How does Kevin Kelly view the use of psychedelics?

Kelly believes psychedelics can be used for profound spiritual experiences that elevate one beyond the ego, but stresses the importance of context, setting, and guidance, especially due to historical legal restrictions hindering the development of appropriate rituals.

What is Kevin Kelly's prediction about future global population?

Kelly predicts a significant global population implosion within 100 years, driven purely by demographic trends of decreasing fertility rates in developed and developing countries, largely due to increasing urbanization.

What advice does Kevin Kelly give about having children?

He believes privileged individuals should have children to bestow opportunities, highlighting the profound gift of siblings and the value of large families where older children help parent younger ones, often leading to stronger family and community bonds.

What can be learned from the Amish regarding technology adoption?

The Amish collectively and selectively adopt technology based on whether it strengthens their communities and families, such as preferring horse-drawn buggies to maintain local interactions or designing businesses to ensure daily family meals.

What are technological Sabbaths and why are they beneficial?

A technological Sabbath is a planned break from screens, keyboards, or connectivity, not because technology is inherently toxic, but because it's so pervasive. These regular disconnections allow for renewed perspective, appreciation, and a more balanced relationship with technology.

What is the purpose of the Long Now Foundation?

The Long Now Foundation counteracts society's inherent short-term bias by fostering long-term thinking and responsibility, encouraging individuals and society to consider generational or civilizational scales in their endeavors.

Key Moments

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Kevin Kelly discusses technology's cosmic role, psychedelic experiences, future population trends, and the Amish approach to technology.

Key Insights

Technology's trajectory is viewed as a cosmic force with potential to evolve consciousness and souls, necessitating ethical training.

Psychedelic substances, when used sacramentally and with proper context, can offer profound experiences for self-transcendence and expanded perspective.

Global population is projected to decline due to decreasing fertility rates across most countries, driven by urbanization and societal changes.

The Amish provide a model for selective technology adoption, prioritizing community cohesion and family connection over unchecked innovation.

Long-term thinking is crucial for societal progress, counteracting the prevalent short-term bias in modern culture and technology.

Rhythmic disconnection from technology, like weekly tech Sabbaths, enhances appreciation and offers renewed perspective on its use.

TECHNOLOGY AS A COSMIC FORCE AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Kevin Kelly explores technology not just as tools, but as a force with a cosmic direction, suggesting it plays a role in the evolution of consciousness. He likens technology's development to a form of creation, where the beings we engineer, such as robots, might eventually possess souls. This concept, explored in his graphic novel, highlights the crucial need for ethical training and moral guidance when creating autonomous entities, emphasizing that free beings require ethical instruction to prevent potential harm and ensure responsible development.

THE SACRAMENTAL USE OF PSYCHEDELICS FOR TRANSCENDENCE

Kelly discusses the profound potential of psychedelic substances when used sacramentally, emphasizing their role in elevating individuals beyond their ego and fostering contact with the 'other.' He shares a personal experience with LSD on his 50th birthday, highlighting the importance of guided, appropriate settings for such journeys. While acknowledging recreational use, he stresses that the true power lies in structured, intentional use, which has been historically hampered by legal restrictions, preventing the development and communication of necessary rituals and wisdom.

FORECASTING GLOBAL POPULATION DECLINE

Contrary to common assumptions, Kelly predicts a significant global population implosion within the next century, driven purely by demographic trends. He points to declining fertility rates below replacement levels in nearly all developed nations, exacerbated by global urbanization. Despite countermeasures in some regions, the trend is widespread, indicating that societal shifts and the nature of modern life make having large families increasingly uncommon, leading to a projected decrease in global population.

THE AMISH MODEL OF SELECTIVE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

Kelly finds the Amish community a fascinating case study in how to approach technology. They are not against technology but are selective 'hackers', employing it based on specific criteria. Their primary considerations are whether a technology strengthens local communities and facilitates family togetherness, such as ensuring meals are shared daily. This collective, deliberate approach contrasts with the often unexamined adoption of tech in mainstream society, demonstrating a conscious effort to preserve core values.

