Alan Levinovitz: How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Flawed Science || HPP Ep. 9

Alan Levinovitz: How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Flawed Science || HPP Ep. 9

Author: HumanProgress.org August 10, 2021 Duration: 1:11:02

Dr. Alan Levinovitz illuminates the far-reaching harms of believing that natural means “good,” from misinformation about health choices to justifications for sexism, racism, and flawed economic policies.

Transcript: https://www.humanprogress.org/alan-levinovitz-the-human-progress-podcast-ep-8-transcript/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Natures-Goodness-Harmful-Science/dp/0807010871

Dr. Levinovitz focuses primarily on the relationship between religion, literature, and science, with particular attention to classical Chinese thought and comparative ethics. His most recent book, Natural: How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Harmful Fads, Unjust Laws, and Flawed Science, examines the meaning of "natural" and argues that modern Western culture has divinized nature. He is currently working on another book project, The Gentleman and the Jester, which develops a binary typology of ethical education. Other interests include the tension between paratext (introductions, footnotes, etc.) and primary text, the significance of play, and the role of genre in ethical discourse.

Marian L. Tupy is the editor of HumanProgress.org, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, and coauthor of The Simon Project. He specializes in globalization and global well‐being and politics and economics of Europe and Southern Africa.

Learn more: https://www.cato.org/people/marian-l-tupy


Marian L. Tupy and Chelsea Follett of HumanProgress.org host The Human Progress Podcast, a series dedicated to exploring the often overlooked but measurable advancements that have shaped our world. This podcast delves into the data and stories behind improvements in human well-being, from rising life expectancy and declining poverty to technological innovation and expanding freedoms. Each episode features conversations with researchers, authors, and thinkers who examine the forces driving this progress, while also addressing common misconceptions and concerns about the future. The discussions are grounded in evidence, offering a nuanced counterpoint to prevailing narratives of decline. Listeners will find a thoughtful analysis of long-term trends across science and society, providing a deeper understanding of how far we’ve come and the challenges that remain. It’s an invitation to consider a more optimistic, fact-based view of human history and our potential. Tune in for a regular dose of informed perspective that goes beyond the headlines.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 77

The Human Progress Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Promise of Cryptocurrency | Jack Solowey | Ep. 45 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:16
Jack Solowey, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute focusing on financial technology, joins Chelsea Follett to discuss the potential benefits of cryptocurrency and the regulatory challenges it faces.
Reclaiming Our Sci-Fi Future | James Pethokoukis | Ep. 44 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
James Pethokoukis, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Chelsea Follett to discuss how we can reignite American optimism and build the sci-fi world we were promised.
Unlocking Africa's Potential | David Ansara | Ep. 42 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:20
David Ansara, the Chief Executive of the Free Market Foundation, a South African think tank, joins Chelsea Follett to discuss progress and problems in Africa. David Ansara has been Chief Executive at the FMF since 1 Janu…
Anti-Racism vs. True Empowerment | Erec Smith | Ep. 41 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
Erec Smith, a Professor of Rhetoric and the co-founder of Free Black Thought, joins Chelsea Follett to discuss the problems with critical social justice and how we can pursue true empowerment through classical liberal id…
The Dangers of ESG | Todd Zywicki | Ep. 39 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:47
Professor Todd Zywicki joins Chelsea Follett to discuss environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) and the threat it poses to innovation, economic growth, and democracy.
The Poverty of Slavery | Robert Wright | Ep. 38 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:14
Robert Wright, a Senior Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, joins Chelsea Follett to discuss the history of slavery and the damage it does to society. Robert E. Wright is a Senior Research Fellow at t…
The Economic Madness of Malthusianism | Stephen Barrows | Ep. 37 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:18
The economist Stephen Barrows joins Chelsea Follett to discuss the intellectual history of population economics, the benefits of population growth, and what we can expect from a future of falling fertility. Stephen Barro…