A Renaissance Man. But what is so striking is how humble he is. We are so fortunate to be able to listen to him in our own homes, wherever we are.

Your work has changed my life, which isn’t that important. It impacts the way we all see and understand life in such a fundamental way. When you see, you can’t unsee who we’ve become. And I hope more people will read this lengthy work. It takes days and saves years.

What a wonderful wise old man... We need so many more men like Dr. Iain Mcgilchrist .... What a beautiful soul.❤

As a mother, grandmother , greatgrandmother and a counsellor (for 30 yerars) it lifts mt heart to hear this man say, so eloquently, things that I have thought for years.

I had the life changing epiphanies after discovering Ian McGilchrist. I was becoming very jaded about science in general & I think he bridges spirituality & science beautifully. More importantly he has common sense and isn't trapped in political ideologies. Also he can explain complex things so a layperson can understand, which shows a generosity. Thanks for this interview! Great questions!

I connected to it when he says art is too intellectual and divorced from nature and visceral meaning. I'm dogpiled by trauma and mental health problems while being kept poor and restricted for almost 2 years now. I keep looking at my situation and my friends around me suffering addiction, health problems, their time and energy consumed by working so much. And i have to anchor myself to something meaningful i can do even if we're all stuck in The Matrix in a concrete jungle. Even if we are facing mass extinction as we get weaker and more lost in the labyrinth of modern society. I thought about healing the soil and planting trees, plants, improving local ecosystems. No matter if it feels like the end, feels like i am on the fringe of society and subjected to its increasing dysfunction and my friends can't even survive it, maybe we can do something to be stewards of earth anyways. To spend our remaining time well.

This discussion is one of the best ones yet. Social, cerebral, spiritual, and financial circumstances of today are so toxic. Most people don't have the time or energy to even ponder reality and humanity and the interconnection with the world outside of their daily existence. I got off the hamster wheel just over two years ago. The silence that I enjoy now living in nowhere New Mexico was something I craved my entire life. I work remotely as a contractor (forensic accounting) about 10 to 15 hours a week. I am building an off grid farm/sanctuary. The longer that I am here, the more I feel like a living being as opposed to a cog in a machine. Ian talked about going to the city from his rural sanctuary. I, too, feel anxious and overwhelmed when I go to the city. Humanity has become so disconnected from the natural world. In the cities, there is a belief that we have tamed the natural world. Out where I live, we all live interconnected to the natural cycles and conditions. When people panic about simplification and what they may lose, I can only think of the gains I enjoy now. Thank you so much for this video.

I first tuned in here last night, I came back to finish, after my sister said she "has no time" for videos like this, she reads novels, not non-fiction. Took time this morning for a chapter "Patience" in "The Way of The Bodhisattva" and this poem fell out of me: It is very dangerous To tell yourself I have no time To be aware... No time to stop and think, Or pray, or meditate Upon the wonder of your life And what it means To be here, now. If.....You're just a reactor to any stimulus And not choosing the better Against the lesser Is the loosest non-existence In the instinctual, mammalian void Of animistic, automatic traffic And tragic cues of sensual, imaginary magic. Thank you, Good Doctor!

This is superb. Ian McGilchrists insights crossover with every single topic we could care about. Great to hear him on your podcast Nate.

As a substitute teacher I 110% agree about the micromanaging. I’ve done long term subbing and the micromanaging has made me not want to go down that career route even though I have a passion for educating young minds. It feels like every enjoyable aspect of the profession has been stripped down and throw away so teachers either end up getting burnt out and quitting or becoming jaded and moving through the motions one day at a time. Actually being a substitute feels more engaging because of the variety and spontaneity of it. Every period is different and you can find a couple kids who want to learn and think about the material in deep holistic ways and working with them is rewarding. I really wish there were some adults in the room in government who could make education a legitimate career field again. Fantastic episode!! Thank you!!

Just love McGilchrists brilliance 🎉

Iain has done a hero's work in passing many laborous years developing the finest and most comprehensive depiction of our divided brain - and the really staggering cliff we are nearing as we relegate the right brain to a factotum and elevate the left brain to the role of a self-assured arbiter of its fixed and deadened viewpoint.

I have listened to this twice so far. Such wisdom and much needed insights. I shall listen again and buy his book for sure. Thanks

1:22:00 - Lightning bolt moment for me. He doesn't want to be consoled by an AI mechanism because it lacked a body, emotions, social interaction, empathy, and suffering. "I want to know that the person I'm talking to is a fellow member of humanity, that has suffered as I've suffered, and knows that I know that I'm going to die." This captures for me the essence of the uniqueness of the Christian mythology in which the Creator enters Creation to become a human alongside us to experience these things firsthand and therefore fulfill the fundamental need spelled out here so eloquently by McGilchrist.

