The Long Reach: SF Worldbuilding/Empires

As artificial intelligence (AI) encroaches deeper than ever before into our daily lives, how do we as humans begin to address the greater questions about the soul and what mysteries lie beyond our planet? Technological Philosopher, Mythologist/Futurist and Wizard Jason Batt joins me on an exploration of what lies ahead for humans and AI and how the power of myth can light the way this week on Spirit Gym. Check out Jason’s work on his website at https://www.jbatt.com/ , the International Society of Mythology at https://www.ismythology.com/ and Substack at https://xenomythology.substack.com/ . Find him on social media via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasondbattphd/ and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbatt . For Spirit Gym listeners: Save 15 percent on these courses Jason teaches with the following promo codes: • The Haunted House as Psyche at https://www.ismythology.com/challenge-page/584b1254-aaa5-4e6f-9c71-b43a56187b46?programId=584b1254-aaa5-4e6f-9c71-b43a56187b46&participantId=undefined (SPIRITGYM15OFFHH) • The Long Reach: SF Worldbuilding/ Empires at https://www.ismythology.com/challenge-page/thelongreachsciencefictionworldbuilding?programId=d7742b3a-0fa6-460f-908e-b225be0e9e58&participantId=undefined (SPIRITGYM15OFFLR) • Gods, Heroes and Monsters: An Introduction to Classical Mythology at https://www.ismythology.com/challenge-page/87c83e0c-029d-47c3-abb2-0c9834c47e23?programId=87c83e0c-029d-47c3-abb2-0c9834c47e23&participantId=undefined (SPIRITGYM15OFFGHM) 0:00 Intro 7:31 Is Jason a Technological Philosopher, Mythologist/Futurist or a Wizard? 16:25 The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the 100 Year Starship project ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Year_Starship ) comes calling on the birth of Jason’s third child. 21:16 Addressing questions about humans and the soul at the same time AI emerges and humanity spreads throughout our galaxy. 29:08 Why the Tarot has been around for a long time. 40:47 The problem with MythBusters ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters ). 46:17 Momentary gods. 59:35 The danger of mixing myth and religion. 1:03:23 “Having a mind that leans toward myth allows us to deal with paradoxes.” 1:08:27 What happens when AI platforms talk to each other? 1:18:12 “Every book of fiction is ourself.” 1:25:59 The greatest profession anyone could have. 1:37:31 The SOUL.md ( https://soul.md/ ) of AI. 1:48:32 The myth of Narcissus is ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology) ) a metaphor for modern times. 1:58:19 To ignore the lessons of myth leaves us vulnerable to the hubris of unchecked innovation and being deceived. 2:09:52 The emergence of loneliness thanks to social media. 2:14:08 “There’s always a (human) creator behind a simulation.” 2:23:15 Can empathy be a sin? 2:32:10 The real story behind myths: Creating your own monsters. 2:36:57 “Myth allows us to be capable of seeing beyond the surface.” Listen to Paul's conversation with Jason Batt and check out the show notes page on our Spirit Gym website at https://paulchek.com/blog/podcast-episodes/391-myth-soul-and-the-machine-how-ancient-wisdom-can-ground-you-in-a-world-gone-digital-with-jason-batt/ Thanks to our awesome sponsors! • BIOptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/spiritgym (save an extra 15% on your purchase by using the code PAUL15 at checkout) • Paleovalley https://paleovalley.com/chek15 (save 15% on your first purchase) • Organifi https://organifi.com/chek20 (save 20% on your purchase by using the code CHEK20 at checkout) • Pique Life https://piquelife.com/paulchek (save up to 20% for life and get a FREE starter kit when you subscribe to one or more of Pique’s amazing beverages!) • CHEK Institute https://paul.chekinstitute.com/spiritgym (learn about the new CHEK Integrated Health Foundation program today!) • Wild Pastures https://wildpastures.com/paulchek (save 20% and free shipping for life plus $15 on your first order) We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links. Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear Music