The Padverb Podcast with KMO

010 The Age of Consilience with Dr Adam Izdebski

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Dr Adam Izdebski is a paleo-scientist and historian. He leads a multi-disciplinary research group at the Max Planck Institute which explores climate change, historical epidemics and their causes, the economy of past European societies, early attempts at regional integration and their traces in today's landscape, and many other things. In this conversation, Adam and KMO dig very dip and unearth a bucketful of topics, including:

  • 07:20 – Multidisciplinary studies, "Consilience" by E. O. Wilson, and non-overlapping magisteria, and unifying diverse positions
  • 11:10 – Adam’s team's research scope and specialization
  • 14:45 – The early globalization in the Mediterranean
  • 15:55 – Bronze Age collapse and the multi-causal nature thereof
  • 17:57 – Popularizing science
  • 19:55 – Kyle Harper's “The Fate of Rome”
  • 25:40 – Plagues in the Roman Empire, ancient DNA studies, and using the Black Death as a model for other pandemics
  • 30:34 – How pathogens may spread and cause pandemics
  • 34:20 – Intermission (KMO's solo riff)
  • 41:15 – The geological epochs chart
  • 47:45 – John Michael Greer's critique of the notion of the Anthropocene
  • 52:10 – Humanity's role throughout the (geologically, very recent portion of the) history of our planet
  • 59:35 – Three practical uses of the research work's results
  • 01:02:40 – Engaging in public outreach
  • 01:03:35 – The misanthropic aspect of humanity and staying optimistic

    • Participants:

    • Adam:
      • shh.mpg.de|
      en.padverb.com/adamizdebski
    • KMO:
      • @Kayemmo |
      en.padverb.com/kmo

      Books and Articles Discussed:

      • "The Fate of Rome" by Kyle Harper
        • press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691166834/the-fate-of-rome
      • "Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge" by E.O.Wilson
        • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consilience_(book)
      • "The Myth of the Anthropocene" by J.M.Greer
        • resilience.org/stories/2016-10-06/the-myth-of-the-anthropocene/
      • Geological eras and epochs (visual aid):
        • i.imgur.com/TAeY5yw.jpg

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        The Padverb Podcast with KMOBy Padverb