5 minute summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
__________
24 May 2021
2hr 37mins
FEATURING
Owltail Summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
_________
#186 – Bryan Johnson: Kernel Brain-Computer Interfaces
24 May 2021
2hr 37mins
Quote
"Mental health is forgotten until it's the only thing that matters"
Ideas
1
Our brain is one of the most important organs we have, but it's also one of the ones we understand the least.
In most other medical fields, doctors only prescribe the appropriate medication & regimes after getting data through tests of relevant markers.
We would think that its crazy if a cardiologist prescribed you anything for your heart based on experimenting and seeing how it goes.
But this is exactly what we do with our mental health today.
One day, we will create the same quantifiable data & metrics that we use to measure our physical health for our mental health.
We would think that its crazy if a cardiologist prescribed you anything for your heart based on experimenting and seeing how it goes.
But this is exactly what we do with our mental health today.
One day, we will create the same quantifiable data & metrics that we use to measure our physical health for our mental health.
1
Our brain is one of the most important organs we have, but it's also one of the ones we understand the least.
In most other medical fields, doctors only prescribe the appropriate medication & regimes after getting data through tests of relevant markers.
We would think that its crazy if a cardiologist prescribed you anything for your heart based on experimenting and seeing how it goes.
But this is exactly what we do with our mental health today.
One day, we will create the same quantifiable data & metrics that we use to measure our physical health for our mental health.
We would think that its crazy if a cardiologist prescribed you anything for your heart based on experimenting and seeing how it goes.
But this is exactly what we do with our mental health today.
One day, we will create the same quantifiable data & metrics that we use to measure our physical health for our mental health.
2
Zeroth-principles thinking is about building blocks, or the structure of all things, whereas first-principles thinking is about understanding system laws and how things interact.
Zeroth principles thinking is thinking about concepts where we have no idea about the potential consequences or payoffs of whatever it is we're thinking. Whilst first principles thinking is often optimised for set goals, learning and inventing new things as necessary.
Lifes constraints favours first principles thinking as it allows for us to take faster action with higher probability of success, whilst zeroth principles thinking is often expensive and uncertain.
However, to properly build the future, we need both first principles as well as zeroth principles thinking, otherwise we're unlikely to uncover unknown unknowns.
Lifes constraints favours first principles thinking as it allows for us to take faster action with higher probability of success, whilst zeroth principles thinking is often expensive and uncertain.
However, to properly build the future, we need both first principles as well as zeroth principles thinking, otherwise we're unlikely to uncover unknown unknowns.
2
Zeroth-principles thinking is about building blocks, or the structure of all things, whereas first-principles thinking is about understanding system laws and how things interact.
Zeroth principles thinking is thinking about concepts where we have no idea about the potential consequences or payoffs of whatever it is we're thinking. Whilst first principles thinking is often optimised for set goals, learning and inventing new things as necessary.
Lifes constraints favours first principles thinking as it allows for us to take faster action with higher probability of success, whilst zeroth principles thinking is often expensive and uncertain.
However, to properly build the future, we need both first principles as well as zeroth principles thinking, otherwise we're unlikely to uncover unknown unknowns.
Lifes constraints favours first principles thinking as it allows for us to take faster action with higher probability of success, whilst zeroth principles thinking is often expensive and uncertain.
However, to properly build the future, we need both first principles as well as zeroth principles thinking, otherwise we're unlikely to uncover unknown unknowns.
3
Advice is often a mirror of a person and their circumstances.
Often the advice you're hearing today is a representation of principles to build upon previously, but is likely depreciating as the world changes.
We should all ask for advice, but not just do as the advice says.
The value of advice isn't doing it, it's in understanding the assumption stack that someone's built around a body of knowledge.
We should all ask for advice, but not just do as the advice says.
The value of advice isn't doing it, it's in understanding the assumption stack that someone's built around a body of knowledge.
3
Advice is often a mirror of a person and their circumstances.
Often the advice you're hearing today is a representation of principles to build upon previously, but is likely depreciating as the world changes.
We should all ask for advice, but not just do as the advice says.
The value of advice isn't doing it, it's in understanding the assumption stack that someone's built around a body of knowledge.
We should all ask for advice, but not just do as the advice says.
The value of advice isn't doing it, it's in understanding the assumption stack that someone's built around a body of knowledge.
Questions
1
Can you think of any advice you give that's a product of your circumstances and context?
1
Can you think of any advice you give that's a product of your circumstances and context?
What else is in the episode
1
How Bryan has run thousands of experiments on his diet, sleep and lifestyle
1
How Bryan has run thousands of experiments on his diet, sleep and lifestyle
2
The future of brain-computer interfaces
2
The future of brain-computer interfaces
3
Overcoming depression what consciousness is and the meaning of life
3
Overcoming depression what consciousness is and the meaning of life
Who is Bryan Johnson?
1
The founder and CEO of Kernel, a company that has developed devices that can monitor and record brain activity and OS Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage science and technology companies. He was also the founder of Braintree, a company which specializes in mobile and web payment systems for ecommerce companies, which was acquired by eBay in 2013 for $800 million.
1
The founder and CEO of Kernel, a company that has developed devices that can monitor and record brain activity and OS Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage science and technology companies. He was also the founder of Braintree, a company which specializes in mobile and web payment systems for ecommerce companies, which was acquired by eBay in 2013 for $800 million.
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