This Anthro Life26 Okt 2022

How Humans Learned to See the Future with Byron Reese

What makes the human mind unique? How do we know there’s a future, and how do we recall the past? In this episode of This Anthro Life, Byron Reese, serial entrepreneur, technologist, and author of “Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It,” discusses these questions and more with host Adam Gamwell. Together, Byron and Adam explore the three leaps in human history that made us what we are today and how those leaps changed how we think about the future, the past, and everything in between.

Show Highlights:

[03:16] The inception of “Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It”
[05:23] Homo erectus and the Acheulean hand axe
[06:38] How the Acheulean hand axe is a genetic object, not a cultural one
[08:27] The awakening that ancient humans had undergone
[09:27] Language as a means to conceptualize the future and gain knowledge of the past
[13:02] The four things that all languages have
[16:01] How humans’ group action became more than just the sum of its parts
[18:57] A superorganism named Agora as a metaphor for how people working together can get more done
[24:06] How the probability theory helps us understand how we imagine the future
[24:37] The probability problem
[28:01] How there is predictability in randomness
[34:33] The human body as a superorganism
[36:30] The problem with data in artificial intelligence
[41:48] Galton’s regression to the mean and eugenics as a cautionary tale
[44:59] Eternal vigilance as the price of current and future technological advancements
[47:04] Why humans are not machines
[50:05] The 21st purpose of telling stories, according to Byron
[52:32] Closing statements

About This Anthro Life:
This Anthro Life is your podcast for thought leadership at the intersection of culture, work, and storytelling. We bring you interviews and insights for business leaders, design thinkers, researchers, and anyone curious about how culture shapes our lives.

Explore more episodes and subscribe to our newsletter at thisanthrolife.org and join our Substack community at thisanthrolife.substack.com.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(232)

Why the Next Generation of Journalism Depends on Ethnography

Drawing from our recent collaborative publication titled Ethnographic reporting meets engaged journalism and offers untapped resources in Facts and Frictions, Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy explore ho...

4 Aug 30min

What is it like to study at UC Berkeley's I-House?

What if studying at UC Berkeley’s International House is more than just an experience—it’s a transformation? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell is joined by international students ...

14 Jun 1h 11min

What Can You Do with an Anthropology Degree?

Are you curious about the incredible versatility of an anthropology degree? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell breaks down the many paths available to anthropologists beyond studyi...

18 Mai 6min

The Truth About AI & The Future of Humanity

What if the future isn’t something we predict, but something we design? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell is joined by Carissa Carter and Scott Doorley to dive into the hidden for...

11 Mai 59min

How Psychedelics Are Changing Mental Health & Spirituality

What if true healing and self-discovery required breaking the boundaries between science and spirituality? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell sits down with Austin Mao, a serial en...

5 Mai 1h 2min

The Evolution of Work: More Than Just a Paycheck

What if work isn’t just about what we do, but how we think about it? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell is joined by Claudia Strauss to unravel the myths and realities behind today...

2 Mai 1h 9min

The Truth About Modern Motherhood

Are you a parent navigating the overwhelming world of modern motherhood and parenting myths? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell speaks with Nancy Reddy, author of The Good Mother M...

28 Jan 202553min

Stop Chasing Success—Find Fulfillment Instead

Have you ever felt successful on the outside but empty on the inside? In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell speaks with Dr. Nethra Samarawickrema about the struggles of modern work-li...

2 Des 202458min