43:57 "The left hemisphere is always trying to close down on a certainty; the right hemisphere is always trying to open up to a possibility." Handy reference image!

When I did my first 10 day Vipassana meditation retreat many years ago now, the very first insight that bubbled up was the role of the speed of my life and its role in creating dis-ease .... Couple this speed with the indebtedness of everyone we can see the structural elements of our cultural dis-ease . Not new insights but the question is how we change? And unfortunately, as discussed a few times on this podcast , it'll need a great crash event to give the majority the space to begin making these changes.... And that scenario is extremely unpredictable.

Man's capacity to rationalize "evil" in pursuit of economic gains is the bedrock foundation of all our societal, economic and ecological ills. Simply put : greed is blind. It circumvents wisdom, kindness, rationality, and "life" itself. Tragically, most of those with the most wealth also have the most power. It is a terrifying moment when you realize that the very engine of the human enterprise is being driven by blind men who are perfectly capable of rationalizing their own greed.

Very warming to see Iain popping up in more different channels. Magnificent discussion, much appreciated!!

One of the most interesting polymaths on the planet today. His 2 hemisphere research is stunning - takes secondary research to the next level and then some.

Ian is a truly brilliant and generally wonderful man. I find listening to him not only incredibly insightful but reassuring, which especially in these times i couldn't value more. Kudos to Nate as well for being such a great contributor to the conversation as well. Truly one of the best talks i've ever listened to.

Great conversation. My takeaway reflection: We have too much technology enmeshed in our daily existence that exploits our vulnerabilities. This assortment of technologies in artefacts and systems bestow on us the *power* of comfort and convenience (alleviation of boredom [screen-based tech] and emancipation from menial task drudgery), privilege, choice, and a greater range of opportunities, mainly to consume resources. However we suffer from not enough, or the absence of, embedded cultural practices for the *development* of critically important factors such as humility, gratitude, discipline, wisdom and meaningful connection with others for mutual benefit of these aspects for fruitful, purposeful and/or fulfilling lives. This deficiency, in turn, has made so many of us susceptibile to mind viruses of individualism, consumerism, self-indulgence, intolerance, arrogance and ignorance and indoctrination (bordering on stupidity and the dangerous mix of these becoming the essence of modern evil - but let's leave that there for now). Therefore, it appears that the appropriate response to all this will be to *push back* against the decades of conditioning that have led us down the enchanting cul de sac of individualism and consumerism. Work less. Play a team sport at an organised social level. Volunteer to do something that is needed in the community. Develop a skill lost to specialisation to aid the production of something in a more sustainable way. Use screens less. Read and write more. The list goes on, and of course it's not prescriptive, but hopefully you get the idea. Or as Junior out of the Oliver Stone film Platoon says, "Free your mind and your ass will follow." Though Iain McGilchrist might say that too.

Ian said: “When you talk about Artificial Intelligence we are not talking about intelligence.” That’s exactly what I have been thinking all along. And it seems to me that people are in awe of these programs like it is a real conscious person talking to them.

I didn't expect that I would be going to listen to a funny and at the same time instructive podcast. I am enjoying it. Thank you and greetings from Germany.

Gentle sir....I am delighted to hear you speak....I am so on your page of being ...hoping others take up this quiet listening perspective

O my God!!! Thanks so much for explaining so clear what it has been spinning in my heart so strong. Thanks so much to both of you for given us free access to Wisdom. My profound thanks, respect, admiration and blessings.

A wonderful voice in the mix... This in particular, was striking to hear McGilchrist say, "the various pathways to truth, and I say they are science, reason, and intuition and imagination, and that all four of these need to be brought to bear if we're going to function properly as a society and to understand who we are, what we are doing here, and how ..." A just-right metaphorical mix for me of "head" (science & reason) and "heart" (intuition and imagination) seeking what is more wise and true. Reminds me of the stunning John Keats quote, “I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart's affections and the truth of Imagination- What the imagination seizes as Beauty must be truth...”

