Outro

Why are we here? Can the patterns of history and nature tell us anything new?

In this episode of How to Change the World we trace a clear line. From ancient molecules learning to copy themselves, to religions and nations learning to spread, to algorithms that now compete for your attention. All on a subversive quest for immortality.

This hidden history of innovation maps the evolution of the universes most successful survivors. Learn the game theory of how these immortal beings compete and impact society.

This season has been about a species of hairy apes and how they became human. Today we combine science, history, and philosophy to build a set of mental models that explain the animal and human landscape of today and quite possibly tomorrow. The future of humanity depends on the decisions and innovations of today.

This episode will turn a lot of your ideas about the world on their head:

• Have you ever considered that your genes don't exist to build you, you exist to build your genes?
• Do you have ideas or do ideas colonize your mind - eating away at your attention just like we eat food to survive?
• Is innovation more about what we spread, than what we invent?

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ABOUT

How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.

Written, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.

🤓 Website: ChangeTheWorldPod.com

🤗 Join the Patreon: Patreon.com/ChangeTheWorldPod

Help from:

👩‍🎨 Design - Francisca Correia (available to hire)

🧙‍♂️ Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)

Resources

The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins

The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene - Richard Dawkins

CHAPTERS

00:00 You are a robot

01:47 Patterns of Nature

03:04 ACT 1 - CONTROL

03:39 Nico Tinbergen and the randy fish

06:05 The Primordial Soup Starter Kit

07:23 Algorithmic Governance

08:43 ACT 2 - CO-OPERATION

08:43 Cancer

11:03 Fear of death and The Birth of religion

12:42 ACT 3 - EXTERNAL CONTROL

12:42 Extended Phenotypes

14:55 Remote control

18:01 ACT 4 - IDEA VATS

18:01 Consciousness

20:31 What is a meme?

21:32 Genes vs Memes Speed

23:21 Idea Propogation

25:46 Carrier Class

27:40 ACT 5 - GAME THEORY

28:03 Hawk Dove Conjecture

29:16 Gravity Wells & conformity

30:39 ACT 6 - INNOVATION

30:39 Complexity - Meme Stacks

32:15 Innovation

34:13 ACT 7 - IMMORTAL MINDS

34:13 The Third Replicating Medium - Silicon

36:53 Immortal Minds

38:06 What does it mean to be conscious?

39:45 Building the future

41:28 Sign off

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