Astral Codex Ten Podcast

The podcast delves into the societal values reflected in Japanese currency portraits and the intriguing life of Yukichi Fukuzawa. It explores his challenges in pursuing scholarly interests, impact on modernizing Japan, and the concept of a new city for skilled foreigners.

The podcast explores how traditions from the past, like Indian food and Moorish Revival architecture, are perceived. It delves into the argument that tradition can be seen as fake compared to invention, using examples like a fertility festival in Hastings, England. The influence of historical periods on past cultures, such as the Renaissance's Greco-Roman revival, is also discussed. Additionally, the podcast examines a New York synagogue's Moorish revival architecture inspired by Al-Andalus and the concept of creativity leading to unique outcomes.

Inventor Steve Kirsch, known for the optical mouse, discusses anti-COVID-vaccine activism. He analyzes data on COVID and vaccine-related deaths, highlighting discrepancies in poll results. The podcast explores varying percentages from surveys and how political beliefs may impact reporting accuracy. Emphasis is placed on interpreting data cautiously and relying on peer-reviewed studies.

Discussion on the ethics of genetics and embryo selection, questioning the idea of genetic inferiority. Examining cystic fibrosis as a case study. Exploring perceptions of inferiority compared to others and the flaws in self-worth measures.

Discover the journey of turning an online novel into a paperback edition with improved chapters, revised character names, and enriched historical context. Learn about the challenges faced and the gratitude expressed towards those who helped make it happen.

Lyman Stone discusses his critique of Effective Altruism, questioning the impact of spatial distribution on charitable giving. The podcast explores various altruistic causes supported by EAs, analyzes the effectiveness of EA donations, and delves into ethical dilemmas of extreme measures like terrorism. It also touches on animal welfare, evolutionary perspectives on caregiving, and the role of philosophy in moral decision-making.

[I haven't independently verified each link. On average, commenters will end up spotting evidence that around two or three of the links in each links post are wrong or misleading. I correct these as I see them, and will highlight important corrections later, but I can't guarantee I will have caught them all by the time you read this.] https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/links-for-may-2024

There's been renewed debate around Bryan Caplan's The Case Against Education recently, so I want to discuss one way I think about this question. Education isn't just about facts. But it's partly about facts. Facts are easy to measure, and they're a useful signpost for deeper understanding. If someone has never heard of Chaucer, Dickens, Melville, Twain, or Joyce, they probably haven't learned to appreciate great literature. If someone can't identify Washington, Lincoln, or either Roosevelt, they probably don't understand the ebb and flow of American history. So what facts does the average American know? https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/a-theoretical-case-against-education

In my book review of The Others Within Us, I wrote: [An Internal Family Systems session] isn't supposed to be just the therapist walking you through guided imagery, or you making up a story you tell yourself. The therapist asks you "Look inside until you find the part that's sabotaging your relationship", and you are supposed to discover - not invent, discover - that your unconscious gives it the form of a snake called Sabby. And you are supposed to hear as in a trance - again, not invent - Sabby telling you that she's been protecting you from heartbreak since your last breakup. When you bargain with Sabby, it's a two-way negotiation. You learn - not decide - whether or not Sabby agrees to any given bargain. According to Internal Family Systems (which descends from normal family systems, ie family therapy where the whole family is there at once and has to compromise with each other), all this stuff really is in your mind, waiting for an IFS therapist to discover it. When Carl Jung talked about interacting with the archetypes or whatever, he wasn't being metaphorical. He literally meant "go into a trance that gives you a sort of waking lucid dream where you meet all this internal stuff". Some IFS therapists chimed in to say this was wrong. For example, DaystarEld: https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/what-is-going-on-in-ifs

A podcast exploring the hot new therapy Internal Family Systems, portraying parts of the mind as literal demons. Personal testimonials share transformative therapy experiences. Discussions on theory of mind, demons, and therapeutic perspectives. Navigating personal experiences with demons and alternative realities. Exploring beliefs, trauma, and schizophrenia outcomes in different cultures.