Hi Nate I would like to add a topic, which seems fundamental to me, and I do not know in which hemisphere of the brain it is, but it is thousands of years ago and today we forget it, but we can see it. I am a graduate in food technology, an artist, and mainly CURIOUS. This is why I came here and watch your podcasts and learn by listening to other opinions. Just as we are blind to energy, many of us are blind to the cruelty of eating. Cruelty, not evil. Careful! I'm not saying you have to go vegan, because I think 2/3 of humans eat what they can, not what they want. Food must be respected, that is essential, a third of it cannot be wasted throughout the supply chain, as is the case now. I believe that for me there is a fundamental law in life, and the philosophers would have to take it. "To be, one must kill another being" Unless you eat fruit. Which is not recommended. It is interesting because it is not said to kill an animal, for example, it is about "SACRIFICE" which is a very strong term and with an overwhelming load of meaning. This act, killing another being, is a violent act, it is that simple. Those of us who have spent time in a field have experienced it. In fact, the speeches for soldiers in war correspond to those we make to kill another being to eat it. This is about dehumanizing it, you don't have to have any emotional relationship or at most a minimal relationship with the enemy or with the animal to be sacrificed. If you have given a name to a chicken it is difficult for you to kill it, if you see common points in a war with the enemy it is more difficult to fight with him. Today young people see nothing more than a small box with meat inside in a supermarket, they do not see when the animal is "sacrificed", sometimes they have no idea and do not associate the animal with the food they eat. This makes me see that there is an intrinsic violence in us, ancient violence that has served us to survive, violence that is present and has its reason for being. If we do not accept that we have this violence as part of us, we will not be able to have a clearer idea of the human being. It is important to see how blindness gives us an umbrella but that it is very fragile. There is a fearsome word that is HUNGER, I think this word changes our way of thinking very quickly, and probably if it reaches us we will be able to do anything. The "hunger" takes the minotaur out of the labyrinth and he takes over the events furiously and without hesitation This takes a long time but for now I have this time to write to you.

Absolutely love Iain Gilchrist, his books enlighten the mind. Bravo Nate!

This is a profound conversation. Thank you for bringing it to us.

"and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make" -- not quite st. paul but another beloved paul. This was inspiring and grounding, thank you!

Amazing intellect, calming presence and lucid expression by the speaker Iain McGilchrist. Great & thoughtful questions from Nate. Overall a wonderful treat and a life changing talk. Thank you

I hope to one day grow up and be as wise as this man. I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege of listening to him.

Enjoyed this conversation. McGilchrist's advice to young people in the final ten minutes is golden.

Fascinating time & so wise time spent listening to you & your guest. Thank you 🇫🇷🇺🇸

Thanks Dr, Mcgilchrist, the badly wounded Planet needs more and more people like you before its too late.

Terrific ‼️Nate - thank you for having Iain McGilchrist 😍 yes he’s enhanced my thinking 100 fold. “The people who really taught me anything were on fire with the things that inspire them” … says Iain - yet Nate, this was the first podcast ( I’ve watched many ) that brought out the fire within this gifted Scholar - such a bonus to hear Iain’s intense passion. So. . . Thank You for that, too.

You find all kinship With wisdom and spirituality through art!! All arts. Its research, curiousity, and then the creating. It takes time, deep connections and imagination and intuition. And Thanks, a million. Love Mc Gilchrist, in any conversation ..❤

I was fascinated by this interview with Ian McGilchrist and felt the warmth and compassion that emanates from him. He expressed so much of what I have felt for so long and put it in a context that gave it form. I struggled temporarily with the elitism of his educational path which coloured his responses to how young people might be better educated but in the end realised that there are numerous ways to achieve the balance he advocates. The core elements, as he said, are the freedom to exercise intuition, time to reflect, and to develop a sense of awe of the world we in. As all polymaths, he has this quiet assurance - not that he knows it all but but of being at peace with the enormity of life and the thrill of how much more there is to learn. For some, this will come from reading and higher education. In the past, this has come from a societal belief in some cultures of nature as spirit - the pan-theism he mentioned which I also find appealing. For many, and sadly an increasing number, the diminishing resources in education coupled with an ever-narrowing curriculum is closing the door on the ability of children to play and, in doing so, finding out about themselves and others. The same scarcity of resources is also increasing the fear of destitution and with it the parental discord and conflict which leads to so much childhood trauma. Survival is evermore the name of the game with the left hemisphere firmly in charge.

It's great to see two of my favorite thinkers in conversation together! You made my day! ❤

Thank you Iain and Nate! A wonderful philosophical conversation about life, consciousness, intelligence, the sacred, science and stupidity. What a great way to bring the immense range of topics that affect our present world and distill it into simple ways of getting back to a healthy way of civil living. I really enjoyed listening to some intuitive wisdom and reconnecting to what we already know but haven't been able to speak with another who can go this deeply and so easefully into these subjects.

