Guru Right to Respond with Robert Wright (Audio) *UNEDITED*
Added 2022-07-22 07:49:05 +0000 UTCHere is the audio version of the interview.
Covers our episode, the mystery of consciousness, and the Ukraine & Russia conflict (and the nature of apologetics).
Feedback welcome!
Comments
It was not a bad conversation, but I am always left with the feeling that people talking about NATO expansion always seem to forget that the Russians never really gave up on their claims to their empire or accepted the crimes of the Soviets. The president of Estonia, Lennart Meri, laid this out quite clearly during a speech in Hamburg in 1994. Furthermore depending on your view in 2008, Putin had already brutally subjugated Chechnya. In a way NATO caused the War in Ukraine works mostly because Americans don't really pay attention or know much about Eastern Europe and if they do it is mostly a Russianized perspective like giving credence to Crimea not really being Ukrainian. Also waffling on the clear cultural and linguistic genocide in progress in the occupied areas feels rather weak. Anti-imperialist Americans seem generally underinformed when looking at Russia so they pivot to what they know 'West does bad things.' and fit the situation in that mold. Good on Chris for voicing the obvious when stating that regardless of neighbors, the right of the Ukrainians to choose is paramount and as long as they want to fight on the west should provide them with the means.
Wouter Vermeyen
2022-08-10 09:11:17 +0000 UTCYes. It was useful as clarification. You are both impressive in your ability to engage with someone who seems to revel in fallacies. My takeaway is that his Gurometer score needs to be adjusted. Conspiracy theories are surely good grounds.
Jesta
2022-08-09 23:36:06 +0000 UTCWell, I don't think it is surprising that Bob did not come round to our POV. He is pretty strong-willed and clear in his perspective. We didn't expect to convince him either but I think the conversation was useful insofar as it helped clarify Bob's positions (and where they diverge from ours).
Christopher Kavanagh
2022-08-09 22:25:42 +0000 UTCThis was a tough episode. I thought that the DTG team do good work in allowing people to come on to discuss their criticisms, but it wasn't as constructive as I would have liked. First off, the whole consciousness debate felt like a "god of the gaps" argument: "You can't can't explain it materially, therefore my argument wins." RW was right that subjects should be discussed no matter how difficult they are, and certainly looking at why something happened does help prevent it in the future. But... then it was on to what @Bill Beatty discussed (above) with severe victim blaming for the Eastern Europeans, followed by the classic "I can't vet everyone I invite on to my podcast." Seriously? If you are in media then your most basic requirement is to do background research and not allow someone with deeply troubling views to use your channel to whitewash themselves. You do have to see them in totality, and not ignore the bits you don't want to hear about. Disappointed in this one.
Jesta
2022-08-09 08:29:02 +0000 UTCFair point... email?
Christopher Kavanagh
2022-07-25 23:55:06 +0000 UTCAppreciate that Amy!
Christopher Kavanagh
2022-07-25 23:44:58 +0000 UTCThis was a great conversation. It was thoughtful and interesting, and you all did a good job in highlighting both points of agreement and disagreement in your different perspectives.
Amy
2022-07-25 16:28:37 +0000 UTCI just logged on to say something similar. "Using your cognitive empathy, couldn't you have predicted that sighing like that would cause your husband to hit you? As a thought experiment, do you wish you could take it back?"
NDSR
2022-07-25 13:35:04 +0000 UTCI’m just a dumb-dumb but this guy talking about Ukraine has a very “well what was Ukraine wearing when Russian penetrated it’s borders” vibe to him.
Bill Beatty
2022-07-25 05:05:27 +0000 UTCHow can I do that? I don’t think I can upload here.
Mbuyi
2022-07-22 19:08:18 +0000 UTCHmm? That doesn’t happen on any feed we’ve seen? Screenshot?
Christopher Kavanagh
2022-07-22 08:58:25 +0000 UTCHi Matt & Chris, Out of curiosity, Why do the Galaxy Brain Feed episode have the Premium Making Sense artwork ? At first I thought it’s just a glitch from Apple Podcast but now I can see that it’s always the same artwork …
Mbuyi
2022-07-22 08:57:26 +0000 UTC
