Today on Moment of Zen, Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch return for for a mind-bending discussion and deep dive into the concept of "long ripples" — how ideas and events from the distant past continue to shape our present and future in unexpected ways. From Plato's influence on modern political movements to the unforeseen consequences of the Industrial Revolution, this conversation challenges our understanding of historical cause and effect.

Are we truly progressing, or are we caught in cycles we fail to recognize? Can we learn from the past, or are we doomed to repeat it in new, technologically-amplified ways? This episode is a rollercoaster ride through time, technology, and human nature, forcing us to reconsider our place in the grand sweep of history. 

Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectively.

CHECK OUT:

Live Players:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188

History 102:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913

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LINKS:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Whatifalthist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist

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FOLLOW ON X:

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@whatifalthist

@turpentinemedia

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:15) Exploring Plato's Influence

(05:10) Historical Ripples and Convergent Evolution

(06:45) The Fall of Civilizations

(12:43) Comparing Civilizational Cycles

(17:42) The Future of Human Civilization

(23:30) Sponsor: Dealcraft

(29:02) AI and Genetic Engineering: Potential and Pitfalls

(33:30) Pandemic Era Reflections

(34:04) Genetic Engineering and Society

(34:49) Sponsor: WorkOS | Squad

(36:43) 19th Century Misconceptions

(39:23) Cycles of Societal Transformation

(41:54) Intellectual Decay and Historical Rewriting

(44:13) Anthropology and Cultural Studies

(46:34) Decline of Western Institutions

(53:12) Space Exploration and Technological Decline

(1:01:15) Hypernormalization and Social Reality

(1:01:49) Wrap