Today We Choose Faces: Recent Episodes
Ernest Prabhakar, John Prabhakar
An online book club discussing the psychology and philosophy of speculative fiction, starting with the works of Roger Zelazny
Chapter 11 of Ron Chernow's biography of John D. Rockefeller
Rockefeller seemingly was able to balance ruthlessness towards competitors with benevolence towards insiders, even former rivals, and especially his family.
But this compartmentalization broke down with his fickle and feckless brother Frank.
As did our podcast, when a discussion of "trust" and "failure" reopened old wounds of our own.
Is it time for us to discover a grace that Rockefeller's moralistic religion could not imagine?
... to reconcile is Christ
[WAS: Ambivalent Paternalism]
- St Paul versus John Mark
- Jesus versus Peter
- Normal versus Exceptional morality
- Natural versus Legible
Chapter 9 of Ron Chernow's biography of John D. Rockefeller
We work best when we work together.
But what is the cost of creating a sustainable shared system?
Which costs are intrinsic to the benefit?
Which are part of the "boss tax" necessary too keep the system itself running?
- Financial
- Psychological
- Cultural
cf. The Iron Law of Bureaucracy
Compare Ernie's discussion with Cadence Hubing on YouTube.com/@datocracy
- When does being right give you the right to impose morality on fools?
- What is the cost?
- Does the gospel demand more from us than mere religion?
Perhaps Rockefeller did the best he could.
Can we, with his example, do better?
https://2transform.us/2023/06/25/6-25-epic-poem-christ-yield/
Ch 7 of Ron Chernow's biography of John D. Rockefeller
Is the absence of internal conflict the key to harmonious living?
Matthew 20:1-16
Is the essence of morality a heart turned towards God?
When is the maturity to comprehend divergent perspectives
more important than simple morality?
How does compartmentalization help/hurt us?
Chapter 6 of Ron Chernow's Titan
How we scale the benefits of a new economy?
Do the means justify the ends?
Is even the "right" decision 100% "good"?
Chapter 5 of Ron Chernow's biography of John D. Rockefeller
Pioneering a whole new approach to business in the midst of the oil boom.
"Not merely self-made, but self-invented"
- Was Rockefeller truly moral?
- Is there such a thing as unconscious sin? (start 18min in)
- Is "ethical business" merely a cultural convention? (cf. "market fraud")
Chapter 4 of Ron Chernow's biography of John D. Rockefeller
- What are the consequences of our parenting, for good and ill?
- How much is intentional?
- In what ways does it matter?
- Can we even know?
- AltMBA
- Maven.com: Create and teach cohort-based courses
- Maven Course Accelerator
-
KhanWorldSchool
- Khommunity Enrichment Malls
- Story: Molly's Life Thesis
- Startup Fiction
Wrapping up a book club with my father on Nevil Shute‘s novel Round the Bend
Religious Entrepreneurship in Nevil Shute’s Round the Bend (ihack.us)
Round the Bend and Back Again (2transform.us)
- RTB-1: Love versus Marriage
- RTB-2a: Love vs Shame
- RTB-2b: Hypothetical Narratives
- RTB-3: Absolution vs Forgiveness
- RTB-4: Religion vs Progress
- RTB-5: Personal vs Professional
- RTB-6: Law vs Grace
- RTB-7: Foolish vs Wicked
- RTB-8: Religion vs Work vs Family
- RTB-9: Respond vs React
- RTB-10: "Work as Worship" vs "Worshipping Work"
- RTB-11: Defensive vs Gracious
- https://overwatch-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Zenyatta
- Why Ultron Was Right (ScreenCrush)
- Monks with Steel Balls (Wisdom.app)
Religious Entrepreneurship in Nevil Shute’s Round the Bend
What is this book about?
Is it primarily about commerce, with a veneer of religion?
The other way around?
An exploration of the human tension between them?
A hopeful vision of a future where they are reconciled?
The rest of Chapter 2 of Round the Bend
Plus a bonus Nevil Shute fan fiction vignette, by Ernie: Round the Bend and Back Again
Driving Question: What is this book about?
Chapter 2 of Round the Bend by Nevil Shute
Ironically interrupted by Ernie's mother, to ask for his help with moving the family cars
In order to preserve relationship, we must give up control (kenosis)
See also: Love vs. Power (Philip Yancey via Mitch Teemley)
What does it take to empathize and reconcile with the one we defined ourself as opposing?
Thesis, AntiThesis, Synthesis
Is "playing Christ" the antidote to "playing God"?
Does every good act contain a seed of evil? And vice versa?
The best human act
is the conscious moral choice
to use my resources
to create value for others– A Radical Centrist Manifesto
- Self-Surrender (TWCF-2/7)
- Positive-Sum Status Games (Two Ernests Forking Humanity)
- Tim O'Reilly (Twitter)
My son insisted on recording our coffee chat, so we decided to add it to his grandfather’s podcast feed