Stupidity: A powerful force in human history

Summary

Yuval Noah Harari's discourse explores the human tendency to consume unhealthy foods, rooted in our ancient savannah-dwelling past. He emphasizes the importance of understanding our history to make better decisions in the modern world. Harari highlights the unique human ability to cooperate on a massive scale through shared belief in fictional stories, which fuels our global achievements and challenges, such as climate change and AI. He warns of the dangers posed by our own intelligence and stupidity, urging a focus on our shared identity to confront ecological collapse, disruptive technologies, and the threat of global war.

Takeaways

• 📚 The importance of understanding history to comprehend current human behaviors, such as our tendency to eat excessive amounts of unhealthy food.
• 🍰 Historical context explains our eating habits; in the past, consuming as much sweet food as possible was beneficial for survival, but this instinct is now maladaptive in a world of abundant food.
• 👶 Childhood fears, like monsters under the bed, are rooted in ancient human history when such threats were real, highlighting how historical experiences shape our present reactions.
• 🌏 The ability to cooperate on a massive scale is unique to humans and is facilitated by our capacity to invent and believe in shared fictional stories, which is crucial for societal structures and large-scale projects.
• 💡 The power of fiction is a 'superpower' that enables humanity to achieve things like building pyramids, flying to the moon, or creating healthcare systems, which require the cooperation of millions.
• 🏛 Religions and economic systems, including money and corporations, are based on collective belief in abstract concepts, illustrating the profound impact of our capacity for shared fiction.
• 🌱 The need for a global perspective is underscored by challenges like climate change and AI regulation, which require international cooperation beyond the capabilities of individual nations.
• 🔮 The potential for human stupidity to undermine our wisdom is highlighted by historical examples of creating powerful technologies without fully understanding their consequences.
• ⚠️ The 21st century faces significant challenges including ecological collapse, disruptive technologies like AI, and the threat of global warfare, which demand a unified global response.
• 🤖 AI represents a new type of intelligence that can make decisions independently, posing unique risks as it operates beyond human control, unlike previous technologies.
• 🌐 The current global order is shifting, with a rise in military spending and conflicts, which may indicate a move away from the unprecedented peace of the early 21st century towards a more unstable period.
• 🌟 The message of 'Unstoppable Us' is that humanity is the most powerful entity on Earth, and we must recognize and responsibly wield this power.

Q & A

Why do humans have a tendency to eat unhealthy amounts of food?

This tendency is rooted in our evolutionary history. In the African Savannah, when humans found a source of sweet food like ripe fruit, it was beneficial to eat as much as possible quickly because the food could be gone the next day. This instinctual behavior has carried over into modern times, even though the environment has changed.

What is the significance of understanding history in shaping our eating habits?

Understanding history helps us realize why we have certain instincts, such as overeating sweets. This knowledge allows us to make more informed decisions about our diet, knowing that our current environment is different from the savannah where these instincts developed.

What role does the ability to believe in fictional stories play in human cooperation?

The ability to believe in fictional stories is a superpower of humanity. It allows millions of people to cooperate on large-scale projects by sharing a common belief or goal, which is not possible in other species like chimpanzees.

How does the concept of corporations relate to the idea of believing in fictional stories?

Corporations, like religions, are a form of fictional story that we've created and agreed upon as a society. They exist in our collective imagination and require the belief of many people to function effectively.

Why is it important to focus on our shared human identity in the face of global challenges?

Focusing on our shared human identity is crucial for global cooperation, which is necessary to tackle challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence regulation that no single country can solve alone.

What are some of the major challenges that humanity faces in the 21st century according to the script?

The script identifies ecological collapse, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, and the threat of global war and nuclear war as some of the major challenges humanity faces in the 21st century.

How is artificial intelligence different from previous technological breakthroughs?

Artificial intelligence is unique because it can make decisions and create new ideas independently. Unlike the printing press or the atom bomb, AI represents a new type of intelligent entity that operates beyond human control.

What does the script suggest about the current state of global order and peace?

The script suggests that while the early 21st century was the most orderly and peaceful in history, recent years have seen a rise in global conflicts and a shift in resources from healthcare to military spending, potentially indicating a return to a more chaotic state.

What is the main message of the book 'Unstoppable Us' by Yuval Noah Harari?

The main message of 'Unstoppable Us' is that humans are the most powerful entity on the planet and should acknowledge and take responsibility for this power, understanding the impact of our actions.

How does the script connect the idea of human stupidity to the development of powerful technologies?

The script suggests that human stupidity is one of the most powerful forces in history, as it leads to the development and misuse of powerful technologies like nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence, despite the known risks.

What is the significance of the script's reference to the historical understanding of world wars?

