Does the spirit of the "Futurist" movement live on today in the likes of Elon Musk and America's intrigue of techno-oligarchs? The Italian poet and fantasist Flippo Tommaso Marinetti almost died in a car crash, and out of that experience was born the "Futurist" movement. It went on to inspire the fascism of Benito Mussolini with an energetic emphasis on disruptive technology, conflict and creating an authoritarian future.GuestsAnnalee Newitz — Journalist and authorDr Jonathan White — Professor of politics, London School of EconomicsFurther informationJonathan White’s article - How Trump and the new right came to ‘own’ the future – while apparently exploiting the past | Jonathan White | The GuardianAnnalee Newitz’s article – How futurism took an abrupt right turn in the 20th century
--------
28:38
Some challenges to conventional economic thinking
Does modern economic thinking act as a roadblock to change? Economists Kate Raworth and Rainer Kattel certainly think so. The alternatives they propose involve acknowledging limits not just obsessing about growth. And a caution from design and management expert Raz Godelink – it always pays to be skeptical when big business puts on the sustainability suit. GuestsKate Raworth – Economist and co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab Raz Godelnik – Associate Professor of Strategic Design and Management at the School of Design Strategies, Parson's School of Design Rainer Kattel – Deputy Director and Professor of Innovation and Public Governance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London
--------
28:38
Civility, trash talking and more sociable cities
It certainly feels like a very shouty world. But have we really reached a new low point in civility? And, if so, where to from here?We examine what civility really entails and how it can help foster cooperation but also lead to the submission of minorities.And did you know that even the design of our urban spaces can shape and limit acts of civility? So, how can we make our cities more sociable?GuestsDr Eduardo Sadoval — Social Roboticist, UNSWDr Saara Liinamaa — Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph. Also, co-investigator, Sociable Cities ProjectRafi Kohan — US-based freelance writer and authorDr Keith Bybee — Professor of Law and Political Science, Syracuse UniversityFurther informationRafi Kohan - Trash Talk: The Only Book About Destroying Your Rivals That Isn’t Total GarbageKeith Bybee - How Civility WorksSociable Cities Project
--------
28:38
Limitarianism — could a cap on wealth reduce inequality?
When a company CEO can be paid 1,000 times the average employee's salary it's probably time to take a long hard look at wealth inequality. And those calling for the rich to pay more aren't always the ones you'd expect – Patriotic Millionaires is a group of mega rich individuals demanding greater, not lesser taxation. Then there's the Dutch philosopher urging ordinary citizens to put a cap on their own personal wealth. She calls her approach Limitarianism. Also, Rewilding the Internet – how to purify an online environment made toxic by monopolistic capitalism.Original broadcast on June 21, 2024.GuestsDr Ingrid Robeyns – author, philosopher and Chair in Ethics of Institutions, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University (The Netherlands)Robert Guest – Deputy Editor, The EconomistMorris Pearl – Chair of the Board, The Patriotic MillionairesProfessor Jean-Etienne Joullie — EMLV Business School, ParisMaria Farrell – Writer and keynote speaker on technology and the futureFurther informationIngrid Robeyns: Limitarianism, The Case Against Extreme WealthRobert Guest: The fallacious case for abolishing the richMaria Farrell: We need to rewild the InternetListen to Future Tense - Managerialism and our obsession with hierarchy
--------
28:38
Understanding attention and a craving for certainty
Are we really facing an attention crisis? Historian, Daniel Immerwahr, has his doubts. In fact, he says ours is an era of obsession as much as distraction and of zeal as much as indifference. Also, the paradox of certainty: we crave it, argues the University of Alberta's, Timothy Caulfield, even though it's so easy to fake.GuestsDaniel Immerwahr — author and Professor of History, Northwestern University and a contributing writer at The New YorkerTimothy Caulfield — author and Professor of law, University of AlbertaProfessor Gloria Mark — data scientist and psychologist, Department of Informatics, University of California, IrvineFurther informationTimothy Coulfield: The Certainty Illusion. What You Don't Know and Why It MattersDaniel Immerwahr's article on Attention
Australia