Thanks for this, Nate. I have come to recognize that every one of your Great Simplifications are a well-intentioned "gift" to anyone who will listen.

Nate!!! How wonderful to see this giant of a man here!! Have just started watching but I'm over the moon to see him here! His book, the master and his emissary changed me in so many ways...wow...Thank you!! ❤

Iain McGilchrist is what our world needs now! Genius, God sent for our humanity, hope Nate learned a couple things from him.

We are lucky to live in the world as Iain McGilchrist. He is the sort of thinker that history will be kind to and would be referenced in the same mode as great philosophers whose mission was to heal a people from the hysteria and misdirections of civilisation. I enjoyed this and Nate's curious questions.

❤He’s brilliant and one of the most important public intellectuals but one of the coolest things about Iain is his uncanny resemblance to our beloved Captain Kangaroo 🦘

Just discovered your channel good sir and want to say thank you for being and doing. This was an amazing conversation from two beautiful human beings.

This conversation was just lovely. Thank you both very much! 😊😊

This conversation is close to perfection. Intelligent, wise, and balanced. There may be hope yet. THIS is the contemplative direction to expand on. No question in my mind. Thankyou Iain.

Absolutely loved this conversation. This talk affirms my personal direction in life so very much. I deeply appreciate it Nate and Iain. I have been trying to explain these ideas to my father for years now with little to no avail. I sent this talk to him and hope that he listens to it and it will help to bridge his generational mind frame and my own as a Millennial. Long Slow Deep Bow

Our lives are filled from top to bottom with material objects. We are absolutely immersed in a material world and that is very difficult to unwind. Most of us are not aware of the major implications of the fact. One could say we are embodied in a material world. Most people have neither the time nor the luxury to step out of this type of a world and into one operating at a different wavelength. Spending time in nature is one way to escape from the madness.

The Master and His Emissary is an excellent book, and The Matter With Things is quite simply the greatest philosophical work of the 21st century. Not only do I deeply appreciate and admire Ian McGilchrist for his profound work, but I greatly appreciate how readable his works are without dumbing anything down.

The sad thing is many people do not see what is around them, nature, hustle and bustle and the madness! I love this interview and i am thankful for this introduction to Dr Mcgilchrist. I am not an intellectual but do use my common sense and intuition.

"How you attend governs what you find.". Precious wisdom. How do you change how you attend? Practice, practice, practice. There is no magic pill, short cut or someone who can do it for you, but in my experience meditation definitely helps. Ive been doing it for over 50 years now. Still practising.

Well done scraping the prepped questions and going with your gut and heart

As a 70+ left handed who ever since learn of Dr McGilchrist works, have tried to educate others an get then to read his books, as a right hemisphere dominate I have been searching to understand why I am different in understanding life differently an find it very irritating when I have to work for right handed idiots, as someone who also understand science, climate change and how governments works, I try in my own way, however limited to educate others, I’ve been told I should write, but seen to lack the organizational skills needed to write effectively, sadly, but I want to thank you both for all your many valuable interviews which has further my own knowledge on so many important subjects, anyway, I’m also a retired 23 y navy veteran, an As always I’m in complete agreement with Ian, thank you..Peace

Hi Nate! This episode spoke more to my approach as a teacher (in school and in yoga) to the meta crisis and I really enjoyed it. If you want to dive more into the topics of wisdom and AI, I would LOVE to see you bring Dr. John Vervaeke from the University of Toronto. I think you guys could have an excellent discussion. I believe he's also worked with Daniel Schmactenberger in the past, and your episodes with him were some of my favorites. Thanks for your work!

If the left hemisphere is more like our current everyday computer, there’s no reason why we can’t aim at something more like the right hemisphere: embodied, non-linear, divergent, etc. The Renaissance, as great and balanced as we would like it to be, was the golden age of colonialism if only seen from a different vantage point. Dr. Iain is undoubtedly one of the greatest minds of our time-a true polymath of Western science and philosophy. Unfortunately, to have seen it from one side only is not to have seen it at all.

Beautifully explained dear Iain 🕊🌏❤️

I do, very much, admire and respect Iain and Nate.

What a beautiful soul. Loved this conversation.