THE CHALLENGE OF LONG-TERM THINKINGVERSUS SHORT-TERM BIAS

The prevalent short-term bias in modern society, especially in technological hubs like Silicon Valley, is a significant concern. This bias focuses on immediate results, often neglecting the importance of history and long-term consequences. The Long Now Foundation, co-founded by Kevin Kelly, aims to counteract this by fostering generational and civilizational-scale thinking, encouraging initiatives that may take longer than a single lifetime to accomplish, such as monumental clocks or archiving languages.

THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGICAL SABBATICALS AND DISCONNECTION

Inspired by the Amish approach, Kelly advocates for periodic, intentional disconnection from technology, not as a detoxification but as a way to regain perspective and appreciation. He implements weekly screenless 'Sabbaths' and has experienced longer 'sabbaticals,' finding these breaks essential for re-engagement. This practice allows for a renewed look at technology's role in life, ensuring it serves rather than dictates, and fostering a more mindful relationship with digital tools.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●Drugs & Medications

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Practical Wisdom from Kevin Kelly

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Embrace a 'future forward' orientation, but think laterally by questioning assumptions.

Consider the societal and community impact of new technologies.

Prioritize strengthening local communities and family bonds when adopting technology.

Practice technological Sabbaths or screen breaks for renewed perspective.

Consider longer-term thinking and planning, extending beyond immediate gratification.

When using psychedelics, prioritize intentionality, proper setting, and guidance for profound experiences.

Avoid This

Don't dismiss potentially transformative experiences because they are difficult to articulate.

Don't let technology isolate you from your local community or family.

Don't view technological breaks as a 'detox' from poison, but as a way to enhance appreciation.

Avoid purely short-term thinking, especially regarding societal and technological development.

Do not use drugs recreationally or for entertainment if seeking profound spiritual growth.

Common Questions

Kevin Kelly sees religion as providing permission to ask 'cosmic questions' about technology's place in the universe. He is exploring ideas of conscious robots with souls potentially guided by trained angels in a graphic novel, emphasizing the need to train AI ethically.

Topics

Mindset & Self-Improvement Technology & Innovation Long-term Thinking Family Values Psychedelic Experiences Future Forecasting Communal Living Technological Adoption Digital Detachment

Mentioned in this video

People

Kevin Kelly

Co-founder of Wired magazine and author, featured in a conversation with Tim Ferriss about technology, philosophy, and societal trends.

Tim Ferriss

Host of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, interviewing Kevin Kelly about various topics including technology, philosophy, and societal trends.

Warren Buffett

Mentioned in relation to the Long Bets project of the Long Now Foundation, which features public predictions with philanthropic money at stake.

Brian Eno

Mentioned as the originator of the term 'long now', which describes an attempt to expand our perception of time beyond the immediate.

Books

What Technology Wants

A book by Kevin Kelly that explores a theory of technology and its place in the cosmos, recommending it as an excellent read on the subject.

Cool Tools

Kevin Kelly's book, described as a catalog of possibilities with around 1500 items, including advice for transformative psychedelic experiences.

Drugs & Medications

LSD

Mentioned as a substance Kevin Kelly took sacramentally on his 50th birthday, highlighting its potential for profound spiritual experiences when used with intention and guidance.

Companies

Genentech

The company where Kevin Kelly's wife works, notable for offering researchers an official six-week sabbatical.

Organizations

Amish

A traditionalist Christian church community known for simple living and reluctance to adopt modern technology. Kevin Kelly spends time with them and draws lessons from their approach to technology and community.

Long Now Foundation

An organization established to foster long-term thinking and responsibility, promoting projects like the 10,000-year clock and the Rosetta Project.

Software & Apps

Wired

A magazine co-founded by Kevin Kelly, which discusses technology and its impact on culture and politics.

Concepts

Moore's Law

The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles about every two years, discussed as an assumption that can be challenged to think laterally about the future.

Products

iPhone

Kevin Kelly mentions owning an iPhone 5 but not using it properly, preferring to avoid it as an input device and disconnect from technology when traveling.