Sam Arbesman, complexity scientist, author of "The Magic of Code," and scientist in residence at Lux Capital, joins me for a wide-ranging exploration of how we navigate an increasingly complex world that often exceeds human comprehension.

We dive into the oral traditions that preserve crucial scientific knowledge, why cognitive diversity trumps demographic diversity, the forgotten innovations hiding in technological history, and Sam's vision for "Maxis 2.0".

This conversation had everything—from science fiction's cultural impact to the philosophy of intellectual humility. Sam and I discovered we're remarkably simpatico on how to think about complex systems, the importance of historical context, and why saying "I don't know" is the foundation of genuine learning.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.

Important Links:

Show Notes:

Sam’s Sci-fi Origins
The Oral Tradition in Science and Technology
Cultivating the Unexpected
Open-Endedness and Large Language Models
“All Models Are Wrong, but Some Are Useful”
Culture’s Role in Shaping Everything
Patching Bugs in HumanOS
Tech History and Forgotten Innovations
A Tech Archaeology Fellowship
Humility and Knowledge
Learning Via Negativa
The Complexity of Our World
Sam’s Current Obsessions in Science and Gaming
Sam As Emperor of the World

Books Mentioned:

Dune; by Frank Herbert
Foundation trilogy; by Isaac Asimov
Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension; by Sam Arbesman
The Half-Life of Facts; by Sam Arbesman
When We Cease to Understand the World; by Benjamín Labatut
White Mirror; by Tinkered Thinking
Nonzero; by Robert Wright
The Evolution of God; by Robert Wright
God and Golem, Inc.; by Norbert Wiener
The Road; by Cormac McCarthy
The Guide for the Perplexed; by Moses Maimonides
The Story of Civilization; by Will and Ariel Durant
Mistakes Were Made, and Yes, by Me; by Jim O'Shaughnessy

Sam Arbesman — Science, Complexity and Humanistic Computation (EP.277)

Infinite Loops