Evolutionary biologists Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying dive into the complexities of human evolution, the downside of rapid technological advancement, and the interplay between cultural software and biological hardware. Bret and Heather discuss the obstacles that stand in the way of ‘good governance,’ how institutions positively and negatively affect the relationship between innovation and human flourishing, and the importance of understanding our evolutionary past to navigate our future. Their insights shed light on how scientific thinking can be applied to major philosophical questions and the challenges facing our society and species in the 21st century. Stay tuned for part two of my conversation with Bret and Heather in the coming weeks!
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Outline:
[0:00] Western civilization is a fragile experiment
[6:05] Enlightened governance and emergent order
[13:09] Conspiracy, collusion, and rent-seeking
[23:32] Who is the “we” and who is the “they”?
[29:41] Liberation, innovation, and investment
[39:08] Reevaluating good government after COVID
[47:21] Competition, cooperation, and academic monopolies
[56:37] “The Selfish Gene” and evolutionary fitness
[1:09:03] Nature, nurture, and culture
[1:26:40] Hyper-novelty poisons the cultural well
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Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying on Evolution, Innovation, and Western Civilization