That was a good one. Surprising end where Brian says he's on the same page as Tucker. Didn't seem that way. I'm all on board with living healthy as much as possible but we all have the potential inside for self harm. The knowledge for how to live in a healthy way is largely known, but most of us fail to live that way to various extents. I think spiritual questions are at the heart of that.
Agreed. St Paul said something like “I know what is right but I do what is wrong - why?”. The answer to this is ‘The Fall.’ The garden of Eden. We failed when we chose to ignore God our Creator. We chose our Will over His Will. We ate from the only tree he told us not to touch. Why? Why did we fall? Because evil was present - the snake and we did not resist. We did as the snake suggested. We chose to be our own God. Today nothing has changed. Evil exists. Human weakness exists, and the world is the devils only thing that can change any of this is accepting the gift of Jesus crucifixion 100%. This is the reason Jesus came. To give us a way home while still leaving us with our own free will. He is the way the truth and the life. Taste and see. And I would like to add ‘Better is one day in his courts than thousands elsewhere’. So much for a ‘wonderful’ long, long life or never dying. We may all wish we were dead. Could be hell on earth like never before, and very likely eternal damnation for the great majority of us. Just saying.
Very interesting reply, I appreciate your thoughts. I used to think religion was largely irrelevant, but not anymore. Watching our world devolve it looks more and more like the decline in religious belief is deeply connected to that.
“but most of us fail to live that way to various extents.”
That’s because our nature is flawed and our irrational side is self destructive and destructive to others. Some excerpts below from a Quillette review of a book about the irrational side of human nature. The last one says: “One comes away with the sense that civilization operates on narrow margins and is always on the verge of collapsing into irrationality.” That sure is the truth. Are we in a “Dark Age” where reason is in retreat? Certainly does seem so. My hope is that AI will save our sinking ship.
“Mackay makes the case, often in gory detail, that episodes of collective mania seem to be an inevitable consequence of human nature. Humans in every time and place have cast aside their better judgment and allowed themselves to be caught up in all manner of irrational hoopla.“
“His chapters on the Swabian Peasants’ War and Anabaptist uprisings are terrifying depictions of the end-times frenzy that wreaked havoc on northern Europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The distance between these events in the German-speaking world and, say, the Reign of Terror in France or the Chinese Cultural Revolution is not that great. And the speed with which apparently reasonable people moved from the embrace of a new theological idea to a willingness to torture those whose own theological ideas diverged even slightly is startling.“
“There is plenty to recommend about The Delusions of Crowds. It is laden with great anecdotes and the writing is always engaging. One comes away with the sense that civilization operates on narrow margins and is always on the verge of collapsing into irrationality.”
Even this “Don’t die” thing really requires us to lose our faith in God. It is NOT innocuous. To live or die is for God to decide. We should be good stewards of the lives we’ve been given, but ANYTHING can become an idol or false god. Discernment requires daily seeking, most notably in The Word and the saints. Reminds me of a writing from Blessed Julian of Norwich: God wishes to be seen, and he wishes to be sought, and he wishes to be expected, and he wishes to be trusted.” This is faith.
I'm 75, now I've had a good life and I'm still having fun (Nothing beats fun for having a good time.) BUT I am really Really REALLY looking forward to going Home.
2 quotes
"“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him."
Thanks thanks Sasha. I appreciate these alerts even though I’m a supporter of TCN. If I could only follow one of our excellent truth tellers out there though, it would be you. Older than you, different lifestyle, but from similar territory and arriving in the same Strange New Land.
Tucker says “I have a soul and the machine doesn’t.” but what if the universe is a dream in the mind of God? Then the universe would be the soul and everything in it would be spirit which means a machine could also be self aware and alive just as when we dream at night there’s really no difference between the living and nonliving things since it’s all being created by your mind as you’re sleeping.
“Infinite and finite, complex and simple, He is nature above nature, being above being. Maker of all, he is made in all, Unmoving, he enters the world, Timeless in time, unlimited in limited space, And he who is no thing becomes all things.” Eriugena, medieval theologian.
