Jordan Bates Jordan Bates

Episode 4: Jordan Bates and Jonathan Toniolo Discuss Trauma, Existential Risk, and Mass Flourishing by Jordan Bates

In this spontaneous and semi-drunken rant, I discuss some of the things that are on my mind: how much I fucking love life, why the world is so crazy and awesome, why it sucks that there are still a lot of impoverished people, why we should try to eliminate poverty, and more. I mention Vinay Gupta, the hexayurt, Riane Eisler, Effective Altruism, GiveWell.org (I mistakenly said "GiveWell.com"), and the Gates Foundation at different points during this impassioned monologue. Enjoy.

Also, FYI, for a limited time, I'm selling some cool Nietzsche t-shirts. I'd really appreciate if you'd support freethinking and my projects by purchasing one. Check those out here: https://www.threadmeup.com/movements/refinethemind#/

Thanks, everyone. Peace.

I mention in the intro that this is a Reggie-Watts-esque freestyle. I might have mentioned that it was *not* particularly inspired by Reggie Watts, unless that inspiration was unconscious. I was literally just sitting in my cabin in Canada one night and had the urge to spill some kind of a cappella freestyle thing, and so I started recording and this is what came out.

luv,
jb


Find me elsewhere:

http://www.refinethemind.com/blog
http://highexistence.com/people/bashfulkoala/posts/posts/
http://www.twitter.com/_jordan_bates
http://www.facebook.com/jordanbates4

Track art by Tao Lin: http://www.taolin.info/mandalas

This first episode of the 'JORDAN BATES DOESN'T KNOW SHIT' podcast shares a dialogue between myself and Chris Johnson, one of the most brilliant humans I've met and one of my best friends. We talk about immortality, big data, why we're all f****d, mental models, Facebook, how modern language and media are insufficient, and more.

I should add that at the beginning of this podcast, I say that this conversation was recorded 6-8 months ago. In fact, it was earlier than that: probably 11-12 months ago.

Also, I express a couple of views in this conversation that I have since changed my mind about. For one, I don't think the world is necessarily going to shit. I think there are many serious risks which humanity faces in the coming century, but I'm generally optimistic about our ability to persist as a species. And although I think many things about our current human enterprise are awful, atrocious, and deeply frightening ("bad"), I think those things are balanced by all of the things which are marvelous and magnificent ("good"). I think the modern world is pretty amazing and exciting. I also just think the human experience is dope as hell. Amor fati, mang. That's how I feel right now. Saying that things are "going to shit" is always going to be a relative value judgment, but it's provocative and makes for an interesting podcast. ; 3

Also, on the topic of immortality, I state at one point in this podcast that I wouldn't want to take advantage of immortality technology. I kind of revise that statement later on, but I wanted to clarify that I've definitely changed my mind and think that if immortality becomes available to me in my lifetime, I will likely try to use it, so long as I could commit suicide at some point when I don't want to live anymore. I think it would be worth it to remain alive for a long-ass time simply to watch the drama of the human enterprise unfold over the next 100, 200, 500, 1000, or 5000 years, and beyond.

Anyway, those are a couple clarification things. I'm not sure why I insisted on typing that out. After all, there are many things I've said on Refine The Mind that I no longer agree with, but I haven't taken the time to change those or publish disclaimers. I guess this is because I'm just starting the podcast, and although this episode was recorded one year ago, it's going to feel fresh in y'all's minds. All right, I'll shut up. Happy listening.

luv,
jb

P.S. I just released a new rap album, if you're interested: www.lostboyevsky.bandcamp.com/album/fragmented

Find me elsewhere:

http://www.refinethemind.com/blog
http://highexistence.com/people/bashfulkoala/posts/posts/
http://www.twitter.com/_jordan_bates
http://www.facebook.com/jordanbates4

Find Chris Johnson here:

http://cjohnson.io
http://facebook.com/christopher.keit.johnson

Find Cory Altenhofen's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/corygotbeatsdoe
https://coryayo.bandcamp.com/