Heterogeneous Genius

Ruben hosts today's episode solo. What is it like living here in Grenada? I begin the show by discussing some of my experiences with the local work ethic, and explore what makes it the way it is, and why it is so different from that in first-world countries. After the break I discuss the education system, explore some common complaints about it, and conclude that, contrary to many of these complaints, the education system in America is far too easy, lax, and catered to those of low ability. Lastly, I discuss the idea of success and what it means to be a successful person.

We have begun reading The Sane Society by Erich Fromm. We discuss the first chapter, exploring whether a society as a whole can be considered mentally unhealthy, or whether unhealthy and irregularities can only be distinguished in reference to a common majority within a group. Next, we discuss morality within religion as well as its existence outside of religious belief. Also that, at times, much of the fuel behind atheism is spent cutting down religions and not promoting its own particular viewpoints. How can an idea propogate throughout a population and take over their mindset?

Where does your morality come from? Ruben poses this question to Brandon and they explore self-growth and the development of one's own morality. Testing your beliefs is essential to growth. We also look at observed behavioral patterns in particular groups of people, namely, in today's conversation, the homosexual community. Next, we discuss the phenomena of end-of-the-world predictions. We both came to the immediate realization that the fact that many of these predictions say the end of the world will come in the lifetime of the predictor is a blatant example of human egotism. We are resistant to the idea that we, as individuals, are small pieces of a much larger puzzle. Realizing that would make us feel that much more mortal, and we are resistant to the idea of death. With a tangible and specific expiration date on one's own life, one may live very differently. How can we make the world a better place? As a way of answering this question, we identify some of the issues that impact the world negatively. We wr

New bumper music for the show! Brandon is back in the Middle East. We discuss suicide, and whether we hold that as a valid option for our futures. What is your personal threshold for pain and suffering before such an option is to be exercised? We then turn to speaking about euthanasia for humans. Brandon relates a story of a man who killed his wife who was painfully suffering from cancer. Can you impose an ethical standard on society? And where does an individual's sense of ethics and morality come from? This turns us, again, to the argument of eugenics and selective human breeding. It is asked: what has more influence on our behavior as adults, nature or nurture? And should either or both of these components be regulated? Brandon says, if you want to change culture, you have affect people's smaller social circles. That's what will change behavior. Back from the break, Brandon asks about hate. We define and discuss the topic. How can this emotion be managed? Ruben suggests there are those who operate mainly o

Today's show has Ruben, Brandon, and guest Ian Aldion all coming to you from the golden state of California. To start, Ian shares with us that he is writing a story. We discuss the writing regimen. Brandon solos in his flight training. When Brandon asks, "When is a suitable time to die?" we all struggle to explore the question and supply an answer. It is selfish to continue living after you become a burden on society? Should a method for ending one's life (at one's own choosing) be social acceptable and supplied for everyone? We then discuss where we think the human race will be 1,000 years from now. After the break, we discuss California's pay-to-stay prison option, in which prisoners who pay extra will be allowed to live in nicer accommodations. We discuss our feelings on this, as well as how it reflects life outside of prison. Later, we explore how prison works, whether it reforms, or simply acts as a holding chamber. What happens to people after being released from a long prison sentence?

Today, Brandon and Ruben are both coming to you from sunny and hot Southern California. First, we discuss the option of suicide as the ultimate freedom. When is the time right to exercise that option, if ever? Is suicide an easy way out of responsibility for those who commit heinous acts? We all have it in us to do the most atrocious acts. This we both truly believe. Freezing under fear. Fear paralyzes us, for good reason and bad. It keeps us from getting involved in dangerous activities, yet can also cause us to not take necessary action in a situation in which we already are in danger. Denial plays a role in this. Living in the present and planning for the future. Too much of one and not enough of the other makes for a detrimental situation. Balance must be struck. Brandon's sage advice: Run your own race at your own pace—in response to responding to external pressures. Setting unrealistic expectations for today's youth through entertainment. Communication and its affects on a lasting relationship. It is be

Today we cover some news! First, buying and selling fake Twitter followers. Anything to get ahead, right? We discuss the ethics of the practice. Stirring up the crowd. Next, we revisit the race discussion—which was left somewhat unfinished from our last show. It still feels unresolved. We discuss relating through social media and how that information is then used by . . . those in charge. There is a trend in which men are becoming womanlike. Is it due to the way men and woman are portrayed in media? We discuss this trend, which, in turn, brings us to discussing male and female roles in society. Overspending in the government. We discuss being tracked everywhere we go. To the newer and younger generations, this will be completely normal. Older generations will always struggle with the transition, but they only need to be waited out. Lastly, we discuss the heroism of the United States and the white man as portrayed by Hollywood. Unsettling, indeed. Think critically about all that you see and hear.

Would you want to come back if there were such thing as reincarnation? What would be most valuable to bring with you into the next life? I think it is most important to know that you don't have to fall in with your surroundings; that you might be able to exercise some control over what you are influenced by. In other words, you don't need to be a victim of your circumstances. You just don't know enough at a young and impressionable age to be able to consider alternatives. We discuss emotional reactivity and how it is damaging to the course of one's life. Then we discuss the school system. Too many people are going to college. This causes it to lose its effectiveness in setting people apart as specially educated. Also, people are expecting the wrong outcomes from their education. They are not prepared to still have to struggle for work. This transitions us to talking about our disdain for Hollywood. Brandon tells his legendary tales of working at the Van Nuys airport. After the break, we discuss the reaction t

Today's show has Brandon coming to you from chilly Bern, Switzerland, and Ruben from sweltering Palm Springs, California. We talk about cheating to get ahead. The topic came to mind while reading a news story about Mississippi mayor Corey Holmes's cheating scheme which helped teachers cheat on certification exams. Then we discuss the trend of Americans wasting time, especially in their youth, and we examine this, among other things, as things which prevent people from achieving their goals in life. I have determined that a key concept is consciously understanding what behaviors and activities will prevent or stall you from achieving those goals, and avoiding those things, because that moment when you realize your life is not on the track you want is sure to come, and it is often too late or much more difficult to make up for that lost time. Tied in with the above is the declaration of a clear vision of who you want to be, and the commitment to that vision. Too many options makes it difficult to make decisions

Theft, ethics in video games, living for whim or will, circumstances dictating one's life, and the holy sacrament: marijuana.

The fear of death, human attributes of God, the conscious self, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, and the nature of right and wrong.

Apocalypse, murder, and desensitization of online dating. We also discuss blind loyalty and unconditional love in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

We finish Plato's The Republic with Books 9 and 10. Also, groups and collectivity and poets.

Guest Ian Aldion joins us in discussing Book VIII of Plato's The Republic, free will, television, and various forms of government.

Book VII of Plato's The Republic, the allegory of the cave, truth, education, and finding solutions.

Guest Ian Aldion joins us to discuss the old favorite topic of eugenics as well as Book VI of Plato's The Republic.

Eugenics and Book V of Plato's The Republic.

Propaganda and Book IV of Plato's The Republic.

Book III of Plato's The Republic, censorship, roles, and justice.

Book II of Plato's The Republic, and more on justice.