(Conversation recorded on May 5th, 2024)

Show Summary:

In this episode, Nate welcomes back Daniel Schmachtenberger to unpack a new paper, which he co-authored, entitled Development in Progress, an analysis on the history of progress and the consequences of ‘advancement’.

Current mainstream narratives sell the story that progress is synonymous with betterment, and that the world becomes better for everyone as GDP and economies continue to grow. Yet, this is an incomplete portrayal that leaves out the dark sides of advancement. What are the implications when only the victors of history write the narratives of progress and define societal values? What are the value systems embedded in our institutions and policies, and how do they reinforce the need for ongoing growth at the expense of the natural world and human well-being? Finally, how do we change these dynamics to form a new, holistic definition of progress that accounts for the connectedness of our planet to the health of our minds, bodies, and communities?

The full paper discussed in this episode will be available on The Consilience Project website in the near future.

About Daniel Schmachtenberger:

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue.

The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.

Towards these ends, he’s had a particular interest in catastrophic and existential risk, with focuses on civilization collapse and institutional decay. His work also includes an analysis of progress narratives, collective action problems, and social organization theories. These themes are all connected through close study of the relevant domains in philosophy and science.

For Show Notes and More visit:

thegreatsimplification.com/episode/daniel-schmachtenberger-7

To watch this video episode on Youtube → https://youtu.be/tmusbHBKW84

Daniel Schmachtenberger: "Moving from Naive to Authentic Progress: A Vision for Betterment”

The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Daniel Schmachtenberger: "Moving from Naive to Authentic Progress: A Vision for Betterment”