as part of progress 45:20 Slowing down specific technologies? 52:29 Four lenses on AI risk 58:48 Analogies causing disagreement 1:00:54 Solutionism about AI 1:10:43 Insurance, subsidies, and bug bounties for AI risk 1:13:24 How is AI different from other technologies? 1:15:54 Future scenarios of economic growth

Jason Crawford, founder of The Roots of Progress, discusses the history of technology and the philosophy of progress. Topics include rethinking energy usage for a flourishing future, the role of AI and robots in progress, and the multi-faceted nature of progress in improving human well-being. He emphasizes the importance of conscious efforts to drive progress despite historical setbacks.

Jason Crawford, founder of The Roots of Progress, dives deep into the philosophy of progress and its impact on human well-being. He examines how the Industrial Revolution sparked a wave of advancements and why large-scale progress has slowed in recent decades. The conversation tackles the misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy, emphasizing its potential in combating climate change. Additionally, Crawford addresses the challenges posed by bureaucracy on scientific innovation, urging for a renewed belief in progress as essential for future development.