I mentioned this on an earlier post but I think it bears repeating: I think we still retain a relative autonomy, and thus a capacity to shape society, at least a little, because of our intellect (loosely understood), which we do not have enough information, or enough of what would be the necessary perspective, to know is NOT independent of the conditions that preponderantly form human societies, and which we have abundant reason, based in experience, to believe is a tool that we control independently of those conditions.
I accept that intellect might also just be an epiphenomena of a more invisible deterministic strain in human nature (or Nature) - Schopenhauer thought so - but again this is a thing we cannot know definitively, as much as philosophical materialists who call themselves scientists try to convince us that we are purely machines.
As long as this limitation on our self-knowledge remains, I will choose to believe, because I legitimately can, based on my experience of making decisions, that I can influence the future to a degree, whether my own or someone else's, and I refuse to abandon the sense of responsibility which that belief entails, especially now when we are all about to be trampled by totalitarian ghouls. I don't know if that amounts to a duty, but it's enough for me to proceed with confidence while also being aware of my limits.
I'm also a proponent of Robert Pirsig's Metaphysics of Quality, which I will play up whenever I can, and which I think is the antidote to the mechanistic nonsense and its attendant unfounded philosophical prejudices (not saying you were propagating those here) that have dominated public discourse about human nature, particularly in the West, over the last several decades. His book, Lila, is right there in plain view. I can't recommend it enough.
Please do not actively avoid politics! Yes, put it in the title if people get triggered. Conversations will usually revert back to politics especially when speaking tangentially! American politics has literally shaped every persons life whether they listen to this podcast or not!
Universal Basic Income... sounds great, maybe for the first 5 or 10 years of it. After this the costs of living will sky rocket and everyone will have to work in shit jobs again. Even worse, because everyone will be dependable on the Universal Basic Income just to complete the minimal income required to survive. And probably to be elegible to this Universal Basic Income you will have to take some vaccines or some other stuff... no thanks.
I think the good music in bad times argument is coincidental. The 2000’s didn’t bring great political music about the times even though 9/11 and the Iraq war were happening. Why did America in the 1990’s churn out groundbreaking music, movies and tv shows when that wasn’t a particularly chaotic time?
I use an android emulator called Bluestacks to view the feed of cheap security cameras on my laptop that are only intended to be viewed via a smartphone app. It's clunky to set up but works almost like it's designed for PC. It's intended to emulate games so it should be robust enough to handle the Substack app. It shouldn't probably be tested before you do a true live event.
It looks like the live chat doesn't show up on the saved/archived video. The transcript is about the closest you're going to get.
Thanks. I noodled around a bit and someone suggested that you post a chat the day before and say you'll be responding to material from the chat. So it's not real time, but it would at least allow me to not have to scroll on the phone I'm recording with. So maybe I'll try that next time.
Thanks Chris.
I mentioned this on an earlier post but I think it bears repeating: I think we still retain a relative autonomy, and thus a capacity to shape society, at least a little, because of our intellect (loosely understood), which we do not have enough information, or enough of what would be the necessary perspective, to know is NOT independent of the conditions that preponderantly form human societies, and which we have abundant reason, based in experience, to believe is a tool that we control independently of those conditions.
I accept that intellect might also just be an epiphenomena of a more invisible deterministic strain in human nature (or Nature) - Schopenhauer thought so - but again this is a thing we cannot know definitively, as much as philosophical materialists who call themselves scientists try to convince us that we are purely machines.
As long as this limitation on our self-knowledge remains, I will choose to believe, because I legitimately can, based on my experience of making decisions, that I can influence the future to a degree, whether my own or someone else's, and I refuse to abandon the sense of responsibility which that belief entails, especially now when we are all about to be trampled by totalitarian ghouls. I don't know if that amounts to a duty, but it's enough for me to proceed with confidence while also being aware of my limits.
I'm also a proponent of Robert Pirsig's Metaphysics of Quality, which I will play up whenever I can, and which I think is the antidote to the mechanistic nonsense and its attendant unfounded philosophical prejudices (not saying you were propagating those here) that have dominated public discourse about human nature, particularly in the West, over the last several decades. His book, Lila, is right there in plain view. I can't recommend it enough.
Please do not actively avoid politics! Yes, put it in the title if people get triggered. Conversations will usually revert back to politics especially when speaking tangentially! American politics has literally shaped every persons life whether they listen to this podcast or not!
And whether they are American or not.
I love this! I just like hearing you talk and your take on things. Thx!
Universal Basic Income... sounds great, maybe for the first 5 or 10 years of it. After this the costs of living will sky rocket and everyone will have to work in shit jobs again. Even worse, because everyone will be dependable on the Universal Basic Income just to complete the minimal income required to survive. And probably to be elegible to this Universal Basic Income you will have to take some vaccines or some other stuff... no thanks.
I enjoyed the civility from everyone of this live stream. Nice to feel a sense of community.
I think Chris was referring to this article: "The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme".
I think the good music in bad times argument is coincidental. The 2000’s didn’t bring great political music about the times even though 9/11 and the Iraq war were happening. Why did America in the 1990’s churn out groundbreaking music, movies and tv shows when that wasn’t a particularly chaotic time?
Could someone share a link to Gustav's Substack please? Couldn't find it.
Bummed you did your first Live Substack during my weekly pickleball game. Otherwise, would have joined.
Worked great for me. Thank you for being so real Chris.
My first time seeing a substack video! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Hi from Halifax!
Chris,
I use an android emulator called Bluestacks to view the feed of cheap security cameras on my laptop that are only intended to be viewed via a smartphone app. It's clunky to set up but works almost like it's designed for PC. It's intended to emulate games so it should be robust enough to handle the Substack app. It shouldn't probably be tested before you do a true live event.
It looks like the live chat doesn't show up on the saved/archived video. The transcript is about the closest you're going to get.
Thanks. I noodled around a bit and someone suggested that you post a chat the day before and say you'll be responding to material from the chat. So it's not real time, but it would at least allow me to not have to scroll on the phone I'm recording with. So maybe I'll try that next time.
Seems like chat within web page is different from chat within substack app.
Hello, I can’t see a chat area on my phone. Probably my problem.
Same on my end, video feed is great but no sign of the chat
I see an area to “chat” or Discussion about this video. So Hi - 904pm est.
Testy chat
Here’s a comment from LA 6PM