This is newsletter number 8 which is an unusually lengthy one, hence it is being released here also as an "irregular" podcast.
The transcript and references can be found here: https://bretthall.substack.com/p/heat-work-universality-and-exams?r=3r9kb&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bg2FdqoUQ8
Here we cover the cosmic significance of life and thought. I begin with some discussion of Stephen Jay Gould's view of aspects of evolution by natural selection - specifically with some analysis of his paper "The Spandrel's of San Marco" which is available here: https://faculty.washington.edu/lynnhank/GouldLewontin.pdf
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4AiY6w1ef0
There is a version with music which I recommend here: https://youtu.be/CO-IiR11xe8
This is an "interlude" in the "Things that make you go mmmmm?" series. It is about the nature of what I often refer to as a "worldview" and the benefits of having one and hazards of not knowing what one's underlying assumptions might be. Is there a way to knit together seemingly disparate subjects into a coherent whole - a "fabric of reality" we might say? If one rejects the usefulness of understanding epistemology or philosophy - are there any practical consequences? I explore some of that here.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6_hVzKQsnU
This podcast is abut crypto - and recent volatility. I explain some of the psychological motivation for crypto currency and compare it to fiat currency and the liabilities of both. Some comments on so-called “Modern Monetary Policy/Theory”.
If you wish to support my podcast, that can be done here:
https://www.patreon.com/BrettRHall
or here: https://www.patreon.com/tokcast
or for Paypal donations - either one off or monthly go here and click on "Donate" http://www.bretthall.org
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP5wWb6wWnw
Although I do not explicitly mention it, this entire episode was motivated by a Sam Harris “meme post” found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sWqk5n1Zh/?utm_medium=copy_link
The claim that appears there (which reads “The free market is not producing effective responses to our most important problems” is emblematic of an intellectual culture that now holds sway not only in the academy but broadly in public discourse and, of course, it is readily consumed by people hungry for simple solutions and perversely promoted by business people afraid of their left-leaning customers.
In this episode I spend time on a very brief historic analysis of the motivation for such rejections of freedom and capitalism (which we must admit are relatively new creations when put beside ancient tribalism) and I look at some of the failures of central planning or rejection of the free market. I agree with those who say “there is no actual capitalism” there are merely degrees of socialism in existence. Where there is freedom in a socialist framework, to the degree there is freedom: wealth grows. And to the degree there are top down controls: poverty increases.
I regard this as an opportunity cost to some extent. It should not be necessary to defend the fundamentals of economic systems that allow for wealth creation and problem solving. But we live in a time where, for various reasons, a neo-Marxist move is on the ascendency. On that: I also voice concerns I have about allies on the side of liberty turning on one another rather too often out of concern this or that “capitalist” is not sufficiently “capitalist”. I see this as a wonderful way for socialists to continue to gain ground in institutions at all levels of government.
A partial script for this episode can be found here: https://www.bretthall.org/our-most-important-problems.html
This video and ones like it take many days (sometimes weeks) of production from research and reading for the script through to filming and audio recording, searching libraries of stock videos and music, organising copyright issues and finally editing - because I work alone. If you would like to support this effort, you may donate at www.bretthall.org where there is a "Donate" button for one off or monthly donations. On the same page are links to my Patreon accounts where you can also support me.
Thankyou :)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfuQI_LgDBE