46K views · Nov 17, 2015 · 7:00 · 2 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2018–2022
An excerpt from an RSA event in which physicist David Deutsch makes the case for optimism as a driver of progress in the 21st century. It is a short highlight of a longer discussion.
Why Hacker News points people here: Pointed to as an antidote to pessimism about the future, tied to Deutsch's ideas in The Beginning of Infinity.
“I encourage everyone pessimistic about our future to learn about David Deutsch's infinite optimism”HN comment, 2019
“I encourage everyone pessimistic about our future to learn about David Deutsch's infinite optimism”
David Deutsch's case for infinite optimism.
I encourage everyone pessimistic about our future to learn about David Deutsch's infinite optimism: this video
“You can also go here and watch this”
Deutsch on optimism, companion to The Beginning of Infinity.
You need to read “The Beginning of Infinity” by David Deutsch. It will help clear up all the muddled thinking I see going on when I read those lines of yours. Edit: You can also go here and watch this: this video I still recommend the book though.
>Of course, we know that today the Luddites are not viewed particularly kindly On the contrary, it is technology and progress that are viewed with scepticism -- watch almost any recent sci-fi movie. this video
“A spirit of pessimism seems to be hanging over us these days”
Deutsch on pessimism about progress.
Say we were to crash potentially earth-destroying asteroids into the moon and then offer free mining rights to companies on a first-to-get-there basis. I think we would still hear a a cacophony of moral objections. A spirit of pessimism seems to be hanging over us these days: this video