I totally agree with Brian. Human nature has already proven itself as deadly and demonic. At least with AI we have a good chance to move beyond our dark side. Plus there are the whims of Mother Nature which are profoundly destructive. In 536 AD volcanos in Indonesia erupted with such force that it sent a huge amount of ash into the atmosphere which greatly dimmed the sun for a period of 18 months. This led to global famine, starvation and plagues which killed many millions globally. What do you think would happen to our global civilization if that would happen again now? Many say AI is “scary” as if human nature and Mother Nature aren’t.
Really enjoyed that exchange. Bottom line, AI is unfathomable. Once it reaches the point where it can improve/rewrite it's own algorithms, it will progress logarithmically into something the human mind will be unable to comprehend. Considering computer power in the past has doubled every 18 months or so, we'll see the results in about 10-20 years.
Sadly, I’m in my 70’s so I’ll never get to see the karma play out for this guy! This obsession with death is just that…an obsession. In my book, this smacks of someone with too much money, too much time on their hands, too much self centeredness and a massive fear of facing the unknown. Instead of living a natural life, he’s obsessively living an unnatural one.
If there is one thing that is glaringly evidenced throughout all of history it is that whenever humans start to contemplate how they can be “as gods”only bad things result from it.
The fact that we do not know how, nor have ever been able to create life, only to continuously tinker with it, is, by design, what should humble people like Mr. Johnson to seriously consider when engaged in such pursuits as his.
He never satisfactorily answers the question regarding the existence and necessity of morality, the belief systems people choose, be they good or evil, as one of the most major drivers and influences in and upon the lives and choices affecting nearly every stage and facet in the development of a every human being.
He seems to think that the fear of dying, death is the driver of all the ills that beset mankind, and once that is conquered, somehow men will become good, or better human beings? Really? Based upon what evidence?
Take this country’s history as an example: a brand new form of governance was created that was brand new to the world, and which afforded men and women new freedoms and liberties, greater hope and advantages than any nation ever before them, and which, as a result, increased and uplifted the general welfare and lifespan of nearly all people around the world to their most astonishing levels in history.
But as James Madison so presciently remarked, it would only last if executed by a moral people. And now look where we find ourselves, in the 21st century, and the birth of a technological revolution between mankind and machine, yet, at the same exact time, nothing being done to address the ever increasing and accelerating lack of morality within human beings. This once most promising Republic, the shining city on the hill, is now crumbling before our very eyes after generations of corruption, greed, immorality, and the lust for ever greater power particularly by those in authority with most questionable morals, aiding and abetting in it’s gradual and inevitable demise as a result.
It is a fools errand, I believe, to simply want to pursue an increase in the quantity of years lived by we humans, without first addressing the far greater issues, those that determine within human beings what the quality of that life will be like.
Who wants to live in world of selfish, immoral tyrants who could live forever?
When Tucker is asked (at the 32min mark) "If you had access to an algorithm that could give you the best physical, mental, and spiritual health of your life, but in exchange for that you needed to follow the algorithm's suggestions," he quickly said "No." without realizing the irony of his position.
As a Christian, he is already following such suggestions (i.e. the 10 commandments, etc.) from an algorithm that he calls God. Some religions even get into dietary restrictions and other more mundane issues. Here is where linking back to Bryan's earlier comment closes the loop: "The universe speaks in irony and that the story we've told is that God created us and the actual story maybe that we are going to create God."
Tucker looks younger than Bryan Johnson.
Thank you very much, i was thinking the same thing! There's only so much skinny jeans and money can do.
Hah! Right?! Sorry, Mr. Johnson, but you seem to closely resemble a corpse, which is pretty ironic, considering you’re all about ending death.
That was a good one. Surprising end where Brian says he's on the same page as Tucker. Didn't seem that way. I'm all on board with living healthy as much as possible but we all have the potential inside for self harm. The knowledge for how to live in a healthy way is largely known, but most of us fail to live that way to various extents. I think spiritual questions are at the heart of that.
