As promised last episode, we at least glance off the topic of population reduction, but from a very philosophical angle and with the help of an interesting, alternate, metaphorical interpretation of the Garden of Eden story. What makes humans human, what are the real existential problems with AI, and what is the best way to define the choices of this crossroads humanity finds itself at? We examine the motivations and worldview of the "tech bro" class via Malcolm and Simone Collins, particularly in relation to population reduction and what is emerging as a new, anti-nature AI centric religious structure - which looks eerily similar to the old religious structure.

Episode Notes

Based Camp podcast on Eden story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUIvHU9jbnM

Hoe_math's simplified version of the levels of cognition:

https://itishoemath.com/free-levels-chart/

Episode Corrections:

Joel says "John Smith" when talking about the book of Mormon - he meant the Mormon leader Joseph Smith

Tyler can't remember who actually modeled the levels of cognition and never circles back to find out - it's Ken Wilber and his Integral Theory

Following right up on our prior conversation, which has become an unintentional three part series (this being the third and final part), we go beyond the practical politics discussion to get to the philosophical root cause of the sandbox of stupidity - which happens to be the slave morality we've been lamenting since episode one. We also finally manage to better explain what we've meant all along when referring to the "elites" as weak people.

More of Ted K's critiques of modern society make an appearance and we expand our Cormac McCarthy philosophy collection beyond No Country For Old Men, making use of Blood Meridian to help illustrate critiques of slave morality.

"Why dost thou tempt me?" answered the other. "Thou knowest it thyself better even than I. What was it drove me to the poorest, O Zarathustra? Was it not my disgust at the richest?

-At the culprits of riches, with cold eyes and rank thoughts, who pick up profit out of all kinds of rubbish- at this rabble that stinketh to heaven,

-At this gilded, falsified populace, whose fathers were pickpockets, or carrion-crows, or rag-pickers, with wives compliant, lewd and forgetful - for they are all of them not far different from harlots. Populace above, populace below! What are 'poor' and 'rich' at present! That distinction did I unlearn, then did I flee away further and ever further, until I came to those cows.

...

It is no longer true that the poor are blessed. The kingdom of heaven, however, is with the cows."

- Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Meridian

"L'enfer, c'est les autres" ("Hell is—other people")

- Jean-Paul Sartre, No Exit

We realize this quote is taken out of context and we're using it differently than it was used in Jean-Paul's No Exit - but we mean it exactly as we're using it in its standalone context.

In this episode we expand on the prior episode's idea of unserious people, broadening the concept from a failure to institute change to the actual mechanism that creates the trash heap that is modern society. Far from simply causing a failure to "drain the swamp" - the unserious people (your friends, family, and neighbors) are the swamp. This leech classes comprises the vast majority of society and works tirelessly to maintain the status quo of inefficiency, rampant stupidity, corruption, and anti-meritocratic structure. In these days of widespread, totally contrived "noticing", this reality is the one thing you're never supposed to notice. It's so important you not notice this phenomenon, that the elites have begun a campaign of attempting to get you to direct your anger at them rather than the real problem: the people around you.