Eric Weinstein - Are We On The Brink Of A Revolution? (4K)
03 Sep 2024 (15 days ago)
Will Trump be Allowed to Become President?
- There is a system in place, whether understood explicitly or implicitly, that the purpose of the two American parties is to prune the field of populist candidates so that whoever the two candidates are in a face-off, they are both acceptable to the world order.
- The concern is that if a president entered the Oval Office who didn't agree with the world order and the mood of the country was why do we pay taxes into these structures, why are we hamstrung, why aren't we a free people, then the fragile agreements that make up the world order could be overturned.
- The speaker believes that there are many people in Washington DC who think that Donald Trump cannot become president because he is now unconstrained, wealthy, has learned how to play the game, and may have an ax to grind after the last six years.
MSNBC’s Editing of Joe Rogan to Support Kamala
- MSNBC edited together different clips of Joe Rogan speaking to make it seem like he was praising Kamala Harris.
- Major media outlets are not trying to fool people, but rather instruct them on what they are allowed to think and say.
- There are consequences for disagreeing with the narrative set by the media, such as losing jobs, friends, or damaging family relationships.
The Media’s Gaslighting of Modern Politics
- Retroactive continuity is a literary device where established facts in a fictional work are later changed or contradicted.
- The speaker argues that a similar phenomenon is happening in contemporary society, where information is being manipulated and rewritten, even though it is readily available online.
- The speaker criticizes the tendency to dismiss any questioning of established narratives as conspiracy theories, arguing that this prevents genuine inquiry and allows for real conspiracies to go unnoticed.
Is Google Influencing the Election?
- Over 90% of donations from tech company employees to midterm candidates were in favor of the Democratic party.
- There is a 33% gap between Republicans and Democrats in self-described party affiliations of US journalists in 2022.
- The speaker believes that preference falsification, where individuals publicly express different preferences than they hold privately, is a driving force behind revolutions.
How Physics Became Boring & Safe
- In the 1970s, a Princeton student with poor grades in physics was able to design a working fission bomb using only publicly available information.
- The student's thesis, which included the bomb design, was removed from the university's archives.
- The magazine Progressive published an article in the 1970s detailing how a reporter was able to compile information on how to design a fusion bomb using publicly available information.
Is String Theory Just a Shiny Distraction?
- String theory is popular and well-funded, but it has not produced significant achievements in physics.
- String theorists have suppressed competing theories and researchers.
- String theorists are now attempting to distance themselves from the failures of string theory.
Why String Theory Still Gets Funded
- A suggestion is made that the best investment strategy for countries is to financially support legitimate scientific endeavors while simultaneously withdrawing funding from institutions and practices that falsely present themselves as science.
- It is argued that the military should resume funding basic research, as they once did without interfering with the research itself.
- A proposal is made to grant physicists, mathematicians, and biologists intellectual property rights for their basic research, not just for the technologies they develop, to allow them to share in the prosperity they generate.
Science’s Big Problems
- Physics and mathematics were once the dominant fields in science, particularly after the impact of atomic weapons and advancements in molecular biology, which was largely driven by physicists.
- There is a call to restructure scientific institutions like the National Academy of Sciences and prominent journals, suggesting a need to overhaul the current scientific establishment.
- The speaker believes they can explain the origin of the particle spectrum from general relativity, a claim met with resistance and attempts to discredit those who challenge established scientific norms.
The Danger of Criticism Capture
- Criticism capture is a more dangerous phenomenon than audience capture.
- Criticism capture occurs when individuals in the public eye, particularly in media, alter their behavior or messaging in response to public criticism, often leading to negative consequences.
- There is a lack of genuine criticism and an abundance of bad-faith actors who engage in stalking and character assassination under the guise of criticism.
Eric’s Antidote for Cancelling People
- People are expected to be consistent in their opinions, but no one is perfectly consistent.
- People should be more forgiving of others' inconsistencies and focus on the positive contributions they make.
