Show Notes:
Steve recounts his senior year at Harvard, and how he was torn between pursuing acting and philosophy. He graduated with a dual degree in philosophy and math but also found time to act in theater and participated in 20 shows.
A Love of Theater and a Move to London
Steve explains why the lack of a theater major at Harvard allowed him to explore acting more than a university with a theater major. He touches on his parents' concerns about his career prospects if he pursued acting, and his decision to apply to both acting and philosophy graduate schools. Steve discusses his rejection from all graduate schools and why he decided to move to London with friends Evan Cohn and Brad Rouse. He talks about his experience in London.
Europe on $20 a Day
Steve details his backpacking trip through Europe on a $20 a day budget, staying with friends from Harvard and high school. He mentions a job opportunity in Japan through the Japanese Ministry of Education and describes his three-year stint in Japan, working as a native English speaker for the Japanese Ministry of Education, and being immersed in Japanese culture. He shares his experiences of living in the countryside and reflects on the impact of living in a different culture, learning some Japanese, and making Japanese friends. He discusses the personal growth and self-reflection that came from his time in Japan, including his first steps off the "achiever track."
On to Philosophy Graduate School
When Steve returned to the U.S. he decided to apply to philosophy graduate schools again, this time with more success. He enrolled at the University of Michigan. However, he was miserable during grad school, which led him to seek therapy. Steve credits therapy with helping him make better choices in life. He discusses the competitive and prestigious nature of the Michigan philosophy department and the challenges of finishing his dissertation. He touches on the narrow and competitive aspects of pursuing a career in philosophy and shares his experience of finishing his dissertation and the support he received from a good co-thesis advisor.
Kalamazoo College and Improv
Steve describes his postdoc experience at Kalamazoo College, where he continued his improv hobby and formed his own improv group. He mentions a mockumentary-style improv movie called Comic Evangelists that premiered at the AFI Film Festival. Steve moved to Buffalo, Niagara University, and reflects on the challenges of adjusting to a non-research job. He discusses his continued therapy in Buffalo and the struggle with both societal and his own expectations of professional status, however, with the help of a friend, he came to the realization that he had "made it" in his current circumstances. Steve describes his acting career in Buffalo, including roles in Shakespeare in the Park and collaborating with a classmate, Ian Lithgow.
A Speciality in Philosophy of Science
Steve shares his personal life, including meeting his wife in 2009 and starting a family. He explains his specialty in philosophy of science, focusing on the math and precise questions in analytic philosophy. He discusses his early interest in AI and computational epistemology, including the ethics of AI and the superintelligence worry. Steve describes his involvement in a group that discusses the moral status of digital minds and AI alignment.
Aligning AI with Human Interests
Steve reflects on the challenges of aligning AI with human interests and the potential existential risks of advanced AI. He shares his concerns about the future of AI and the potential for AI to have moral status. He touches on the superintelligence concern and the challenges of aligning AI with human goals. Steve mentions the work of Eliezer Yudkowsky and the importance of governance and alignment in AI development. He reflects on the broader implications of AI for humanity and the need for careful consideration of long-term risks.
Harvard Reflections
Steve mentions Math 45 and how it kicked his butt, and his core classes included jazz, an acting class and clown improv with Jay Nichols.
Timestamps:
01:43: Dilemma Between Acting and Philosophy
03:44: Rejection and Move to London
07:09: Life in Japan and Cultural Insights
12:19: Return to Academia and Grad School Challenges
20:09: Therapy and Personal Growth
22:06: Transition to Buffalo and Philosophy Career
26:54: Philosophy of Science and AI Ethics
33:20: Future Concerns and AI Predictions
55:17: Reflections on Career and Personal Growth
Links:
Steve's Website: https://stevepetersen.net/
On AI Superintelligence:
Some places to donate:
On improv
Featured Non-profit:
The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Rich Buery who reports:
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