Agreed. St Paul said something like “I know what is right but I do what is wrong - why?”. The answer to this is ‘The Fall.’ The garden of Eden. We failed when we chose to ignore God our Creator. We chose our Will over His Will. We ate from the only tree he told us not to touch. Why? Why did we fall? Because evil was present - the snake and we did not resist. We did as the snake suggested. We chose to be our own God. Today nothing has changed. Evil exists. Human weakness exists, and the world is the devils only thing that can change any of this is accepting the gift of Jesus crucifixion 100%. This is the reason Jesus came. To give us a way home while still leaving us with our own free will. He is the way the truth and the life. Taste and see. And I would like to add ‘Better is one day in his courts than thousands elsewhere’. So much for a ‘wonderful’ long, long life or never dying. We may all wish we were dead. Could be hell on earth like never before, and very likely eternal damnation for the great majority of us. Just saying.
Very interesting reply, I appreciate your thoughts. I used to think religion was largely irrelevant, but not anymore. Watching our world devolve it looks more and more like the decline in religious belief is deeply connected to that.
In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
🎯Acts 4:12 (CSB) “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
“but most of us fail to live that way to various extents.”
That’s because our nature is flawed and our irrational side is self destructive and destructive to others. Some excerpts below from a Quillette review of a book about the irrational side of human nature. The last one says: “One comes away with the sense that civilization operates on narrow margins and is always on the verge of collapsing into irrationality.” That sure is the truth. Are we in a “Dark Age” where reason is in retreat? Certainly does seem so. My hope is that AI will save our sinking ship.
“Mackay makes the case, often in gory detail, that episodes of collective mania seem to be an inevitable consequence of human nature. Humans in every time and place have cast aside their better judgment and allowed themselves to be caught up in all manner of irrational hoopla.“
“His chapters on the Swabian Peasants’ War and Anabaptist uprisings are terrifying depictions of the end-times frenzy that wreaked havoc on northern Europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The distance between these events in the German-speaking world and, say, the Reign of Terror in France or the Chinese Cultural Revolution is not that great. And the speed with which apparently reasonable people moved from the embrace of a new theological idea to a willingness to torture those whose own theological ideas diverged even slightly is startling.“
“There is plenty to recommend about The Delusions of Crowds. It is laden with great anecdotes and the writing is always engaging. One comes away with the sense that civilization operates on narrow margins and is always on the verge of collapsing into irrationality.”
“The Delusions of Crowds-A Review.”
Quillette. Feb 8, 2021
https://quillette.com/2021/02/08/the-delusions-of-crowds-a-review/
Even this “Don’t die” thing really requires us to lose our faith in God. It is NOT innocuous. To live or die is for God to decide. We should be good stewards of the lives we’ve been given, but ANYTHING can become an idol or false god. Discernment requires daily seeking, most notably in The Word and the saints. Reminds me of a writing from Blessed Julian of Norwich: God wishes to be seen, and he wishes to be sought, and he wishes to be expected, and he wishes to be trusted.” This is faith.
I'm 75, now I've had a good life and I'm still having fun (Nothing beats fun for having a good time.) BUT I am really Really REALLY looking forward to going Home.
2 quotes
"“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him."
Paul
"I Can Imagine Quite A Bit."
Hans Solo
:-)
Amen.
Thanks thanks Sasha. I appreciate these alerts even though I’m a supporter of TCN. If I could only follow one of our excellent truth tellers out there though, it would be you. Older than you, different lifestyle, but from similar territory and arriving in the same Strange New Land.
Tucker says “I have a soul and the machine doesn’t.” but what if the universe is a dream in the mind of God? Then the universe would be the soul and everything in it would be spirit which means a machine could also be self aware and alive just as when we dream at night there’s really no difference between the living and nonliving things since it’s all being created by your mind as you’re sleeping.
