Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning

In this engaging conversation, Jack Despain Zhou, Executive Director of the Center for Educational Progress and former cryptographic analyst, advocates for individualized learning over the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional education. He shares his transformative journey from an unmotivated student to a passionate advocate for educational reform. Discussing the tension between equalization and nurturing individual potential, Zhou critiques existing policies and emphasizes the importance of tailored education to foster high-achieving students. His insights challenge the norms and promote a more effective educational landscape.

Nikolai Yakovenko, CEO of DeepNewz and former research scientist at Google and Twitter, discusses the evolution of AI and its impact on the news industry. He highlights the fierce competition in AI, especially concerning Meta's multi-million dollar talent strategy. Yakovenko reflects on the balance between creative AI models and user guidance, and dives into the challenges posed by energy consumption in data centers. Their conversation touches on the significance of automation in the workforce and speculates on the future of various AI applications.

David van Ofwegen, a philosophy teacher in Thailand with expertise in Social Darwinism, shares intriguing insights about cultural shifts in the Netherlands. He discusses the striking assimilation of immigrants into Dutch society and how traditional customs, like Black Pete, clash with modern sensibilities. Ofwegen reflects on his experience returning to a transformed homeland, where diverse languages flourish amid rising anti-Semitism. Additionally, he analyzes the complexities of expat life in Thailand and the delicate balance of ethics in education within a multicultural context.

Claire Lehmann, founder of Quillette and a prominent voice in contemporary intellectual discourse, joins Razib to delve into the evolution of her publication and the intellectual dark web. They discuss the corrosive effects of woke culture on academia, the challenges of maintaining ideological diversity, and the changing landscape of public discourse, particularly post-Elon Musk's Twitter changes. The conversation also touches on the future of education in the age of AI, and how cultural identity shifts influence societal norms and workplace dynamics.

Nathan Cofnas, a philosopher specializing in biology and ethics at the University of Cambridge, dives into controversial theories on Judaism as a group evolutionary strategy, critiquing Kevin MacDonald's work and the academic reception it has received. He discusses the backlash he faced for his hereditarian views and the implications of discussing race and intelligence in today’s academia. Cofnas also navigates the complexities of Jewish identity and the persistent tensions between scientific inquiry and societal values.

In a thought-provoking conversation, Steve Hsu, a Caltech-trained physicist and professor at Michigan State, dives into China's rise as a global rival. He argues that the nation’s demographic realities and educational advancements will fuel its growth for decades. Hsu critiques American policies that hinder innovation, stressing the need for a realistic approach to US-China relations. They also explore AI's potential economic impacts and how cultural dynamics shape perceptions of power, all while challenging stereotypes about intelligence across regions.

Today Razib talks to David  Gress, a Danish historian. The son of an American literary scholar and a Danish writer, he grew up in Denmark, read Classics at Cambridge, and then earned a Ph.D. in medieval history from Bryn Mawr College in the US in 1981. During a fellowship form 1982-1992 at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, he published on Cold‑War strategy, German political culture, and Nordic security. He has been a visiting fellow and lecturer at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, fellow at the Danish Institute of International Affairs, an assistant professor of Classics at Aarhus University, and professor of the history of civilization at Boston University. He co‑directed the Center for the Study of America and the West at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia and remains a senior fellow of the Danish free‑market think tank CEPOS while writing a regular column for Jyllands‑Posten. His breakthrough book, From Plato to NATO: The Idea of the West and Its Opponents (1998), argues that Western success sprang from a hard‑edged fusion of Roman order, Germanic liberty, Christian morality, and Smithian economics, rather than being a single disgraceful arc from Greco‑Roman‐paganism to secular Enlightenment that bypassed the Middle Ages. Razib asks Gress how he would have written Plato to NATO today, more than 25 years later, and he says he would have emphasized Christianity’s role in creating a unified Western culture out of Greco-Roman and Germanic diversity more. Gress also reiterates that he does not deny the Greek foundation of Western Civilization, but rather, his work was a corrective to a very thin and excessively motivated and partisan narrative that stripped out vast periods of European history. They also discuss Gress’ own own peculiar identity, the son of an American, born to a Danish mother, raised in Denmark who converted to Catholicism as an adult, and how that all fits into a broader European identity. They also discuss the impact of mass immigration on the national identities of Europe in the last generation, and Gress’ opinions as to the European future. Razib also asks Gress about the role that evolutionary ideas may have in shaping human history, and how his own views may have changed since From Plato to NATO. They also discuss when it is plausible to say that the West was a coherent idea, and whether the Protestant Reformation was the beginning of the end for the unitary civilization that was Latin Christendom.

Ethan Strauss, a writer known for his sharp insights on sports and culture, joins the conversation to discuss the intersection of athletics and societal issues. He reflects on basketball talent disparities across regions, including the challenges of the NBA's attempts to engage Chinese fans. The dialogue also dives into the complexities of diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports hiring practices, contrasting corporate pressures with meritocracy. Strauss shares candid takes on the impact of these dynamics on professional sports, balancing cultural commentary with humor.

Manvir Singh, an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Davis and a contributor to The New Yorker, discusses the primal nature of shamanism and its connection to modern religions. He argues that shamanism is a universal psychological phenomenon, seen in various cultures despite differing practices. Singh shares insights from his fieldwork with the Mentawai tribe, illustrating the richness of their shamanic traditions. The conversation delves into the blending of shamanic elements in Christianity and the growing appeal of shamanism in contemporary spiritual practices.

Bo Winegard and Noah Carl, editors of Aporia Magazine with backgrounds in social psychology and sociology, dive into the murky waters of controversial topics. They discuss their experiences with cancellations and media backlash, shedding light on the evolving landscape of free speech in academia. The duo delves into contentious issues like race and IQ, exploring public perception and the societal ramifications of these discussions. They also tackle the impact of artificial intelligence on academic integrity and the complexities surrounding identity politics today.