RE: Why we stopped progressing

Grasping to get onto the level these intellectuals are on is good exercise, like rock climbing. At least until you miss a grip and fall off the wall.

"Low-level memetic envy" <- https://www.google.com/search?q=what+low+level+memetic+envy+predicated+status+games

1. The Game of Curated Lifestyle ("Micro-Flexing")

2. The Game of Digital Metric Dominance

3. The Game of Virtue Signaling and Moral One-Upmanship

4. The Game of Gatekeeping and Niche Authority

5. The Game of "Leisure and Freedom"

This subject is actually very relevant to all of us. I've felt myself withdrawing from these subconsciously.

A Transcript quotes Dr. Peterson here as;

"And our discussion really walks through one of Peter’s fundamental propositions: that progress in the material world and not the digital world, let’s say, has slowed substantively since maybe the 1960s. And that there are deep reasons for that.

Some of it is apocalyptic fear of the scientific endeavor, some of it is this hippie-like desire to look inside. Some of it is escape into a world of abstraction.

And so he outlined his theory of social transformation, which is also deeply influenced by a skepticism about what low-level mimetic envy predicated status games, which I think is a very wise target of skepticism."

"We walked through his thoughts on social and technological transformation over a couple of hundred years, concentrating more on the last 60, and also began to flesh out a metaphysics that might ameliorate some of that nihilistic pathology and malaise.

And that enabled us to at least begin a discussion about what metaphysical presuppositions are necessary for a society and a psyche to remain well, not only healthy, but non-totalitarian and catastrophic. So join us for that."

Thanks for your attention, let me know if you finish the video at some point. Any insights you have are welcome for discussion!