Luminary

Tim O’Reilly on Open Source Alchemy: Shaping the Tech Landscape

Tim O’Reilly is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of O’Reilly Media, a company that has profoundly impacted how generations of software engineers and computer hobbyists have learned programming. Tim is of course a luminary of the technology industry and hardly needs an introduction. It is difficult to overstate the importance of his contributions. Tim has been active in the open source and internet community for decades, providing the intellectual inspiration behind terms like open source software and web 2.0. Our conversation with Tim centers around open source. We discuss: the characteristics of open source software, which company has best executed on its open source strategy, and how the open source ethos has influenced the tech industry and beyond. We also cover Tim’s latest project around algorithmic rents. About and From Tim O’Reilly: * https://www.oreilly.com/tim/Tim O’Reilly: Various Things I’ve Written [https://www.oreilly.com/tim/] * Tim O’Reilly – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_O%27Reilly] Recommendations and References: * Richard Stallman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman] * David Stutz [https://www.networkworld.com/article/2340524/retiring-exec-tells-microsoft-to-embrace-open-source.html] * The Man Watching [https://poems.com/poem/the-man-watching/] by Rainer Maria Rilke * The Dawn of Everything [https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/0374157359] * Marriana Mazzucato [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/people/mariana-mazzucato] * Herbert Simon [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_A._Simon] * Economics for the Common Good [https://www.amazon.com/Economics-Common-Good-Jean-Tirole/dp/0691175160] * The Paris Wife [https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521315] * Working Days [https://www.amazon.com/Working-Days-Journals-Grapes-Wrath/dp/0140144579] * East of Eden [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_of_Eden_(novel)] * David Graeber [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Graeber] The post Tim O’Reilly on Open Source Alchemy: Shaping the Tech Landscape [https://luminary.fm/episode/tim-oreilly-on-open-source-alchemy-shaping-the-tech-landscape/] appeared first on Luminary.fm [https://luminary.fm].

Yochai Benkler on Tech’s True Forces: Capitalism, Institutions, and Ideological Impact

Yochai Benkler is a professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Yochai is known for coining the term commons-based peer production which describes collaborative efforts or social production in the creation of information goods such as Apache server or Wikipedia. In 2012, he received a lifetime achievement award from Oxford University in recognition of his contribution to the study and public understanding of the Internet and information goods. Yochai has written a number of influential books, including The Wealth of Networks, Network Propaganda, and the Penguin and Leviathan. Our conversation with Yochai focuses on the role of capitalism, institutions, and ideology in shaping technology and societal outcomes. Yochai’s theory centers around the notion that it is not technology and software that shape change, but rather that the dynamics of power-seeking in capitalism have subsumed and directed technology and software towards the same aim as it always had — which is to maximize profit for a narrow set of profit-reaping classes while legitimizing it under a patina of claims of self-actualization, democratization, social mobility, and improvement in well-being for all. Yochai’s framework pushes back on the prevailing wisdom that technology is the cause of change but rather an arena where the dynamics of capitalism established since the 17th century are driving, while a naturalized view of technology is simply a red herring. We also discuss the political economy of technology, commons-based peer production as a value generation model, and the value of decentralized blockchain systems like bitcoin and ethereum. This was a very refreshing conversation. It’s clear the world could learn a lot from the wisdom of Yochai Benkler. About and From Yochai Benkler: * Director, Berkman Klein Center for Entrepreneurial Studies  [https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/ybenkler] * Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman Professor for Entrepreneurial Legal Studies [https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/yochai-benkler/] * Personal website [http://www.benkler.org/] * Practical Anarchism: Peer Mutualism, Market Power, and the Fallible State [http://www.benkler.org/benkler_Peer_Mutualism.pdf] * The Role of Technology in Political Economy: Part 1 [https://lpeproject.org/blog/the-role-of-technology-in-political-economy-part-1/] * The Role of Technology in Political Economy: Part 2 [https://lpeproject.org/blog/the-role-of-technology-in-political-economy-part-2/] * The Role of Technology in Political Economy: Part 3 [https://lpeproject.org/blog/the-role-of-technology-in-political-economy-part-3/] * Power and Productivity: Institutions, Ideology, and Technology in Political Economy [https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=185119005071012005111108072119024074017047006041059002118107065106085099026024106112025016100118110061032007112002115106088073016080011050064111086025065082122080094025044095068097123072084092116125076112107005068119087006090029119022104113005019091098&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE] * The Penguin and the Leviathan [https://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Leviathan-Cooperation-Triumphs-Self-Interest/dp/0385525761] Recommendations and References: * Heart of Darkness [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness] * Black Reconstruction [https://www.amazon.com/Black-Reconstruction-America-1860-1880-Burghardt/dp/0684856573] * Shardlake series [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shardlake_series] The post Yochai Benkler on Tech’s True Forces: Capitalism, Institutions, and Ideological Impact [https://luminary.fm/episode/yochai-benkler-on-techs-true-forces-capitalism-institutions-and-ideological-impact/] appeared first on Luminary.fm [https://luminary.fm].