- Content creators are often criticized for the guests they have on their shows, but not given credit for the guests they choose not to have on.
Why Having Public Opinions is so Exhausting
- It is argued that most people hold more nuanced positions on complex issues than the extreme, dogmatic viewpoints that dominate online discourse.
- The internet and social media have created an environment where extreme viewpoints are amplified, while more moderate voices are often silenced.
- The lack of commonly understood concepts for navigating the complexities of modern life contributes to the prevalence of simplistic and often inaccurate arguments.
What Chris Gets Criticised for Most
- People criticize the use of analogies and names for concepts, but they are useful for remembering and understanding complex ideas.
- Criticism regarding difficulty pushing back and a people-pleasing nature is valid, particularly in situations where challenging ideas is necessary.
- It is important to be aware of cognitive clusters and the fact that people often attack their own perceptions rather than the actual person.
The Dynamics of Interviewing & Conversation
- Most conversations follow social scripts and dynamics to avoid appearing foolish.
- Being truly generative in conversation is challenging, as people often feel uncomfortable with silence and rush to fill it.
- A good interviewer can enhance a guest's ideas and make them appear more articulate and insightful.
Trying to Become a High Agency Person
- High agency is a personality trait that involves taking control of one's life and finding ways to achieve desired outcomes, even in the face of challenges.
- High agency can be developed by embracing disagreeability, questioning limitations, and seeking unconventional solutions, as exemplified by the speaker's personal experiences and the story of "A Boy Named Sue."
- Traditional education systems can be detrimental to individuals with neurodiversity, instilling a sense of inadequacy and hindering their potential.
Eric’s Advice for People Who Don’t Fit in
- People should identify and develop their unique strengths, even if those strengths are not currently valued by society.
- Individuals should embrace their unique perspectives and express their observations, even if those perspectives are flawed or biased.
- People should identify and build upon their past successes, even if those successes seem small or accidental, to cultivate a sense of agency and progress.
Overcoming Impossible Situations
- An individual describes a time they were injured in Bali and had to find ways to manage their healthcare and return home with limited funds.
- This individual also discusses their approach to problem-solving, noting that they excel at handling difficult situations and prioritize sharing certain solutions exclusively with their family.
- This individual emphasizes their dedication to their most significant work, Geometric Unity, despite facing skepticism and a lack of external validation, believing it to be their most exceptional accomplishment.
4D Complex Shapes, Geometry & Dimensions
- A 3D printed model of a 120-cell, a 4D object, is presented.
- The 24-cell, another 4D platonic solid with no 3D analog, was discovered in the late 19th century.
- The square root, a mathematical concept, is presented as a way to escape conceptual "flatland" by revealing hidden dimensions in mathematics, similar to how therapy can reveal hidden aspects of the mind.
- Visualizing four dimensions is possible through techniques like imagining a Klein bottle with color representing the fourth dimension.
The Internet is Destroying the Sacred
- The internet and its associated technologies are eroding the concepts of the sacred and archival, diminishing the reverence once afforded to art, relationships, and cultural touchstones.
- The rapid, meme-driven nature of online discourse discourages earnestness and thoughtful engagement, promoting a culture of cynicism and superficiality.
- There is a need to reclaim the value of traditional romance and heterosexual relationships, celebrating their unique dynamics without dismissing the importance of inclusivity and respect for other identities.
Reacting to “What Can Be, Unburdened By What Has Been”
- The phrase "what can be, unburdened by what has been" is interpreted as a call to erase the past and its burdens to create a new order.
- This concept is linked to historical figures like Mao Zedong and Pol Pot, who attempted to eliminate cultural memory and opposition to their regimes.
- The speaker recounts a story of a Vietnamese musician, tortured for his opposition to communism, as an example of the human cost of such ideologies.
Eric’s Thoughts on JD Vance
- JD Vance cares about the working poor and middle Americans.
- The Democratic party has abandoned the white working class.
- JD Vance, Nicole Shanahan, and Bobby Kennedy are sincere in their concern for the working class.