Radius of Reason

To solve the metacrisis, we need what Daniel Schmachtenberger calls a "third attractor". What would such a system look like in practice? Could we construct a "third attractor"-esque system at the international level, or is any sort of world government doomed to become a dystopian nightmare? In this episode, Levon and Andrey are joined by Alex – a rationalist, effective altruist, and founder of The Guild of the Rose – to discuss this potential (partial) solution to the metacrisis -- the web of interconnected catastrophic risks faced by humanity (such as climate change, AI, bio weapons, and nuclear war).

Are self-help help gurus actually… helpful? Does the self-help industry leave us feeling worse about ourselves? We sit down with Tal Gur, a lifestyle entrepreneur and the author of "The Art of Fully Living," to tackle these questions and discuss his approach to living life to the fullest.

The United States is facing a drug addiction crisis, with some parts of the country – such as Portland, Oregon – reporting an increase of drug-related deaths upwards of 500%. Friend of the show Brocke, a PhD neuroscientist turned educator, once again joins Radius of Reason to talk about if decriminalizing drugs is a viable solution, and what is actually causing a high level drug use in the United States. Turns out, drug addiction (in addition to porn, video game, and donut addictions) is merely a symptom of much bigger societal issues.

Artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons, and climate change are all dire threats facing our generation, and yet it seems like nobody is doing anything to bring about true resolution to these existential questions. Levon and Andrey are joined by Alex – a rationalist and founder of The Guild of the Rose – to discuss this 'metacrisis', and break down the interconnected web of challenges faced by humanity.

To learn more about the metacrisis, check out these resources:

Scott Alexander's Meditations on Moloch https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/

A primer on the metacrisis from the Pleb Check

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOie4GCI40I&ab_channel=ThePlebCheck

Daniel Schmachtenberger discussions on the metacrisis https://youtu.be/4kBoLVvoqVY?si=UDy_yWQ0bWWYY_iK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6V0qmDZ2gg

GUEST INFO:

Alex Hedtke

https://becomingstronger.substack.com/

https://guildoftherose.org/

Levon and Andrey experience mental gymnastics while trying to acknowledge what Andrew Tate gets right, and dive into what that means for modern masculinity; what if Andrew Tate is more of a symptom of a greater decay in our society, and how are young men put in a position where Tate is their greatest champion?

Full Summary: The conversation explores the themes of Andrew Tate's advice, the crisis of loneliness and dating, the dangers of his message, the lack of novelty in his advice, and the rise of sociopaths and grifters. It also discusses the appeal and criticisms of Jordan Peterson, the potential rebranding of Peterson, the role models of the past, and the need for role models in day-to-day life.

The conversation highlights the importance of relationships, the toxic framing of the matrix, and the perception of left-wing politics and masculinity. In this conversation, Andrey and Levon discuss the influence of Andrew Tate as a role model for young men and the lack of left-wing role models. They also explore the impact of a lack of deep connections and the role of religion as a community. The charges against Andrew Tate and the incompatibility of his actions with religion are examined. The toxic influence of Andrew Tate and the incentive structures of social media algorithms are discussed. The failure of institutions and the need for structural changes in society are highlighted.

Levon and Andrey sit down with Pati to discuss feminism, the future of gender relations, and whether gender equality is making anyone happier.

The existential arms race continues: Author David Lawrence is challenging arguments against free will made by the likes of Sam Harris and Robert Sapolsky. He joins Levon and Andrey in a conversation around whether free will exists, the evidence for determinism, and what it means for humanity if it doesn’t.

Guest Info: David Lawrence, Author of Are We Biochemical Robots?: A Critique of Determinism and Sam Harris' Crusade Against Free Will. https://www.biochemicalrobots.com/

Wikipedia Strategist Maryana joins Levon and Andrey to discuss the Internet in the era of AI, Wikipedia’s outlook on ChatGPT, how our consumption of information is changing, and the dangers posed to society by the printing press.

Anthropologist Dr. Chris von Rueden joins Levon and Andrey to discuss the origins of status in human systems, as well as the evolution of egalitarianism and leadership in society. Tapping into his field research with Bolivia's Tsimané people, Dr. von Rueden explores the foundations of human social systems to better understand why our society is the way it is, and where we may be heading.