Jason Crawford on progress and the history of technology

Jason Crawford is the founder of Roots of Progress and a prolific writer on all things technology and progress. Jason was previously a startup founder and engineering manager. His mission is to understand the causes of progress and help usher in a new era of human advancement via a philosophy of progress fit for the 21st century. You can find his essays on rootsofprogress.org. Our conversation with Jason centers around progress and the history of technology. We cover the relationship between human civilization and technology, assorted inventions, and lessons to consider in the development and implementation of future technologies. We also talk about why progress matters, how things went wrong in the 20th century, and Jason’s idea of a new philosophy of progress. Jason has encyclopedic knowledge of diverse topics which made this an especially rich conversation. About and From Jason Crawford: * https://jasoncrawford.org/ [https://jasoncrawford.org/] * https://rootsofprogress.org/ [https://rootsofprogress.org/] * https://twitter.com/jasoncrawford [https://twitter.com/jasoncrawford]  * The spiritual benefits of material progress [https://rootsofprogress.org/the-spiritual-benefits-of-material-progress]  Recommendations and References: * The Ascent of Man: Bronowski, Jacob, Dawkins, Richard [https://www.amazon.com/Ascent-Man-Jacob-Bronowski/dp/1849901155] * On the Origin of Clockwork, Perpetual Motion Devices, and the Compass [https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Clockwork-Perpetual-Devices-Compass/dp/B003YMNPOE] * Economics of the singularity | IEEE Journals & Magazine [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4531461]    * Robin Hansen [https://economics.gmu.edu/people/rhanson] * The Population Explosion [https://www.amazon.com/Population-Explosion-Paul-R-Ehrlich/dp/0671732943] * Charles I. Jones – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I._Jones] * Paul Romer – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Romer] * Robert Solow – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Solow] * One Process | Reaction Wheel [https://reactionwheel.net/2020/04/one-process.html] * Derek Thompson (journalist) – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Thompson_(journalist)] * Noahpinion [https://www.noahpinion.blog/] * Ezra Klein – The New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/by/ezra-klein] * David Deutsch [https://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk/] * Steven Pinker [https://stevenpinker.com/]  * Where Is My Flying Car? (Audible Audio Edition): J. Storrs Hall, Jonathan Todd Ross, Stripe Press: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Where-Is-My-Flying-Car/dp/B09MWRC8VV/ref=sr_1_1]  * Ayn Rand – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand] * The Industrial Revolution [https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Revolution-1760-1830-OPUS/dp/0192892894] * The Conservative Futurist by James Pethokoukis | Hachette Book Group [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james-pethokoukis/the-conservative-futurist/9781546005544/] * The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830 – T. S. Ashton – Oxford University Press [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-industrial-revolution-1760-1830-9780192892898?cc=us&lang=en&] * Slate Star Codex [https://slatestarcodex.com/] * FreakTakes [https://freaktakes.substack.com/] * The Lunar Society [https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/] * The Making of the Atomic Bomb | Book by Richard Rhodes | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Making-of-the-Atomic-Bomb/Richard-Rhodes/9781451677614] The post Jason Crawford on progress and the history of technology  [https://luminary.fm/episode/jason-crawford-on-progress-and-the-history-of-technology/] appeared first on Luminary.fm [https://luminary.fm].

