EPISODE 391

Myth, Soul and the Machine: How Ancient Wisdom Can Ground You in a World Gone Digital With Jason Batt

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 Paul 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, the International Society of Mythology and Substack. Find him on social media via Instagram and LinkedIn.

For Spirit Gym listeners: Save 15 percent on these courses Jason teaches with the following promo codes:

 

SHOW NOTES

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 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.

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 of AI.

1:48:32 The myth of Narcissus is 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.”

RESOURCES & FURTHER READING

Depth Psychology, Myth and Artificial Intelligence: Soul and the Machine by Jason Batt and Jonathan Erickson

Soul and the Machine webinar based on Jason’s recent book on the International Society of Mythology website

Onliest by Jason Batt

The Leonids Meteor Shower

Koan

Visions of the Future edited by Jason Batt

The Heroine’s Journey: Woman’s Quest For Wholeness by Maureen Murdock

Dune by Frank Herbert

Black Mirror on Netflix

Greatest Hits by Harlan Ellison

The Inner Reaches of Outer Space: Metaphor as Myth and as Religion by Joseph Campbell

The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution by Frank White

The Hidden Cost of AI Art by Brandon Sanderson

Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

His Dark Materials (box set) by Philip Pullman

Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell

The Joseph Campbell Foundation Book Shop

The work of Wendy Doniger, Rudolf Otto, Genevieve von Petsinger, Bernardo Kastrup, Mircea Eliade and Rizwan Virk

Myths Among Us: When Timeless Tales Return to Life by Craig Chalquist

The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence by Ray Kurzweil

Paul’s podcast conversations with Letao Wang, Dr. Enolia Foti, James Hollis, Sean O’Laoire and James Tunney

Paul’s podcast on Christ, Lucifer and Ahriman

Paul’s solocast on the Number 10

When AI Becomes Your Spiritual Guru on Paul’s Blog

Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility by James Carse

The Quantum Revelation: A Radical Synthesis of Science and Spirituality by Paul Levy

Reality +: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David Chalmers

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Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear Music

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