In this conversation, we chat with Robin Hanson about his thesis on cultural drift, exploring the implications of the global monoculture and reduced selection pressures on the long-term future of humanity.  We think through the mechanisms for and potential solutions to cultural drift, such as deep multiculturalism, human-level AI, adaptive transcendent narratives, prediction markets (futarchy) etc. Our discussion also touches on status games, signaling, sacred values, cultural imperialism, relationship norms, fertility policy, careers and more.

Robin Hanson's Books

Elephant in the Brain

The Age of Em

Robin Hanson's Posts on Cultural Drift

How to fix cultural drift

Betrayed by culture

Culture drift predicts decadence

Floppy vs stiff concepts

When lawyers sing

Rational culture

Other Links Referenced in the Episode

Agnes Callard and Robin Hanson on Transformative Choices

What is Futarchy?

Timestamps

00:52 Defining culture and adaptiveness

03:41 Selection Pressures and Cultural Evolution

07:04 Cultural Continuity and Change

10:36 Global Monoculture and Its Implications

11:39 Status Competition and Cultural Dominance

14:57 The Future of Cultural Evolution

17:17 Moral Reasoning and Cultural Values

19:28 Long-term Survival and Cultural Influence

26:42 Deep Multiculturalism and Its Challenges

34:28 The Impact of Cultural Values on Behavior

36:40 Monoculture and Its Global Influence

40:20 China's Role in the Global Monoculture

43:14 Cultural Variation and Its Importance

46:36 Potential Solutions to Cultural Drift

49:24 The Influence of AI on Future Cultures

53:23 Long-term Goals and Cultural Adaptation

01:02:38 Cultural Retvrn and Adaptation

01:05:44 Mental Health as a Sign of Drift

01:09:15 The Farmer-Forager Transition

01:15:03 Drifting Social Norms

01:19:07 Why isn’t Anyone Engaging with Cultural Drift?

01:23:29 Economic Incentives and Fertility

01:38:03 How Economic Incentives Drive Cultural Solutions

01:43:55 Policy Proposals around Fertility

01:52:48 Career Reflections and Academic Insights

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