The script uses the historical understanding of world wars to illustrate how events are often only fully recognized in hindsight, suggesting that we may be in the midst of a global conflict without fully realizing it.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Power of Fictional Stories in Human History

This paragraph delves into the evolutionary reason behind our tendency to overeat, particularly sweet foods. It explains that in ancient times, when humans lived in the African savannah, it was advantageous to consume as much sweet food as possible to store energy for times of scarcity. The speaker also discusses the importance of understanding history to make informed decisions in the present, highlighting the human ability to cooperate on a massive scale by believing in shared fictional stories. This ability is what sets humans apart from other species and has allowed us to achieve great feats, such as building pyramids or landing on the moon. The paragraph emphasizes the need for clear communication, especially when writing for children, to ensure that complex ideas are understood and not obscured by jargon.

05:01

🌏 Shared Identity and Global Challenges

The second paragraph focuses on the significance of recognizing our shared human identity in the face of global challenges that require international cooperation. It points out that while humans have the intelligence to create powerful tools and technologies, we also possess a propensity for making unwise decisions, such as the development of nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence without adequate safeguards. The speaker identifies ecological collapse, disruptive technologies like AI, and the threat of global war as the major challenges of the 21st century. The paragraph underscores the uniqueness of AI as a technology that can make decisions and create ideas independently, which presents a new kind of risk that humanity has not faced before.

10:02

🕊️ The Shift from Peace to Conflict in the 21st Century

In the final paragraph, the speaker reflects on the changing global order, noting a shift from a period of relative peace and increased investment in healthcare to a resurgence of conflict and military spending. The paragraph suggests that we may be unknowingly in the midst of a third world war, drawing a parallel to how people in the early years of World War II were not fully aware of the scale of the conflict they were in. The speaker, Yuval Noah Harari, concludes with a message of empowerment, stating that recognizing our immense power as humans is the first step towards taking responsibility for our actions and making better decisions for the future.

Keywords

💡Cooperation

Cooperation refers to the act of working together towards a common goal, often requiring coordination and collaboration. In the video, it is highlighted as a key factor in human success, with the ability to cooperate on a massive scale setting humans apart from other species. The script mentions how humans can cooperate on the level of millions, unlike chimpanzees, which is crucial for building complex societies and achieving large-scale goals such as constructing pyramids or landing on the moon.

💡Fictional Stories

Fictional stories are narratives or accounts that are not based on fact but are created to entertain, instruct, or inspire belief. The video emphasizes that the invention and belief in fictional stories is a unique human ability that has allowed for large-scale cooperation. Examples given include religions and economic systems like money and corporations, which are based on collective belief in their existence and value.

💡Historical Memory

Historical memory refers to the collective recollection of past events and experiences that influence present behavior and culture. The video script uses the example of children fearing monsters under the bed, which is traced back to a time when humans lived in the wild and faced real threats from predators, illustrating how historical events can shape our instincts and fears.

💡Eating Habits

Eating habits encompass the regular practices and preferences regarding food consumption. The script explains how our tendency to overeat, especially sweet foods, is rooted in our evolutionary history when resources were scarce and unpredictable. This historical context helps us understand why, despite living in a world with abundant food, we still have a strong drive to consume high-calorie foods.

💡Global Challenges

Global challenges are issues that affect the entire world and require international cooperation to resolve. The video identifies ecological collapse, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, and the threat of global war as major challenges that humanity faces in the 21st century. These challenges are emphasized as needing a unified global response rather than individual country efforts.

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The video discusses AI as a new type of intelligence that can make decisions and create ideas independently. It is presented as a potentially dangerous technology due to its ability to act autonomously and the lack of understanding of how to control it.

💡Ecological Collapse

Ecological collapse refers to the disruption or destruction of an ecosystem's balance, often leading to the extinction of many species and significant environmental changes. The script mentions it as one of the major challenges of the 21st century, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to address the threats of climate change and environmental degradation.

💡Human Superpower

The term 'human superpower' in the video refers to the unique capabilities of humans, such as our ability to invent and believe in fictional stories, cooperate on a massive scale, and create complex societies. It is the source of our control over the world and our ability to achieve feats that no other species can.

💡Stupidity

Stupidity, in the context of the video, is the act of making unwise or irrational decisions despite having the knowledge to make better choices. The script points out that human history is marked by a paradoxical combination of incredible wisdom and profound stupidity, which has led to the creation and misuse of powerful technologies like nuclear weapons and AI.

💡Shared Human Identity

Shared human identity emphasizes the commonalities among all humans, transcending cultural, national, and other differences. The video stresses the importance of focusing on this shared identity to foster global cooperation in addressing the major challenges that face humanity, such as climate change and AI regulation.

