Scott Patterson's Chaos Kings, Part 4

In this podcast episode, Scott Patterson and Nassim Nicholas Taleb engage in a thought-provoking discussion about risk and the precautionary principle. They tackle the contentious issue of geoengineering as a potential solution to climate change, emphasizing the challenges of understanding complex systems and the risk of unintended consequences. The conversation then explores Taleb's shifting perspective on libertarianism, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he critiques the inconsistencies within certain libertarian viewpoints. They also examine the shortcomings of the investment industry, the pitfalls of long-termism and effective altruism, and Taleb's views on the inherent fragility of Bitcoin. Lastly, they highlight the significance of localism and caution against over-reliance on complex models for making decisions.