Eric Weinstein

How to Question the World Around You & Find Your Core Theories (Part 2)

Episode #472

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The world is playing a new game. It’s called “gotcha.”

We say “gotcha!” when Sara Silverman is caught saying something homophobic 10 years ago. Or Kevin Hart. Or any comedian.

We say “gotcha” when a celebrity tweet is taken out of context. Or if you’re not 101% politically correct.

Everyone is in the game. And any can get caught. But only some get punished.

That’s the new world.

“It’s called Article 58,” Eric Weinstein said. He’s a mathematical physicist. And now the Managing Director of Thiel Capital (Peter Thiel’s investment firm). And the host of the new podcast “The Portal.”

Which everyone should listen to.

I interviewed him for two hours. About markets, physics, the political climate. And we go deep.

I asked him what Article 58 is.

And the answer scared me.

“It’s the provision that made Anti-Soviet activities a high crime… everyone is always guilty of Article 58,” he said. “Everyone is guilty at all times. The only thing is when do you enforce it? This is what’s going on today… everyone is guilty of Article 58 of the social justice code.”

Article 58 gave the Russian government permission to lock up anybody at any time.

Now, today’s version of Article 58 gives the Twitter mob and the media permission to take someone’s life. They create mass hate. And outrage.

This happens at the workplace too. Google employees are afraid to be republican. Or conservative. Silicon Valley’s left alienates the right for not being inclusive…

Think about that for a second.

It’s scary.

Because there’s always a risk that you’ll be called the I word…

“Ignorant!”

“Gotcha” leads to outrage porn. And the more porn we watch together, the uglier we become. We become reactive instead of responsive. We yell instead of debate.

We hate instead of ask questions. It’s almost like we don’t want to see the world get good. We just want to play “gotcha.”

I asked Eric, “What’s the way out? Besides violence?”

(Because history only shows violence and war as the way out).

In the episode, Eric gives example after example of how to use specific communication styles, thought processes and fundamental understandings of physics, history, human psychology and evolution to not get trapped in the rules of our petty society.

He’ll teach you how to “unspin the world.” And find your core values.

Here’s a full list of what you’ll hear and learn about in this episode.

 

  • Episode sneak peak – [0:00]
  • How to practice being outspoken – [2:13]
  • The dangers of “the gotcha game” (people taking things out of context, being accusational and getting you fired) – [3:43]
  • Eric gives an example of how you can avoid everyday misunderstandings  – [8:38]
  • The importance of face-to-face communication [10:50]

 

  • Confessions from Google employees who say, “I joined Google because I thought it was an exciting, bold company that wanted to take on the future and I can’t stand my life there because it’s become this politically correct camp…” –  [13:02]
  • The impact of “cancel culture” and marginalizing specific groups based on gender, race, age, etc.  [15:30]
  • Outrage porn & how the media is pushing us into negative thought patterns  – [17:51]
  • What happens when we give something a name and language – [18:58]
  • Trend: hating straight, white men – [21:03]

  • Outrage porn is getting louder and more violent… Eric says how to communicate with people who refuse to discuss your differences – [23:41]
  • The hypocrisy of PC culture… “They’re not aware that they have become bullies and have become abusive in exactly the same terms that they claim other people are abusive.” – [26:06]
  • History repeats… In Soviet Russia, there was something called Article 58. Which declared all anti-soviet activities a high crime… “Everyone is always guilty of Article 58,” Eric said. “The only thing is when do you enforce it? And this is what’s going on today… Everyone is guilty of Article 58 of the social justice code.” –  [28:18]

  • Eric says The New York Times is “guilty of a particular type of Fake news called “narrative driven news”  – [30:45]
  • I ask Eric if there’s an end to these threats against freedom of speech – [34:10]
  • The real reason why Trump holds rallies – [37:00]

 

  • “Strategic silence” – a method used by the media to underreport and underrepresented specific people, communities and issues [38:34]
  • Why some people are silenced and others aren’t [41:24]
  • Eric lists the 4 fields everyone should study to understand humans as a species and practice first principles thinking – [43:41]
  • Reliable vs unreliable knowledge (Which information you should be highly suspicious of) – [46:00]
  • I ask Eric “What do you do during the day?” – [47:53]
  • The myth of Peter Theil (plus Eric shares some insights he’s learned from Peter) [48:25]

 

 

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