Paul sits down with Dr. Zachary Stein to explore the future of education and the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. He advocates for dismantling traditional schools and replacing them with systems that prioritize human-to-human interaction. Dr. Stein warns against humanoid AI teachers, emphasizing their potential for deception and manipulation. Instead, he proposes AI systems that enhance and refine human relationships. Additionally, he discusses the impact of AI in sectors like military and finance, emphasizing the need for a universal grammar of value to guide AI development. The episode delves into the metacrisis and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in civilization.
Dr. Zachary Stein is a Co-Founder of the Civilization Research Institute and the Center for World Philosophy and Religion. He was trained at the interface of philosophy, psychology, and education and now works in fields related to the mitigation of global catastrophic risk. He is a widely sought-after and award-winning speaker and a leading authority on the future of education and contemporary issues in human development.
Zak is the author of dozens of published papers and two influential books. His first book, Social Justice and Educational Measurement, traces the history of standardized testing and its ethical implications. His most recent book, Education in a Time Between Worlds, grapples with the dangers posed by a profound learning and capacity deficit in a time of civilization-wide transformation. In this work, Zak argues that educational systems must be transformed beyond recognition if humanity is to survive the planetary crises currently underway, from climate change to geopolitical instability.
Zak sees education, in a deeply philosophical sense, as fundamental to the sustainability of civilization, with implications for each component of the "metacrisis" - the complex, interrelated global challenges and existential threats facing humanity. In Zak's view, whoever drives the technology stack of education will shape the future of civilization itself. His mission is to empower younger generations with the capacity to comprehend and respond appropriately to the unique challenges of our time.
Connect with Dr. Zachary Stein
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EPISODE CHAPTERS
0:01 - Envisioning an Educational Renaissance Through AI and Human Connection
2:18 - Technological Elites and the Redesign of Society
7:39 - BF Skinner's Influence on Societal Engineering to Prevent Existential Risks
9:22 - Manipulation Through Digital Reinforcement and Surveillance
11:58 - Technocracy's Struggle With Value and Control
13:45 - Confronting Nihilism and Meaning in Education
15:48 - Transforming American Education for Cold War Supremacy
18:35 - Decoding the Shift in American Education and Economy
21:59 - Debating AI's Role in Transforming Education
25:03 - AI Socialization Threatens Millennia-Old Human Connections
26:46 - The Ethical Dilemmas of Humanoid AI Development
32:43 - Debating the Nature of Value and the Good Life
34:12 - The Dual Use Dilemma of AI in Modern Technology
35:57 - AI's Impact on Military, Finance, and Pop Culture
39:09 - Educational Crisis and National Defense Perspectives
43:36 - Envisioning a Renaissance in Education Through AI and Community
48:57 - Revitalizing Education Through Community Engagement and Guild Structures
51:06 - Distinguishing Education from Propaganda and Coercion
55:19 - Coercion and Thought-Terminating Cliches in Social Media
1:00:26 - Confronting Propaganda with Educational Innovation
1:03:49 - Metacrisis Dynamics: Oscillating Between Chaos and Oppression
1:07:04 - Redefining Civilization Within Planetary Boundaries
1:10:37 - Rethinking Value Systems and Worldviews for Ecological Preservation
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