We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode #690 - Michael Easter - Why Can’t Humans Do Anything In Moderation?

#690 - Michael Easter - Why Can’t Humans Do Anything In Moderation?

2023/10/7
logo of podcast Modern Wisdom

Modern Wisdom
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
M
Michael Easter
主
主持人
专注于电动车和能源领域的播客主持人和内容创作者。
Topics
Michael Easter：现代人难以节制的主要原因在于人类基因中保留的资源匮乏环境下的生存本能。即使在资源丰富的今天，这种本能仍然驱使着人们过度消费和追求更多，例如过度饮食、过度购物等。这种本能与现代社会信息爆炸、技术发达的现状相冲突，导致了各种问题。 Michael Easter还提出了“匮乏循环”的概念，解释了这种循环如何通过机会、不可预测的奖励和快速重复性来驱使人们过度行为。他认为这种循环广泛存在于现代社会中的许多技术和制度中，例如社交媒体、新闻、约会软件、金融应用程序和在线购物等，这些都利用了人们对不确定性和即时满足的渴望，导致人们难以节制。 Michael Easter还讨论了成瘾问题，他认为成瘾是人们试图用某种方式逃避现实问题的表现，它更像是一种症状，而非单纯的道德失败或脑部疾病。他认为解决成瘾问题的关键在于解决根本问题，而不是仅仅关注成瘾行为本身。 主持人：就人类难以节制的问题，与Michael Easter进行了深入探讨，并对“匮乏循环”机制进行了详细的了解。讨论中，主持人就一些关键问题提出了疑问，例如人们沉迷于“匮乏循环”的原因、如何打破这种循环以及现代信息环境对人们的影响等。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the difficulty humans face in practicing moderation, particularly in a world of abundance. It delves into the evolutionary reasons behind our tendency to overindulge and contrasts our ancestral environment of scarcity with our current reality of plenty.
  • Humans evolved in environments of scarcity, leading to a genetic predisposition to overconsume.
  • Modern abundance clashes with our ancient instincts, resulting in overspending, overeating, and other forms of excess.
  • These are "good problems" compared to historical survival challenges, but they still necessitate solutions.

Shownotes Transcript

Michael Easter is a University of Nevada, Las Vegas professor, a journalist and an author who focuses on health and human performance.

Even though we might often feel in control of our impulses, there are regular moments that remind us of our uncontrolled tendencies. From overspending to overeating, there is a secret loop happening inside of our minds that causes our actions and intentions to move further apart

Expect to learn why moderation is so impossible to achieve, what humans actually want the most out of life, what the scarcity loop is and how it drives your behaviour, if it's possible to become dependent on certainty, whether humans are more likely to chase happiness or avoid discomfort, Michael’s contrarian opinion on first world problems and much more...

Sponsors: 

Get 15% discount on Mud/Wtr at https://mudwtr.com/mw) (use code MODERNWISDOM)

Get an exclusive discount from Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM) (use code MODERNWISDOM)

Get 20% discount on House Of Macadamias’ nuts at https://houseofmacadamias.com/modernwisdom) (use code MW20)

Extra Stuff:

Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/)

To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom)

Get in touch.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx)

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast)

Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)