Noah Smith on digital technology adoption, energy, and economic progress

Noah Smith is a renaissance man, blogger, and commentator. Noah’s popular blog, Noahpinion, focuses on economics, technology, and current events. He was previously a columnist for Bloomberg and an assistant professor of Behavioral finance at Stony Brook University. Our wide-ranging conversation covers digital technology, economics, and energy. We discuss Noah’s framework for thinking about technology, digital technology adoption and its implications for economic activity, measures of technological advancement, opportunities and challenges for solar and nuclear energy, and the Noah Smith production function. About and From Noah Smith: * Noah Smith (writer) – Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Smith_(writer)]  * Noahpinion [https://noahpinion.substack.com/] * Noah Smith 🐇 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f407.png]🇺🇸 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f1fa-1f1f8.png]🇺🇦 [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f1fa-1f1e6.png] (@Noahpinion) / Twitter [https://twitter.com/Noahpinion]   * 140 – The Future is Fiat | Noah Smith (Noahpinion) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yrKchE6CWk] * Interview: Tyler Cowen, economist and public intellectual [https://noahpinion.substack.com/p/interview-tyler-cowen-economist-and]   * Globalization Is Narrowing the Wealth Gap, One Nation at a Time [https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-09-24/globalization-has-cut-inequality-between-rich-and-poor-countries] Recommendations and References: * Ramez Naam [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramez_Naam] * Robert J Gordon [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._Gordon] * The New Argonauts [https://www.amazon.com/New-Argonauts-Regional-Advantage-Economy/dp/0674025660] * Kardashev Scale [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale] * The Measure of Civilization [https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691155685/the-measure-of-civilization] * Grasping Reality, Brad DeLong [https://braddelong.substack.com/] * Hannah Ritchie [https://hannahritchie.com/] * Faster Please [https://fasterplease.substack.com/] * Matthew Yglesias [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Yglesias] * David Roberts [https://www.climateone.org/] * David Thompson [https://www.theatlantic.com/author/derek-thompson/] * Jerusalem Demsas [https://www.theatlantic.com/author/jerusalem-demsas/] * Ezra Klein [https://www.nytimes.com/column/ezra-klein-podcast] * Odd Lots [https://www.bloomberg.com/oddlots] * Packy McCormick [https://www.packym.com/] * Roon [https://roon.app/en/] * Sam D’Amico [https://sdami.co/] The post Noah Smith on digital technology adoption, energy, and economic progress [https://luminary.fm/episode/noah-smith-on-digital-technology-adoption-energy-and-economic-progress/] appeared first on Luminary.fm [https://luminary.fm].

Carlota Perez on technological revolutions and capitalism

Carlota Perez is a pre-eminent multi-disciplinarian, scholar, and author. Carlota studies the nature of technological change and economic systems, and the lessons provided by the history of technological revolutions. Her book, Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital, is a landmark contribution to the study of technological innovation and change. She has received numerous awards and accolades including most recently an Honorary Doctorate by Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Our conversation with Carlota centers around her framework for studying technological change and the adoption of digital technologies. We discuss the ideas behind technology cycles, the role of capitalism in influencing change, the difference between the current digital paradigm and prior technology revolutions, the role government can play in accelerating the adoption of digital technologies, and get a preview of her upcoming book which features the role of governments in shaping technological revolutions. About and From Carlota Perez: * Personal website [https://carlotaperez.org/] * Carlota Perez: Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlota_Perez] * Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_Revolutions_and_Financial_Capital] * The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_the_Family,_Private_Property_and_the_State] * Carlota Perez (@CarlotaPrzPerez) / Twitter [https://twitter.com/carlotaprzperez?lang=en] * Carlota Perez | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose – UCL – University College London [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/people/carlota-perez] * Carlota Perez – Agenda Contributor | World Economic Forum [https://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/carlota-perez] The post Carlota Perez on technological revolutions and capitalism  [https://luminary.fm/episode/carlota-perez-on-technological-revolutions-and-capitalism/] appeared first on Luminary.fm [https://luminary.fm].