Summary

The conversation explores the topics of wholeness and value and the relationship between them. Ken, Marc, and Zak discuss the concept of anthro-ontology, which is the study of the true essence and nature of human beings. They also delve into the idea of the mystery within us and how it relates to wholeness. The conversation touches on the importance of asking the fundamental questions of where am I, who am I, and what ought I do. They also discuss the inclusion of the why question and how it can be answered through deep practice and a seeking of wholeness. The hosts explore different theories of value and the distinction between intrinsic and instrumental value. They also touch on the relationship between separate self and unique self, and the concept of true self. The conversation explores the relationship between ego and Unique Self, pointing out the confusion and hijacking that can occur. It delves into the distinction between instrumental value and absolute value, and how they are not completely unrelated. The discussion also highlights the misvaluation of nature and the need to align use value with exchange value. The conversation emphasizes the importance of reintroducing a linguistic understanding of value and the field of value in countering simplistic economic reductionism. It concludes by addressing the crisis of meaning and the need to clarify value as a cure.

Takeaways

• Wholeness and value are two faces of the same concept, and exploring their relationship is important.
• Asking the fundamental questions of where am I, who am I, and what ought I do can provide direction and orientation in life.
• The why question can be included in the exploration of wholeness and value, but it should be answered through deep practice and a seeking of wholeness.
• There are different theories of value, including intrinsic value and instrumental value.
• The concepts of separate self and unique self relate to the idea of true self, which is the ultimate individuation of the self. The ego and Unique Self have a complex relationship, with the ego often confusing and hijacking the value of Unique Self.
• There is a distinction between instrumental value and absolute value, but they are not completely unrelated.
• There is a misvaluation of nature, with exchange value overshadowing the true ecological value.
• Reintroducing a linguistic understanding of value and the field of value is crucial in countering economic reductionism.
• The crisis of meaning can be addressed by clarifying value and understanding the interconnectedness of value and meaning. Value is not static but evolving, and meaning is rooted in the field of value.
• Conversations are the exchange of meaning embedded in value and are essential to the human condition.
• Creativity should be recontextualized within the field of value.
• Conversations play a crucial role in addressing the meaning crisis and countering the devaluation of conversations by AI.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Context

03:12 Exploring Anthroontology and the Mystery Within Us

07:14 The Importance of the Why Question

12:45 The Destructive and Creative Aspects of the Why

24:08 Different Theories of Value

29:21 The Concepts of Separate Self and Unique Self

32:24 The Confusion and Hijacking of Ego and Unique Self

34:34 The Distinction Between Instrumental Value and Absolute Value

35:19 The Misvaluation of Nature and the Need for Alignment

36:48 Reintroducing a Linguistic Understanding of Value

50:44 Addressing the Crisis of Meaning through Clarifying Value

01:06:56 The Evolving Nature of Value

01:09:25 The Essential Role of Conversations

01:12:25 Recontextualizing Creativity within Value

01:13:31 Addressing the Meaning Crisis and the Threat of AI

Summary

This conversation explores the concept of attention and its importance in our lives. It delves into the attention economy and the hijacking of attention in the digital age. The speakers discuss the value of attention and its role in uniqueness, eros, and intimacy. They also examine the evolution of attention and its expression in pre-modern, modern, and post-modern times. The conversation highlights the distinction between attending beings and reliably differentially responding beings. It explores the problems with surveillance and the degradation of attention in conditioning. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the fundamental need for attention and the consequences of degrading it.

Takeaways

• The attention economy involves the grabbing and hijacking of attention in order to keep people online and engaged.
• Attention is a core structure of cosmos and is intimately related to love, creativity, and intimacy.
• Surveillance degrades attention by reducing it to a form of control and manipulation.
• The vulnerability of the attentional system makes it susceptible to capture and exploitation.
• Attention is a fundamental human need and its degradation threatens our humanity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:46 The Attention Economy

03:02 The Problem with Stealing Attention

05:21 The Value of Attention

07:08 Attention as a Core Structure of Cosmos

08:49 The Evolution of Attention

10:08 Attention in Pre-Modern, Modern, and Post-Modern Times

11:19 Attention in Evolution

12:56 Joint Attention and Language

15:13 Attention in Intergenerational Transmission

18:05 The Universe Values Attention

20:36 The Relationship Between Love and Attention

23:55 Continuity and Discontinuity of Attention

26:05 The Difference Between Attending Beings and Reliably Differentially Responding Beings

27:40 The Problem with Surveillance

29:14 The Distortion of Love and Attention

30:00 The Degrading of Attention in Surveillance

32:27 The Difference Between Surveillance and Conditioning

36:23 The Manipulation and Control of Attention

37:59 The Vulnerability of the Attentional System

39:08 The Need for Attention

Summary

The conversation explores the concept of attention and its role in various first values and principles. It discusses the collapse of attention and its impact on the meta crisis. The importance of basic attention and the effects of social media on attention are also examined. The conversation delves into the history of attention through different eras, including pre-modern, modern, and post-modern. It concludes with a discussion on the return to text in the digital age.

Takeaways

• Attention is a fundamental principle and value that underlies many first values and principles.
• The collapse of attention is a significant factor contributing to the meta crisis.
• Social media and digital technologies have had a profound impact on attention.
• The history of attention can be traced through different eras and the evolution of communication technologies.
• The return to text in the digital age has both positive and negative implications for attention.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and First Principles
02:22 The Collapse of Attention and the Meta Crisis
03:19 The Eros Equation and Attention
07:20 The Intimacy Equation and Attention
08:30 The Uniqueness Equation and Attention
13:35 The Impact of Social Media on Attention
16:59 The Importance of Basic Attention
19:31 The Many Watching the Few and the Few Watching the Many
24:34 The Collapse of Attention and the Cause of Evil
25:18 Recap of Pre-Modern, Modern, and Post-Modern Attention
29:10 The History of Attention through Communication Technologies
35:26 The Return to Text in the Digital Age