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David Deutsch on Optimism

12 videos recommended on HN
YouTube
2 HN users recommended this talk2 months2018–2022 score 2.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

Pointed to as an antidote to pessimism about the future, tied to Deutsch's ideas in The Beginning of Infinity.

An excerpt from an RSA event in which physicist David Deutsch makes the case for optimism as a driver of progress in the 21st century. It is a short highlight of a longer discussion.

“I encourage everyone pessimistic about our future to learn about David Deutsch's infinite optimism” (HN, 2019)

1 strong recommendations · 1 recommendations · 2 citations · Talks

4 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@nubero Aug 2022 Recommends
on HN thread “Science must respect the dignity and rights of all humans”
You need to read “The Beginning of Infinity” by David Deutsch. It will help clear up all the muddled thinking I see going on when I read those lines of yours. Edit: You can also go here and watch this: [this video] I still recommend the book though.
Deutsch on optimism, companion to The Beginning of Infinity.

Citations, criticism and jokes

@truculation May 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Why the Luddites Matter
>Of course, we know that today the Luddites are not viewed particularly kindly On the contrary, it is technology and progress that are viewed with scepticism -- watch almost any recent sci-fi movie. [this video]
@trukterious Oct 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Space Transportation System
Say we were to crash potentially earth-destroying asteroids into the moon and then offer free mining rights to companies on a first-to-get-there basis. I think we would still hear a a cacophony of moral objections. A spirit of pessimism seems to be hanging over us these days: [this video]
Deutsch on pessimism about progress.

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