JB
Why We Stopped Progressing | Peter Thiel | EP 541
@ Jordan B Peterson
04/25/25
Takeaways
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
We've stopped moving faster physically over the last 50 years, and it feels like we are in an apocalyptic age.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The fear of apocalyptic consequences from scientific endeavors and a desire to escape into abstraction have contributed to this stagnation.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The last truly groundbreaking achievement may have been landing on the moon, and since then, scientific and technological progress has slowed down significantly.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
In the last 50 years, we've continued to see progress in the digital world, such as in computers and AI, but much less in the physical world of atoms.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The apocalyptic fear surrounding science and technology has led to a risk-averse society, where taboo ideas are often dismissed without discussion.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The shift from exploring outer space to focusing on inner space, such as through yoga and meditation, marks a cultural transformation that coincided with the stagnation of scientific progress.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The scientific method was powerful enough to produce revolutions non-stop, but by the 1970s, legal and bureaucratic frameworks caught up, leading to increased red tape.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The Christian God has historically been blamed for both slowing down and speeding up scientific progress, reflecting the changing cultural attitudes towards science.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The early scientific endeavors were deeply intertwined with Christianity, as much of the early science was conducted in monasteries that evolved into universities.
PT
Peter Thiel
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The reliance on metaphysical presuppositions in science is often questioned, leading to a disconnect between scientific inquiry and its ethical implications.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The rise of Christianity led to the destruction of the pagan world, resulting in a significant epistemological shift where the notion of multiple deities became untenable, consolidating belief into a single monotheistic deity.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
As the world became desacralized, the interpretations of invisible agencies and spirits that once explained causal mechanisms lost their validity, leading to a perception that magic was removed from the world.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The Christian revolution coincided with the rise of alchemical mythology, suggesting that mysteries in the material world possess redemptive capacity, which contrasts with the idea that spirits were taken out of the world.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The suspicion of other causal forces at work manifests in the imaginations of those on the cutting edge of thought, potentially as a consequence of Christianity's victory over paganism, which led to a desacralized worldview.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The first and last commandments in the Ten Commandments emphasize the importance of worshiping one God and avoiding envy, suggesting that when people stop looking up to a higher power, they begin to look around, leading to a 'madness of crowds'.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
In a society dominated by liberal atheism, individuals engage in unhealthy status competition, which can lead to a chaotic environment where mimetic desire is out of control, making it difficult to return to previous societal structures.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The Christian metagame emphasizes voluntary self-sacrifice, contrasting with the pagan world's focus on power and hedonism, suggesting a radical shift in values that aligns with human maturation.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
As individuals mature, they learn to sacrifice immediate desires for future stability, which is a sign of maturity and reflects a deeper understanding of rationality beyond mere biological impulses.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The language of sacrifice can be confusing; while sacrifices may seem irrational, they can also represent wise choices that prioritize long-term stability over immediate gratification.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The biblical narrative often highlights paradoxes, such as the story of Abraham and Isaac, where the willingness to sacrifice is ultimately met with divine provision, suggesting that true faith may not require sacrifice at all.
JB
Jordan B Peterson Cast
04/25/25
@ Jordan B Peterson
The faith of Isaac, who believed in God's provision during his potential sacrifice, is presented as a model of childlike faith that contrasts with the more complex faith of Abraham, emphasizing trust in divine goodness.