It was almost surprise to me that you both didn't meet till now. I watched you both before, and I am happy now with both of you. Thanks from Egypt، Cairo

Lol. Did you see what Nate did at 13:35? After listening to Ian, Nate admitted to having 14 (pre-programmed, rational, analytical, LEFT BRAIN) questions for the interview, but then decided to jettison those for a more RIGHT BRAIN, in-the-moment interview process. A perfect case of wisdom overpowering rationality!

Thank you, profound wisdom. I have realized my addiction to listening to exceptional material like this and am finding my own silent Saturdays, or tech free Sabbaths very difficult to adhere to. Appreciate the encouragement towards a celebration of silence, I need to find my way back there. And very interested in the psychotic arts book. Thank you both.

I love this man.

Ian brought spirituality into this, saying, "God is in everything, and everything is in God." He's not preaching about something out there you can pray to, such as a "sky god." I venture to say he is referring to something much grander.

My two favorites and in my opinion the best, communicators having a discussion. Thank you so much for posting this. Are you familiar with Carl Safina, Beyond Words, What Animals Think and Feel? Thanks for all you do!

In order to reach some of these same conclusions, I had to relinquish things of value, chose a type of poverty that just barely afforded nourishment in exchange for a resource of time to invest into personal growth. I would have little in my fridge, live without anything but a suitcase of clothes and let go of medical insurance. I grew up in the US without much parenting and without help. Reaching these same conclusion and now nearly 50, they came a great expense. Iain grew up in a different type of social culture, as he says - "a legacy" rather than an economic surplus and this is Extremely Important in the gravity of difference between the US and the UK (I'm in the UK now). Those who are our age and grew up in the UK/EU wouldn't have had to pay for university, they wouldn't start paying for medical insurance at 20, they wouldn't have a central credit system looming over them. They may have had access to sophisticated art and theatre, access to heritage and libraries. Even the poorest can afford a roof in proximity of a major city with opportunity. Iain, being older, could" seize the say". If you want to invest and become and create change in this way, and you do not come form the best of circumstances, it is heartbreaking, painful and difficult, but you can get there. Expect to never stop learning and learn that unreasonable expectations wait for you around every turn. Reject the capitalist 'this will do for the moment' and think long-term. Eventually it gets better. Not easier, but better in many different and unexpected ways.

Ian McGilchrist, great guest Nate. Explaining psychological and philosophical traits of our thinking when caught in a meta-crisis. Ian’s mention of William James and his quote brought this to mind: “Our science is a drop, our ignorance a sea. Whatever else be certain, this at least is certain that the world of our present natural knowledge is enveloped in a larger world of some sort whose residual properties, we at present can frame no positive idea.” - William James🤔

Sapolsky, McGilchrist… you’re KILLIN IT, Nate! 🙌🏽

Thanks Nate What a wonderful soul Iain is navigating. It was a pure pleasure listening to his wisdom. As for the magic wand, make meditating mainstream or even compulsory in schools around the world. Love you all

Hold...I'm stepping out to shock my brain with our electric fence. Be right back.

Wow! I have been looking forward to this one! I have both his books, and find his observations amazing. I still haven't finished "the Matter with Things"

Iaen McGilchrist is mostly a philosopher. This is a lovely conversation 😊 💕 ❤️

I am also a Renaissance mind with very broad interests. I've never regretted learning about any topic. Great discussion!

amazing! so happy you're happy mcgilchrist on the show!! thank you!!!

Excellent. This is very helpful. It demonstrates the value of providing support to wise and intelligent people and allowing them to follow their own intuition and purpose.

The Professional Managerial Class is now the dominant class.

Such a beautiful soul. 💙

What a wonderful conversation. Living a rich life, enjoying the beauty and abundance in nature is so fulfilling and rewarding on every level.

Iain is a very wise man

Thanks a lot to you both. I found this interview quite personal and moving as well as very prescient and informative. Like many I was already of the view that opening up to a broader, more honest, more challenging psychological understanding of whatever is going on with us will be key to realigning our priorities if we are to successfully meet our future. However bleak at times our chances may appear, his enormous contributions make the path and choices clearer and our agency in relationship seem more possible, which is often all the difference in the world.

One of the markers of wisdom is the ability to communicate ideas without the sale of a boogieman. Now it is important to oppose the tyrannical and abhorrent. Yet if we find ourselves shipwrecked on a secluded island, drawing fangs on a coconut will not suffice. 💎 Iain Mc Gilchrist has represented himself well in this interview. 💎

Love the idea of A BOOK TO MY YOUNGER SELF. Thank you both great pondering for ALL SPACE CADETS of the noosphere - real virtual university school.

