Highlights: #188 – Matt Clancy on whether science is good

Highlights: #188 – Matt Clancy on whether science is good

Author: The 80,000 Hours team June 6, 2024 Duration: 26:28

This is a selection of highlights from episode #188 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast.

These aren't necessarily the most important, or even most entertaining parts of the interview — and if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode:

Matt Clancy on whether science is good

And if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.

Chapters:

  • Luisa’s intro (00:00:00)
  • How could scientific progress be net negative? (00:00:15)
  • Non-philosophical reasons to discount the far-future (00:03:42)
  • How technology generates huge benefits in our day-to-day lives (00:07:54)
  • Can science reduce extinction risk? (00:14:17)
  • Are we already too late to delay the time of perils? (00:18:48)
  • The omnipresent frictions that might prevent explosive economic growth (00:21:59)

Highlights put together by Simon Monsour, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong


From the team behind 80,000 Hours comes 80k After Hours, a companion podcast that ventures beyond the main feed's structured career advice. Here, the researchers and producers gather for more informal, wide-ranging conversations that reflect their ongoing curiosities. You'll hear discussions that dig into the nuances of effective altruism, grapple with complex ideas in philosophy and policy, and explore unexpected topics in culture and science-all through the lens of how we might better understand and improve the world. The tone is conversational and exploratory, often feeling like you're listening in on a lively lunch debate among experts who don't take themselves too seriously. While the core mission of finding impactful ways to do good remains, this podcast allows for the tangents, personal reflections, and deeper dives that don't always fit a standard format. It’s a space for the team to think out loud, test arguments, and share the interesting, sometimes quirky, material they're engaging with in their own work. For listeners of the main show, it offers valuable background and new perspectives; for newcomers, it provides an accessible entry point into a community of ideas focused on practical problem-solving and self improvement. Tune in for a blend of thoughtful documentary-style analysis, societal deep dives, and candid chats that aim to be both intellectually substantive and genuinely enjoyable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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