💡Unstoppable Us

Unstoppable Us is the title of the book mentioned in the video and serves as a metaphor for the immense power and potential of humanity. The video uses this term to convey the message that humans are the most powerful entity on the planet and should take responsibility for our actions and the power we wield.

Highlights

Humans have a tendency to eat unhealthy amounts of food due to historical survival instincts from the African Savannah.

The ability to cooperate on a large scale is achieved by inventing and believing in fictional stories, a unique human capability.

Writing history is crucial for understanding current events rather than merely remembering the past.

Childhood fears, like monsters under the bed, are rooted in ancient human history when predators threatened children at night.

Understanding our evolutionary history helps us make better decisions in modern life, such as eating habits.

Yuval Noah Harari discusses the importance of clear communication, especially when explaining complex ideas to children.

The power of fiction in human society is exemplified by religions and economic systems, which rely on collective belief.

Corporations, like religions, are a form of collective fiction that drives large-scale cooperation and economic activity.

Global cooperation is essential for addressing major challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence regulation.

Human history is marked by a paradoxical mix of wisdom and stupidity, which can lead to both great achievements and catastrophic outcomes.

The 21st century faces significant challenges including ecological collapse, disruptive technologies, and the threat of global war.

Artificial intelligence is a unique technology with the ability to make independent decisions and create new ideas.

The current global order is shifting, with a rise in military spending and conflicts, potentially signaling a new world war.

The book 'Unstoppable Us' emphasizes the immense power of humanity and the need to take responsibility for our actions.

Yuval Noah Harari stresses the importance of recognizing our shared human identity to foster global cooperation.

The narrative of human history is often only fully understood in hindsight, as with the onset of World War II.

The concept of 'Unstoppable Us' suggests that acknowledging human power is the first step towards responsible stewardship.

Transcripts

why do we have this tendency to eat so

much food that isn't really good for us

but actually history provides an answer

humans can cooperate on the level of

millions how do we do that by inventing

and believing fictional stories for me

the point about writing history is not

to remember the past it's to understand

what is happening to us right

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now when I was a kid I often woke up in