A real spot-on episode as it seems.. thnx @Nate and @Ian

Wonderful podcast. Thank you!

I started listening to this while taking a walk in nature yesterday. I decided to start again from the beginning, but I keep getting flashbacks to the exact place I was in yesterday whilst listening to specific bits. It happens to me a lot and I find it weird!

Thanks Iain and Nate, this is just great! Many perspectives on our human inbuilt evaluation bias.

Nate, I love love love your channel! Just found it and it’s a gem. Such wonderful speakers. I’m in my mid-40s, engineer and IT guy, previously nearly 100% left hemisphere oriented, now trying to make sense of this crazy world at a deeper level. Thank you.

Civilization has always been based on energy surplus. Once we started farming grains, which were storable and appropriable, then we could leverage manpower to amass energy in the form of granaries. But this required more and reaching and exploitation, as grains deplete the soil. Against the Grain by James C Scott makes a great case for barbarism.

Encouraging and beautiful wisdom Thank you Taking on a long walk🌿🍁🌿

Iain's work is well referenced in my forthcoming book, "How We Choose To Show Up". 20 years of research reveals we "Just" Show Up. In Iain's words, "We're too ready to jump in." The art of pondering, silence, appreciating the broader span is lost... amongst deadlines, dates and deliverables. Please be in touch. Much to discuss regarding nature's model of how we're designed to Show Up... to thrive! Marcy

great discussion. I've always been interested in the historical reasons for success in ancient Greece, early roman republic leading to imperialism and the early Renaissance, why these periods had an explosion in arts, science, humanites such as Cicero, Plato, Shakespeare, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, William Turner and so on. And why by the time of Humboldt etc the world was changing to or had changed to one of empires, material wealth. Some great insights from Dr Gilchrist. While not an American, I fear people like Ron Desantis and others need to acquire some wisdom soon

Thank you both so much! This brought me to tears at the end.

This discussion was most inspiring. Thank you both. 🙏

Great wisdom

Best guest yet, and that’s saying a lot.Thank you.

The great man is on fire

The documentary film The Divided Brain, (website of the same name) produced for the CBC is a very good introduction to Iain's work and thought. It also features John Cleese in a hilarious scene with Iain.

Americans and the West, have taken their love of things as far as it can go. It's time to redress the balance.

Great interview, thank you Nate. I had the thought when early in the conversation, Nate mentioned Daniel Schmactenberger, that the dominance of the left hemisphere's way of thinking and thus organizing society, is from a game theoretical and culturally Darwinian point of view, more likely to proliferate/win the long term game of civilization. For example, the lefts focus on material gains,mechanistic utility and exploitation of nature for short term interest, over the rights holistic, contextual and empathetic 'holding back(?)' of progress as to contemplate and appreciate the beauty/sacredness of what we already have,when in competition will naturally result in the current predictable societal outcomes .We can all see how this has played out historically, with tribal animistic cultures being incorporated and turned into manipulated cogs of the bigger economic system, previously satisfied but once exposed to material commodities are and in some sense feel compelled to become involved,,as the short term lures overwhelm the bigger picture. People are conditioned and shaped by the system they are in.If survival is at stake and power is correlated to economic advantage, the left is better at steering societies in this direction,given its narrower and self serving goals, and that currently all individuals and countries at large are in competition,ergo those less able and inefficient are squeezed out. The left brain finds ever more ingenious ways to exploit the limbic systems addictive reward responses ,and tricks us into associating narrow short term materialistic/reductionist ideas to our happiness and direct survival,especially through the psychological needs we have for social inclusion,fabricated by culture. We are evolved to prioritize survival which in a so called resource scarce world is closely tied to material gains,apologies to repeat self,yawn. What gives me hope is that every generation has the neuroplasticity to change its ways, humans are not stuck forever in current modes of being in the world and culturally/economically can adopt a new value system, if other ways are simply no longer viable and seen as beneficial,we will have no choice but to adapt. Its a very difficult problem as Daniel lays out, given that the left brain is more growth orientated/effective at getting things done,relegating race to the bottom,multipolar traps,Moloch issues as inconvenient biproducts or plainly just unable to fully conceive them,these all seem issues of the left brain way of thinking are unlikely to solve. also AI societies will hold a huge advantage economically over those who choose not to adopt it, the economic gains and allures will be too great. anyway sorry to repeat self / ramble a bit incoherently ,very tired and bottle of wine down the hatch. cheers for the conversation,Iain a hugely important thinker during these times.