You.Next Podcast John Durant

In a world where all physical needs are perfectly met by machines, and all human interaction is forced through a funnel of technology, what would we be giving up? What risks are we willing to take in order to be truly human? Should you bother going into the office at work or just connect on video? This is Part III in a trilogy of episodes on technology, machines, and what makes us special. Connect on Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnrdurant

Reactions to the printing press in the 15th century were a lot like they were to the telegraph, telephone, radio, and Internet in later eras. Each generation, in varying degrees, mistakenly believes that previous ones were unquestionably stuck in a less enlightened past and that the current generation is, as evidenced by its own technological superiority, more civilized, illuminated, and morally superior. In this episode, we shatter this notion and localize where each of us can make REAL progress.
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Are we sure that we are living in unprecedented times? Are we certain that we are in a period of uncommon darkness and despair around the globe? What has Albert Einstein said that could help us sort this out? He did! But, no matter where you come down on this important question, the most important unprecedented part of our time is YOU! Listen to this episode and find a reason for more optimism.

Why give two seconds of your time and listen to someone whose ideas are flat out wrong, bad, and maybe what you would call categorically evil? Because there is something beautiful in that person. And by finding that, you'll find what is beautiful in you. Are you bold enough for the adventure? Yes you are! Join me!

The key to a more durably civilized society is not technology. It's YOU! It's people like you and me internally committing to being kinder and more generous, cheerful, patient, industrious, intelligent, and forgiving--especially toward those we believe to be our enemies. We look back at a brilliant essay from 1943 by Robert Hutchins, to help us find our way.

How many of us with all our same knowledge and experience, if transported back into a youthful body and lured by its power, would make many of the same mistakes? Do the grinding effects of aging save us from ourselves? We explore this against the backdrop of "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1837.