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In this conversation, philosopher Matt Segall and I address the role of philosophy in contemporary culture, emphasizing the need for discernment amidst ideological ferment. We critique transhumanist Silicon Valley ideologies, highlighting their left-hemisphere bias and magical thinking. We also discusses the implications of AI, arguing that while it's a valuable tool, the real danger lies in the extractive, capitalist machine driving its development.

More about Matt, including his Substack, his YouTube channel, and his conversation with Michael Levin.

God Human Animal Machine by Meghan O’Gieblyn https://amzn.to/3IzujNq

Against the Machine, by Paul Kingsnorth https://amzn.to/4ntYp4b

‘Other,’ by R. S. Thomas

The machine appeared

In the distance, singing to itself

Of money. Its song was the web

They were caught in, men and women

Together. The villages were as flies

To be sucked empty.

God secreted

A tear. Enough, enough,

He commanded, but the machine

Looked at him and went on singing.

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Peter Thiel is speaking this month in San Francisco about the antichrist. Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin and former vice-presidential running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., called the annual Burning Man festival "demonic" last week. These are the most recent developments in the rise of techno-Christianity, a reaction in part to transhumanism and Effective Altruism.

Peter Thiel has also questioned the viability of democracy, which brings us to the "Dark Enlightenment" of Curtis Yarvin and Nick Land that advocates for anti-democratic CEO-kings. Although it was a fringe idea for many years, it has now gained traction with Silicon Valley billionaires like Balaji Srinivasan, who advocate for the "Exit," seasteading, and "network states."

It feels like we live in the strangest times, shaped by powerful people with the worst ideas. Because technology reflects the consciousness of the people creating it, I am deeply concerned about the people creating our technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

In my new podcast series, I begin trying to understand the philosophical and psychological underpinnings behind the strange ideologies coming out of Silicon Valley, ideologies very much shaping technology innovation today. Inspired by Nietzsche and Iain McGilchrist, I'm calling the imbalanced thinking behind all of this that emphasizes left hemisphere qualities “Apollonian Intelligence" or the "Apollonian Mind."

Peter Thiel on Ross Douthat’s New York Times podcast raving about the antichrist

Thiel’s four-part lecture series about the antichrist https://luma.com/antichrist

Nicole Shanahan’s rant about demonic Burning Man

New Yorker coverage of Curtis Yarvin’s “Dark Enlightenment”

Iain McGilchrist’s wonderful book The Matter with Things

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Join Chad's newsletter to learn about all new offerings, courses, trainings, and retreats.

Finally, you can support the podcast here.

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In this episode I explore the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and wisdom, particularly focusing on discernment. I argue that while AI can hinder discernment by perpetuating biases and misinformation, it also holds some potential for cultivating it through tools that aid meditation and self-reflection. I also emphasize the importance of truth and self-awareness in this "age of AI." Ultimately, I argue that discernment is a uniquely human quality that requires ongoing effort and vigilance, whether aided by AI or not.

This one was a long-time coming so I hope you get as much out of listening as I did writing it!

More on OpenAI's recent decision to remove some of the content guardrails on ChatGPT.

This episode was adapted from a guest post on Michael Spencer's AI Supremacy newsletter.

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Join Chad's newsletter to learn about all new offerings, courses, trainings, and retreats.

Finally, you can support the podcast here.