Michael Vassar

Michael Vassar, a futurist philosopher focused on epistemics and social history, argues modern institutions have hollowed out public reasoning. He discusses the decline of advanced literacy, engineered schooling, shifts from common law to managerial discretion, and the Rationalist community's strengths and limits. Short, provocative takes on how elites, markets, and institutional design reshaped collective thinking.

Michael Vassar, former president of the Singularity Institute and a savvy investor, explores the intriguing realm of preference falsification and its societal implications. He discusses how people often mask their true beliefs to align with societal norms, creating a disconnect in personal expression. Vassar contrasts conflict theory and mistake theory, diving into justice perceptions and the complexities of postmodernism. He even addresses the harsh realities of involuntary treatments in mental health, making for a thought-provoking and engaging conversation.