the middle of the night if afraid that

there is a monster under the bed this is

actually a historical memory from

hundreds of thousands of years ago when

humans lived in the wild in the savannah

and there were actually monsters that

came to eat children in the middle of

the night a cheetah would come or a lion

would come and if you wake up in fear

and call your mom you could be saved to

understand our eating habits we also

need to know history why do we have this

tendency to eat so much food that isn't

really good for us but actually history

provides an answer tens of thousands of

years ago when we lived in the African

Savannah and we came across something

very sweet like a tree full of ripened

fruit it made perfect sense it was good

for the body to eat as many sweets as

quickly as possible because if you ate

just one or two fruits and went away and

came back the next day it would be empty

like the baboons next door came in the

middle of the night and ate everything

so the right thing to do was to eat as

many sweets as quickly as possible now

today we live in a completely different

world we open the refrigerator there is

this huge chocolate cake inside and we

can wait but our body still thinks that

we are in the African

Savannah now that we understand that

history is happened and we are no longer

in the savannah we can make better

decisions but to do that we first of all

need to understand the history of

humanity and how we got

here when I was a kid I I asked these

big questions about life I mean what are

we doing here what is this all about and

I think what what struck me the most is

not that the adults often had no answers

is that they were not concerned about

the fact that they really don't

understand the world they would be

concerned about all these kind of you

know the latest thing in the news or the

mortgage or or or the bank problems but

the fact that they don't understand life

uh didn't seem to bother them and in a

way I wrote Unstoppable us to answer or

try to answer at least some of the

questions that really bothered me when

when I was 10 or 12 when you write about

complicated stuff and you are actually

not sure what you want to say you don't

really understand understand the subject

deeply enough then with adults you can

just cover yourself by talking with

these very long complicated sentences

and big unintelligible jargon

complicated words and people assume they

don't understand you not because you

don't know what you're talking about but

because they don't they're not smart

enough to understand with kid it doesn't

work if you start writing these very

long complicated sentences with with big

words they just close the book so you

need to speak very clearly and for that

you really need to think deeply to know

what do you actually want to

say the ability to believe in fiction is

really the superpower of humanity this

is why we control the world if you look

at any major human achievement it is

always based on large scale cooporation

you want to build pyramids you want to

fly to the moon you want to create an

atom bomb you want to build a healthc

care system it's never the work of a

single genius or of like a group of 10

friends you always need thousands and

millions of people cooperating together

and we are the only mammals that can do

that chimpanzees can cooperate on the

level of say 50 chimpanzees or a Hara

chimpanzees can work together to a

common goal humans can cooperate on the

level of Millions

how do we do that by inventing and

believing fictional stories it's most

obvious in the case of religions you can

get millions of people to cooperate on a

common project whether it's building a

cathedral or a hospital or fighting a

holy war by telling them a fictional

story you can't do that with chimps you

can never convince a group of chimps to

cooperate by promising to them that if

you do this after you die you go to

chimpanzee heaven and there you receive

lots of bananas and coconuts so so now

do this no chimpanzee will ever believe

such a story We Believe such stories so

we rule the world but it's not just

religions religions are the most obvious

example it's the same if you look at

economic uh uh activities uh money and

corporations just like gods and demons

and angels are a fictional story we

created if you think what is a

corporation um so a corporation exists

only in our imagination what is Google

or Facebook or McDonald's or or Disney

the same way that ancient people had

shamans that made these big ceremonies

and convinced everybody to believe in

the existence of some ghost or spirit so

we have our own shamans called lawyers

who also make these very complicated

ceremonies speaking in languages that

nobody understands and convince every

everybody to start believing in the

great spirit of Google or in the great

spirit of McDonald's it's more important

than ever to focus on our shared human

identity because the big challenges we

face can only be solved through Global

cooperation you think for instance about

climate change and uh the threat of

ecological collapse this is not

something that can be solved on the

level of a single country even the most

powerful countries cannot do it by

themselves they need to cooperate

similarly if we want to uh uh regulate

the explosive power of artificial

intelligence it cannot be done on the

level of a single country and in order

to have effective cooperation on a

global level we need to appreciate what

is common to humans

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everywhere humans unfortunately are you

know we are very smart but this spite

our wisdom we keep doing some very

stupid things one of the most powerful

forces in history actually is human

stupidity we know that nuclear weapons

could destroy the whole of human

civilization we know that now artificial

intelligence can escape our control and

yet we keep on producing it this is the

kind of basic

tension in in human history that at the

same time you find incredible

uh wisdom and the the the worst types of

delusion and stupidity are are feeding

each other if we these kind of perfectly

wise entities then yes we could create

the most powerful weapons but we would

never misuse them if we were just stupid

then we we wouldn't we wouldn't be so

powerful the combination is what makes

the situation so dangerous

the three I think biggest challenges

that face humankind today in 21st

century are ecological

collapse um disruptive Technologies like

artificial intelligence and the threat

of global war and nuclear war the one

thing everybody needs to know about AI

is that it's the first technology in

history that can make decisions by

itself and can create new ideas by

itself it's often compared to previous

technological breakthrough like the

printing press or the atom bomb it's

completely different printing presses

could not decide what book to print atom

bombs could not decide by themselves

which cities to destroy if you take all

the printing presses in the world

together they cannot come up with a

single new sentence by themselves an

atom bomb cannot invent a new and even

more powerful weapon it's not an

artifact that we are creating it

actually should stand for alien

intelligence it's a new type of

intelligent entity that uh acts

increasingly

independently of H human thought and

human

vition so we are bringing into our

ecosystem into our planet a very

powerful and alien type of intelligence

that we don't know how to control and

this is extremely

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dangerous until a few years ago we were

in a time of order the world of the

early 21st century was the most olderly

and peaceful that it ever was so for

most of History the average expenditure

of a government on its military was

about 50% of the budget in the early

21st century it went down to 7% average

worldwide whereas expenditure on healthc

care Rose to 10% it was the first time

in history that governments all over the

world spent more money on Healthcare

than on the military then things began

to change in the second decade of the

21st century uh the global order which

was based on common values and and

interests was attacked from from all

sides and we are now in the third decade

of the 21st century seeing a sharp rise

in the incidents of Wars all over the

world defense budgets military budgets

all over the world

Skyrocket money increasingly goes to

tanks and Cal weapons instead of to

nurses and teachers and this continues

uh uh uh to spread there could it could

be even be that we are already in the

midst of the third world war and we just

haven't realized it yet uh very often in

history we understand the meaning of

events only in

hindsight uh today if you write in a

History exam when did the second world

war start any kid in school knows that

the answer is the 1st of September 1939

when Germany invaded Poland but if you

ask people let's say in May

1941 in New York or in Moscow or in

Hiroshima they would not tell you that

they are living in the midst of the

second world war yes there is some war

in Europe there are some conflicts in

Asia but this is not the second world

war so it could be that the third world

war already began on the 24th of

February 2022 when Russia invaded

Ukraine and we still haven't understood

it yet the main message of the book and

also in the title Unstoppable us is that

humans all humans are the most powerful

entity on the planet and we should own

it we should acknowledge our immense

power because only then we can also take

responsibility for what we are doing

with this power my name is yal no Harari

and this is my brief but spectacular

take on what it means to be human

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