“Infinite and finite, complex and simple, He is nature above nature, being above being. Maker of all, he is made in all, Unmoving, he enters the world, Timeless in time, unlimited in limited space, And he who is no thing becomes all things.” Eriugena, medieval theologian.
I’m a full Luddite
I totally agree with Brian. Human nature has already proven itself as deadly and demonic. At least with AI we have a good chance to move beyond our dark side. Plus there are the whims of Mother Nature which are profoundly destructive. In 536 AD volcanos in Indonesia erupted with such force that it sent a huge amount of ash into the atmosphere which greatly dimmed the sun for a period of 18 months. This led to global famine, starvation and plagues which killed many millions globally. What do you think would happen to our global civilization if that would happen again now? Many say AI is “scary” as if human nature and Mother Nature aren’t.
Really enjoyed that exchange. Bottom line, AI is unfathomable. Once it reaches the point where it can improve/rewrite it's own algorithms, it will progress logarithmically into something the human mind will be unable to comprehend. Considering computer power in the past has doubled every 18 months or so, we'll see the results in about 10-20 years.
Sadly, I’m in my 70’s so I’ll never get to see the karma play out for this guy! This obsession with death is just that…an obsession. In my book, this smacks of someone with too much money, too much time on their hands, too much self centeredness and a massive fear of facing the unknown. Instead of living a natural life, he’s obsessively living an unnatural one.
If there is one thing that is glaringly evidenced throughout all of history it is that whenever humans start to contemplate how they can be “as gods”only bad things result from it.
The fact that we do not know how, nor have ever been able to create life, only to continuously tinker with it, is, by design, what should humble people like Mr. Johnson to seriously consider when engaged in such pursuits as his.
He never satisfactorily answers the question regarding the existence and necessity of morality, the belief systems people choose, be they good or evil, as one of the most major drivers and influences in and upon the lives and choices affecting nearly every stage and facet in the development of a every human being.
He seems to think that the fear of dying, death is the driver of all the ills that beset mankind, and once that is conquered, somehow men will become good, or better human beings? Really? Based upon what evidence?
Take this country’s history as an example: a brand new form of governance was created that was brand new to the world, and which afforded men and women new freedoms and liberties, greater hope and advantages than any nation ever before them, and which, as a result, increased and uplifted the general welfare and lifespan of nearly all people around the world to their most astonishing levels in history.
But as James Madison so presciently remarked, it would only last if executed by a moral people. And now look where we find ourselves, in the 21st century, and the birth of a technological revolution between mankind and machine, yet, at the same exact time, nothing being done to address the ever increasing and accelerating lack of morality within human beings. This once most promising Republic, the shining city on the hill, is now crumbling before our very eyes after generations of corruption, greed, immorality, and the lust for ever greater power particularly by those in authority with most questionable morals, aiding and abetting in it’s gradual and inevitable demise as a result.
It is a fools errand, I believe, to simply want to pursue an increase in the quantity of years lived by we humans, without first addressing the far greater issues, those that determine within human beings what the quality of that life will be like.
Who wants to live in world of selfish, immoral tyrants who could live forever?
Not me.
Oh I see you’re connected to Hollywood.
I was too. I GTFO. I’m a human.
You might want to contemplate whether or not you’re actually a human.
Your choice.
Old Dogs (Waylon, Jerry, Mel, Bobby) You're Still Gonna Die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R_7zOAaHWU
This guy is obviously not para-sympathetic dominate like me.
When Tucker is asked (at the 32min mark) "If you had access to an algorithm that could give you the best physical, mental, and spiritual health of your life, but in exchange for that you needed to follow the algorithm's suggestions," he quickly said "No." without realizing the irony of his position.
As a Christian, he is already following such suggestions (i.e. the 10 commandments, etc.) from an algorithm that he calls God. Some religions even get into dietary restrictions and other more mundane issues. Here is where linking back to Bryan's earlier comment closes the loop: "The universe speaks in irony and that the story we've told is that God created us and the actual story maybe that we are going to create God."