Podcast Summary
Exploring Collaboration and Collective Understanding with Will MacAskill: Students can learn the importance of collaboration and collective understanding from Will MacAskill's conversation, as well as the power of working together towards a common goal.
Students have much to learn from the conversation between Tim Ferriss and Will MacAskill.Will is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford and co-founded several charities, including Giving What We Can and 80,000 Hours.One of his books, What We Owe the Future, was blurbed by neuroscientist and author, Sam Harris.Will recommends two books for further educational learning: The Precipice by Toby Ord, which discusses existential risks and how to handle them, and Joe Henrich's books, The Secret Of Our Success and The WEIRDest People in the World, which address why humans are the most powerful species on Earth and the psychology of Western-educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic people.Through this conversation, students can learn the importance of collaboration and collective understanding, as well as the power of working together towards a common goal.
Creating Meaning and Purpose Through Existentialism: Existentialism emphasizes the importance of making decisions that are meaningful and liberating, and encourages us to create our own meaning and purpose in life.
Existentialism is a philosophy of living in which we create our own meaning in life.It encourages us to make decisions that are authentic and genuine, and to live in the present moment.Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky was a key book in this philosophy for Will MacAskill.It taught him to reject nihilism and instead take responsibility for his actions.It inspired him to make life choices that are both meaningful and liberating.Existentialism encourages us to create our own meaning and purpose, no matter what the world throws at us.
Setting Low Standards to Make a Difference: Remain optimistic and positive to achieve cosmic significance; look at how much of a difference you can make.
By setting low standards, we can remain optimistic and positive in the face of any situation.This was the case for Will MacAskill when he wanted to make a difference in the world.Instead of focusing on the magnitude of the problems, he looked at how much of a difference he could make.He was motivated by the desire to make the world better and by the realization that he could have a cosmic significance.Through this, he was able to come away with a sense of positivity and inspiration that enabled him to take action.
Systematic Approaches to Doing Good and the Power of Coaching: Effective altruism encourages people to use their time and money to make the world a better place. Having a mentor and being held accountable can be a great way to make meaningful progress.
Educational learnings from this section include the importance of taking systematic approaches to doing good and the power of having a coach or mentor.Effective altruism is a philosophy and community which encourages people to use their time and money to make the world a better place.This has led to the protection of over 400 million people from malaria, hundreds of millions of hens being set free from cages and more serious consideration of the potential risks and benefits of AI.Specifically, Will MacAskill mentions 80,000hours.org, givingwhatwecan.org and givewell.org as resources for those interested in learning more and taking action.Making evening check-ins with a productivity coach a habit has personally improved his life.This is a powerful reminder that having a mentor and being held accountable can be a great way to make meaningful progress.
The Power of Daily Check-Ins: Having someone to check in with every day can increase productivity by 20-25%.
Setting goals and sticking to them can be difficult.Laura Pomarius, who had been helping me, was an incredible coach.She introduced daily 10-minute check-ins to help keep me on track.We would discuss my progress and set new goals for the day.In addition, I was given guidance on how to manage my time, such as limiting my screen time and exercising.This made me accountable and more productive, leading to an increase of 20-25% in my productivity.Although it was hard work, I found that having someone to check in with every day was invaluable.
Finding a Workout Routine Tailored to Your Own Needs: Listen to experts, experiment, and find the right time of day to work out to create a personalized workout routine.
Will MacAskill came up with a unique method of working out which involves using a BOSU ball, free weights, and his own stretch called the Will Crouch.By talking to physios and doctors, MacAskill found that self-experimentation was the best way to figure out an efficient workout routine tailored to his own needs.He found that strengthening his entire anterior pelvic chain was essential for improving his posture, which had been distorted by years of neglect and poor focus at the gym.Taking on a role as a workout coach during the pandemic, MacAskill found that it was best to work out after lunch.This teaches us that by listening to experts, experimenting, and finding the right time of day to work out, we can create a workout routine tailored to our own needs.
Taking Care of Ourselves for a Better Future: Taking deliberate steps to care for ourselves and our planet can help create a better future for humanity.
Taking into consideration the long-term future of humanity is an important step in our lives.Even small decisions can have a large impact on our future.We can start by taking care of ourselves by taking deliberate breaks from work and engaging in activities to reduce the energy dip after lunch.Additionally, for those suffering from chronic low back tightness, the Pso-Rite device can be helpful.Longtermism is about recognizing the scale of the future, assessing the events that could shape it, and creating actions to ensure we're on the right path.Imagine the entire human story as a single life.We are only six months old in this story, but there is potential for us to survive for hundreds of millions of years.It's up to us to decide if we want to fight for a better future.
Taking Responsibility for the Future: We all have a responsibility to ensure our values, dreams, and goals are passed on to future generations.
We all have goals and values that we want to pass on to the future.We should think of our lives like a relay race – with each generation passing on the baton of our values and dreams to the next.We must take responsibility for the future, no matter how uncertain it may seem.Even if we don't reap the rewards of our efforts, we should strive to make the world a better place so that future generations can benefit.We all have a responsibility to turn the world into a better place, and by doing so, we can ensure that our values, dreams, and goals are passed on to those who come after us.
The Value of Long-Term Futures: To make a meaningful impact in the world, it is important to consider the long-term future of humanity, understand potential risks, and remember the implications of value lock-in.
