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David Runciman

The History of Ideas Podcast
with David Runciman

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A bi-weekly podcast exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, science to fiction.

Latest episode

Michael Lewis on Sam Bankman-Fried and Effective Altruism

10 October 2024

00:00 / 01:04

David talks to author Michael Lewis about SBF and EA: about the man he got to know before, during and after his spectacular fall and about the philosophy with which he was associated. What did Sam Bankman-Fried believe was the purpose of making so much money? How did he manage to get so side-tracked from doing good? Why when it all went wrong did he fail to save himself? A conversation about utilitarianism, risk and human weakness.

Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis is out now in paperback with a new afterword https://bit.ly/3ZXr88u 

The second bonus episode to accompany our recent series on Thinking Machines is available now: David and Shannon Vallor talk about where AI is really taking us, sorting the reality from the hype. Sign up to PPF+ for just £5 per month or £50 a year for 24 bonus episodes https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

To get the latest edition of our free fortnightly newsletter (out tomorrow), with lots more on SBF and EA and plenty else besides, sign up here https://www.ppfideas.com/newsletters

Next time: The Great Political Films: La Grande Illusion



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More episodes

American Elections: 2024: Is Anyone Winning?

6 October 2024

00:00 / 01:04

Thinking About Thinking Machines: Monk & Robot

3 October 2024

00:00 / 01:04

Thinking About Thinking Machines: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

29 September 2024

00:00 / 01:04

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