80,000 Hours Podcast

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Rob Wiblin on human nature, new technology, and living a happy, healthy & ethical life

May 13, 2019

Guest

Andrew Leigh

Guest

Chad Grylls

Chad Grylls, a thinker on technology and existential risks, and Andrew Leigh, Australia’s Shadow Assistant Treasurer, dive into a variety of thought-provoking topics. They explore the implications of new technologies on society and the challenges of government versus business careers. Rob shares personal reflections on ethical living, coping mechanisms for life's frustrations, and what he would tell his teenage self. The conversation also touches on the importance of altruism, social connections, and humor in achieving happiness and well-being.

02:18:25

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insights

INSIGHT

Online vs. In-Person Communication

Online communication often appears more aggressive and simplistic than in-person interaction.
People's ideas often appear less nuanced online due to limited space and time.

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ADVICE

Managing Social Media

Limit social media consumption to reduce anxiety and negativity.
Curate your feeds by unfollowing sources of outrage and negativity.

insights

INSIGHT

Evolution of Cooperation

Humans evolved a unique system to maintain cooperation by limiting individual dominance.
Groups collectively suppress individuals who attempt to dominate, preventing alpha behavior.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating Nonprofit Management and Impact Measurement

03:25 • 5min

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Addressing Existential Risks for Future Generations

08:14 • 6min

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Aligning AI with Human Intentions: Challenges and Solutions

14:38 • 3min

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Navigating AI, Politics, and Communication

17:47 • 46min

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Navigating the Tall Poppy Syndrome

01:03:21 • 22min

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Navigating Impactful Careers

01:25:26 • 15min

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Bridging Cultures and Ethics in Altruism

01:40:55 • 20min

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Coping with Life's Challenges

02:00:39 • 6min

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Evolving Career Strategies and AI Insights

02:06:23 • 7min

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Humor, Health, and Happiness

02:13:06 • 4min

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Influence of Classic Philosophers on Ethical Living

02:16:46 • 2min

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Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner

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In this book, Daniel Ellsberg chronicles his experiences as a nuclear war planner during the Cold War, revealing shocking details about the delegation of authority to initiate nuclear attacks, secret plans for general nuclear war, and the precarious nature of nuclear strategy. The book is divided into two parts: the first part is a memoir/confession of Ellsberg's intellectual and moral evolution, while the second part adopts a more academic perspective, analyzing the principles of 'just war' policy and the consequences of nuclear exchanges. Ellsberg argues that little has changed in nuclear policy since the Eisenhower and Kennedy years and offers feasible steps to dismantle the 'doomsday machine' and avoid nuclear catastrophe.

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In 'Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man', Marshall McLuhan explores how different media forms influence human society and perception. He introduces the concept that 'the medium is the message', suggesting that the characteristics of the medium, rather than its content, are what truly impact society. McLuhan categorizes media into 'hot' and 'cool' types, based on the degree of audience participation required. He also discusses how media extend human senses and alter human consciousness, leading to significant social and psychic consequences. The book is a comprehensive analysis of various media, including print, radio, television, and more, and their effects on human interaction and culture.

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Destined for War

Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

Graham Allison

In 'Destined for War,' Graham Allison explores the concept of the 'Thucydides Trap,' where the rise of a new power threatens the dominance of an existing one, often leading to war. Allison draws on 16 historical cases where a rising power challenged a dominant state, with 12 of these cases resulting in war. He applies this historical lens to the current relationship between the United States and China, highlighting the potential for conflict but also outlining '12 clues to peace' derived from historical analysis to prevent such an outcome. The book is divided into sections that cover the rise of China, historical lessons from the Peloponnesian War and other conflicts, and strategies for avoiding war based on these historical insights.

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This is a cross-post of some interviews Rob did recently on two other podcasts — Mission Daily (from 2m) and The Good Life (from 1h13m).

Some of the content will be familiar to regular listeners — but if you’re at all interested in Rob’s personal thoughts, there should be quite a lot of new material to make listening worthwhile.

The first interview is with Chad Grills. They focused largely on new technologies and existential risks, but also discuss topics like:

• Why Rob is wary of fiction
• Egalitarianism in the evolution of hunter gatherers
• How to stop social media screwing up politics
• Careers in government versus business

The second interview is with Prof Andrew Leigh - the Shadow Assistant Treasurer in Australia. This one gets into more personal topics than we usually cover on the show, like:

• What advice would Rob give to his teenage self?
• Which person has most shaped Rob’s view of living an ethical life?
• Rob’s approach to giving to the homeless
• What does Rob do to maximise his own happiness?

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The 80,000 Hours Podcast is produced by Keiran Harris.

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