Great episode! I have downloaded Tim Urban's new book and look forward to reading it. I would like to add that stress and a dysregulated nervous system are what drive us to this lower form of thinking. To think liberally (in the enlightenment sense) and be open or tolerant to other ideas we need to use our prefrontal cortex. We become fi…
Great episode! I have downloaded Tim Urban's new book and look forward to reading it. I would like to add that stress and a dysregulated nervous system are what drive us to this lower form of thinking. To think liberally (in the enlightenment sense) and be open or tolerant to other ideas we need to use our prefrontal cortex. We become fight or flight when we are overloaded. Unfortunately, corporations, media, and politicians have figured out to hijack our primitive limbic system for power and $-they give you some dopamine hit-sugar, click bait, porn, political rage, video games, etc. You get a temporary hit but the strategy actually adds more stress to the system long term. Things like exercise, petting your dog, hugging your friend or laughing with someone are net positive hits that don't add extra stress to the system but no one can make money or gain power with those. I think we need to address this issue too if we are to maintain our liberal democracy.
Also wanted to add that my big a-ha moment came when I realized patriarchy probably came out of men's ability to be more productive in a pre-fossil fuel world where muscle strength was your engine and then realizing women's liberation was actually dependent on technology and dense energy. This is why I'm hoping you'll do a roundtable podcast on the energy transition, Bari. I don't want to end up back in the days when girls stayed home from school on Monday so we could wash the linen. Thanks!
Great episode! I have downloaded Tim Urban's new book and look forward to reading it. I would like to add that stress and a dysregulated nervous system are what drive us to this lower form of thinking. To think liberally (in the enlightenment sense) and be open or tolerant to other ideas we need to use our prefrontal cortex. We become fight or flight when we are overloaded. Unfortunately, corporations, media, and politicians have figured out to hijack our primitive limbic system for power and $-they give you some dopamine hit-sugar, click bait, porn, political rage, video games, etc. You get a temporary hit but the strategy actually adds more stress to the system long term. Things like exercise, petting your dog, hugging your friend or laughing with someone are net positive hits that don't add extra stress to the system but no one can make money or gain power with those. I think we need to address this issue too if we are to maintain our liberal democracy.
Also wanted to add that my big a-ha moment came when I realized patriarchy probably came out of men's ability to be more productive in a pre-fossil fuel world where muscle strength was your engine and then realizing women's liberation was actually dependent on technology and dense energy. This is why I'm hoping you'll do a roundtable podcast on the energy transition, Bari. I don't want to end up back in the days when girls stayed home from school on Monday so we could wash the linen. Thanks!