Monday, February 10, 2025

Muthukrishna - Theory of Everyone vs. Physical Reality

A CFI member recommended that I listen to this interview of Michael Muthukrishna. I’ve listened to it twice and enjoyed the interview, especially the first 50 minutes about how we got here. Some fine observations that sync with my understanding. I made plenty of notes and will save them incase someone shows an interest in discussing the talk.  What I want to discuss happened 51 minutes into the discussion. 

Sean Carroll's MIndscape Podcast #255

Michael Muthukrishna on Developing a Theory of Everyone

Can we even imagine a “Theory of Everyone,” providing basic organizing principles for society?

Michael Muthukrishna (Ph.D. in psychology) believes we can, and indeed that we can see the outlines of such a theory emerging, based on the relationships of people to each other and to the physical resources available.

Michael Muthukrishna received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of British Columbia. He is currently Associate Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. … His new book is A Theory of Everyone: The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going.       podbean.com   Video Link

“Phase transition in mental ability” - an interesting key concept, I like it. Are human’s capable of such a thing? I ask because reality challenged the entire human race in the 1960s to ‘70s.  It came as a realization and warning that humanity and Earth had entered dangerous unchartered existential territory.

Thanks to science we were increasingly taking on Godly powers and our population had entered an exponential population explosion, while Earth's natural systems and landscapes had limits who's crossing would start increasingly damaging those complex systems that support human society, and if we were really careless, we could even trigger events leading to our extinction.

The choice was simple, slow down a little, use a little forethought and wisdom before rushing into the unknown.  To recognize and learn from our mistakes.  Learn more about Earth’s processes.  Strive to work with those processes.  Instead the powers-that-be decided citizens should hold nature and Earth's needs in contempt.

Friday, February 7, 2025

A Democratic Party online Caucus Forum. Why not?

Democratic Party leaders how will you start reconnecting with alienated voters whose budgets won’t allow for constant political donations?

Oh if wishes were horses and I had tons of money, then someone at Democratic headquarters would listen to this suggestion.  We could talk it around until a big wig decides to take the idea for themself and make it happen. Politics at its best.
Now it’s the proverbial, … never mind.  Now, if you think it's a good idea, pass it along.

DNC’s never ending assault of political donation demands have become counter productive. We need ideas and community and encouragement.

What’s worse is the melodrama, rarely do those Democrat texts communicate any constructive information or reason to engage.

We need substantive helpful information. We need something with teeth that engages.

One suggestion, a private Democrat's online discussion forum.   The DNC could communicate directly with really interested voters; interested motivated Democrats could virtually meet and brainstorm and engage and network with likeminded.

Give us something to help build a little tangible feelings of solidarity.