The film Children of Men demonstrates that without the potential for a future, our lives lack meaning.This is especially true for intellectual pursuits and good deeds, which are often done for a greater purpose.It is important to consider the long-term future of humanity and what kind of world we want to create for our descendants.Without this understanding, we may miss out on the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.To avoid this, we must be aware of the risks that could lead to catastrophic events, such as the development of advanced artificial intelligence, pandemics, and wars.But with the right knowledge and guidance, we can create a future of hope and progress.Value lock-in is when one ideology is held for an extended period of time and can have major implications.It is important to remember this when making decisions on how to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Ideology and Political Continuity in Ancient China: Keeping different viewpoints alive and striving for progress through moral competition is important for sustainable political power.
The story of ancient China is a reminder of the power of ideology.During the Hundred Schools of Thought period, Confucians, Legalists, Taoists, and Mohists were competing to influence the political elites.But when the Legalist Qin Dynasty came to power, they declared their ideology the state orthodoxy and tried to stifle the competition.This only lasted 14 years, before the Han Dynasty successfully quelled the other ideologies and implemented Confucianism.This set the stage for 2,000 years of political continuity.History has taught us that when one ideology gains power, it can last for a long time, for better or for worse.That is why it is important to keep different viewpoints alive and to strive for progress through moral competition.
AI: A Potential Revolution in the Making: AI could lead to significant technological advancement in the next 10 years, so it is important to pay attention to the developments and potential implications.
AI is a rapidly developing technology with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of life in the next 10 years.In comparison to the computing power of a human brain, the biggest AI systems currently in use are equivalent to the power of a honey bee.This could mean that, within 10 years, AI systems could become more powerful than humans.This could lead to a significant acceleration in technological growth and progress, potentially leading to centuries of progress in just a few years.This could be a great benefit to society, but could also be dangerous if not handled with care.Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the developments of AI and be aware of the potential implications as the technology matures.
Navigating the Double-Edged Sword of Technology: Thoughtful and competent people in political positions are necessary to ensure technological advances are used for the betterment of the world.
The advancement of technology can be a double-edged sword.On one hand, it can be used to create things like Far UVC Lighting which could potentially eradicate respiratory diseases as well as prevent future pandemics.On the other hand, it could be used to create automated weaponry, making dictatorships more secure and allowing wars to be fought without the risk of casualties on one's own side.It is therefore important to have thoughtful and competent people in political positions in order to carefully navigate these big technological advances and ensure that the technology is used for the betterment of the world.
Taking Action to Re-Focus and Reach Goals: Implement a trigger action plan to stay motivated and on track to reach your goals.
When feeling overwhelmed or unfocused, it is easy to get discouraged and give up.However, by having a trigger action plan, one can refocus and reach their goals.For example, Will MacAskill has a plan to fix his mood when feeling down.This includes going to the gym, meditating, and thinking positively.He also shifts his focus from one day to a larger chunk of time in order to have a more positive perspective.By taking action and refocusing on one's goals, one can get back on track and move forward.
Technology: The Potential for Good and Bad: Technology can be used to enhance human lives but must be used responsibly to avoid creating oppressive regimes.
One of the most important lessons to be learned from this conversation is that technology can be used for both good and bad.It can be used to make the world a better place and to improve people's lives, but it can also be used to concentrate power in the hands of a few, leading to unequal distribution of resources and potentially even oppressive regimes.We must be mindful of this potential when developing and using technology, and strive to use it responsibly and for the benefit of everyone.This means aligning AI systems with human goals and striving for a better world for all.
Making Decisions with Effective Altruism: Effective Altruism is a way of thinking that involves making decisions based on potential for positive impact instead of personal gain. Defensive technology is necessary to protect against potential AI threats.
Effective altruism is a way of thinking that can help people make decisions that are in the best interest of society.It involves making decisions based on the potential for positive impact, rather than personal gain.To put it another way, effective altruism involves using one’s resources to do the most good for the greatest number of people.Like a paramilitary group, effective altruism can be used to protect against potential threats.In terms of AI, developing defensive technology is important.This could involve using UVC radiation, creating strong walls, or training eagles to attack drones.We can also think strategically about preventing AI from becoming too powerful.For example, if AI is dependent on power, it could be beneficial to restrict it to something that can be unplugged.People are exploring ways to make AI safer, like understanding what’s under the hood of these models and using AI to help solve the problems that even more powerful AI may face.
Exploring AI and Its Effects on the Future: Learn about AI, consider taking the Giving What We Can pledge, switch careers, and join the Effective Altruism community to make a difference.
Learning about AI and its effects on the long-term future is a complex and intimidating topic.We can start by reading The Precipice by Toby Ord, 80000hours.org and openphilanthropy.org to learn more.Consider taking the Giving What We Can pledge to donate 10% of your income to domains experts that can have the most impact.There's also the option of switching careers in order to work on important issues.Lastly, get involved with the Effective Altruism community to help each other on this journey.
Making a Difference to the World's Challenges: Take collective, individual action to make the world a better place for future generations.
This conversation between Tim Ferriss and Will MacAskill teaches us that we can all make a difference to the world's challenges.Will suggests attending conferences and joining local groups, as well as listening to certain podcasts and visiting certain websites, to gain a better understanding of the world.He encourages us to be kinder and to take action, as our future generations will thank us for it.Ultimately, it is through collective, individual efforts that we can help to put humanity onto a better path.