Ross Douthat: evaluation

Transcript context

…I would have to reread — You would have to . . . Well, anyway, it’s some sort of rebellion against the use of computational replacements for human beings. And so you have this far-distant spacefaring culture that relies on Mentats, these humans who have developed their intellect to somewhat superhuman levels — perhaps through the use of CRISPR — thereby I’m trying to unite all the themes of tonight, Tyler — But they don’t use certain forms of computing power that we would assume people in the far future would. Anyway, that’s the necessary background. My view for a short-term Butlerian Jihad is much more limited and boring. I think that people should limit or reduce or eliminate the use of computers and screens and digital devices for children and in schools up to a certain age. And I’m flexible and could argue about what that age should be. But I think that young childhood certainly should not be a place . . . I think that young human beings should be given a sustained encounter with actual physical and social reality before being placed in front of a screen. And I think that that should be educational common sense. And that we’ve gone in the opposite direction is an unfortunate thing. So, I think you start with that and then we can talk about future steps. Like, I don’t know, yeah. We can talk. I don’t want to suggest any, in case I’m quoted out of context, but you can imagine next steps. We’ll just stick with that educational step first. I have a question from my iPad screen right here.…

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