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Human reason, wrote Ludwig von Mises, is the basis for civilization itself. Western civilization, he said, was built upon economic progress that sprang from reason. However, he also warned that if the West abandoned sound economics, it would trigger its demise.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/human-reason-foundation-civilization
We’re living through boom-times for Artificial Intelligence, with more and more of us using AI assistants like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Grok and Copilot to do basic research and writing tasks.
But what is the environmental impact of these technologies?
Many listeners have got in touch with More or Less to ask us to investigate various claims about the energy and water use of AI.
One claim in particular has caught your attention - the idea that the equivalent of a small bottle of drinking water is consumed by computer processors every time you ask an AI a question, or get it to write a simple email.
So, where does that claim come from, and is it true?
Reporter: Paul Connolly Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Donald McDonald Editor: Richard Vadon
Are the COMMENTARY podcasters afraid of me? Did Henry II eat a turkey leg? Why won't Trump solve the entitlement crisis? Why don't liberals love America for what it is? We take up these and other questions in a special letters-to-the-podcast episode. Give a listen.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Modern psychology has been at odds with the praxeology of the Austrian School, as psychologists have tended to see humans as passive and reactive, while Austrians view human action as purposeful. Recent developments in the field might change that narrative.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/how-psychology-catching-reality-human-action
If education and career skills are what you want, a college or university may be a waste of your time and money.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/four-reasons-why-college-degrees-are-becoming-useless
If New Yorkers wanted to help students by paying for their tuition, they would have already done so on their own.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/busting-free-college-myth
In Syria the damage is done, and future generations will continue to suffer from the cruel folly of those convinced they know how to run everyone else’s lives.
Original article: https://mises.org/power-market/americas-syrian-civil-war
In this week's Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon takes on Alex Honneth's The Working Sovereign. While Dr. Gordon acknowledges that the author gives an "Honneth" effort, his logic and grasp of the world of work fall way short of being convincing.
Original article: https://mises.org/friday-philosophy/honneth-effort
Biden passed the most ambitious climate legislation in American history. Trump just shredded it. What does that mean for the future of renewable energy in America? Where does the climate movement go from here? And is it too late for us to avert climate catastrophe?
To answer these questions, I invited onto the show two climate experts: Jesse Jenkins, who is a leading climate modeler and a professor at Princeton University, where he runs the Princeton ZERO Lab, and Jane Flegal, who is the executive director of the Blue Horizons Foundation and served on the Biden administration’s climate policy team.
We discuss how far Trump’s policies have set us back, the lessons the climate movement should learn from this loss and what the next wave of climate politics may look like.
Mentioned:
“Impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill On The US Energy Transition – Summary Report” by REPEAT Project
“There’s a Race to Power the Future. China Is Pulling Away.” by David Gelles, Somini Sengupta, Keith Bradsher and Brad Plumer
Jesse’s Book Recommendations:
Why Nothing Works by Marc J. Dunkelman
Energy by Richard Rhodes
Mars Trilogy Series by Kim Stanley Robinson
Jane’s Book Recommendations:
Mating by Norman Rush
Frontiers of Illusion by Daniel Sarewitz
An Engine, Not a Camera by Donald MacKenzie
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.
You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html
This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu and Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Elias Isquith, Marina King, Jan Kobal and Kristin Lin. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser.
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