FTP050: Daniel Jeffries – The Evolution of Systems and The Meaning of Life
This is the second part of our interview with author, futurist and thinker Daniel Jeffries, where we dive deeper into discussion of ideologies, systems thinking and the meaning of life.
Exposing ourselves to different ideologies
The use of killer robots is the idea Dan has been preoccupied with lately, ever since he saw a semi-fictional video about drones with precision-guided missiles and facial recognition. In order to design an effective mitigation system for this nightmarish scenario about to turn reality, he is having to look at it objectively and address all potential viewpoints.When you design a system, you also have to be able to design all the ways to destroy that system or hack it in order to be able to protect it. - @Dan_Jeffries1CLICK TO TWEETDan highlights the importance of being able to leave our “safe space”. If we surround ourselves with like-minded people and content only, we end up living in an echo chamber and never learn anything. It is important to expose ourselves to things that we might not like to hear, for it is the only way to learn and grow in life.Everyone is biased, because you are a limited creature in an unlimited universe. It is impossible to have a perfect perspective. - @Dan_Jeffries1CLICK TO TWEET
Rick and Morty and the Meaning of Life
Dan goes on discussing the article he wrote about the popular show “Rick and Morty” and what he believes is the central theme of the show – the meaning of life. He argues that going down the rabbit hole will eventually lead us to the realization that life is meaningless. However, if we decide to have an adventure and embrace it, we will create a meaning of our own.Enlightenment is a concept promised by many schools of thought out there. Dan defines enlightenment as a realization of truth – the moment when we stop believing in illusions being sold by all the gurus out there. When we stop chasing fantasies, we can start living our lives.Instead of asking what the meaning of life is, we should be asking what the meaning of life is to us. We can speculate on the mechanism behind it, but we can never truly understand it, because it is unknowable. This realization makes life much easier, allowing us to focus on things we love and care about.The meaning of life is not 'what is the meaning of life?' That's a universal question that has no answer. The correct question is 'what is the meaning of life to you? - @Dan_Jeffries1CLICK TO TWEET
Competition Within Organizations Leads to More Effective Systems
Dan argues that organizations that compete can easily outperform the rigid hierarchical systems we have today. Having smaller groups competing internally and trying out new things, potentially even replacing the main product or business model, is an effective way to build a system that is dynamic and flexible.The system we are a part of has a morality and logic in and itself that is different from ours. Therefore, what is beneficial for the system might not be beneficial for an individual. As drastic as it seems, the only way for a system to evolve is to go through death and mutation.Education is what you are exposed to, some of which is uncomfortable and some of which you don't want to think about, and it's how you grow - @dan_jeffries1CLICK TO TWEET
In This Episode of Future Thinkers Podcast:
- How to look objectively at the prospect of killer drones
- The benefits of exposing ourselves to uncomfortable things
- Why being biased is not a bad thing
- How do we find meaning in our lives?
- What is enlightenment and is there really a mechanism to achieve it?
- Why is internal competition good for organizations?
- Designing systems with built-in self-destruction mechanisms
- Evolution is only possible through death and mutation