Listen "A Brief Clarification on Human Behavior | Frankly 78"
Episode Synopsis
(Recorded November 21, 2024) Two weeks ago, in a Frankly called The Battles of Our Time, Nate commented on human behavior and said that, in today's world, only three to four percent of humans are going to do the right thing and appeal to the 'better angels' of their nature. Today's Frankly is a follow-up and clarification of what he meant. It's true that humans are deeply influenced by our evolutionary past. It is also true that our current economic structures, cultural norms, and the inner workings of the superorganism shape our actions. But the majority of our history as a species paints a more optimistic picture than our current behavior might suggest. If we take a deeper time lens, it becomes obvious that, in order to navigate the challenges of the future, perhaps we need not look to technological innovation – but instead must return to the intrinsic values and pro-social nature of our past. Ultimately, we as individuals, and as a species, are plastic. The biggest predictor of our behavior is conforming to what others do, and what others do is going to change in the future… because it must. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners
More episodes of the podcast The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
Will We Artificially Cool the Planet? The Science and Politics of Geoengineering with Ted Parson
12/11/2025
The Quadruple Bifurcation | Frankly 112
31/10/2025
Terror Management Theory: How Existential Dread Has Shaped the World with Sheldon Solomon
29/10/2025
What Sloths Teach Us About the Superorganism
17/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.