Hacking State

55 - Aneil Mallavarapu: Why AI Cannot Have Consciousness

Anieil Mallavarapu is a biochemist, award winning computer scientist, and Managing Partner at Humain Ventures; investing in early stage life science and health tech startups.
We talk about his pioneering work in systems biology at Harvard that led to the creation of Little b, a programming language for modeling biological systems with modularity and abstraction, the phenomenology of consciousness, the “hard problem” of consciousness, taking consciousness as fundamental, the limits of radical materialism, why our brains are not like classical computers, reconciling theories of consciousness with physics, the computational intractability of consciousness, the specter of AI civil rights, and Austin as the epicenter of the emerging science of the mind.
 
Aneil on X: https://x.com/aneilbaboo
His paper, "Programming with models: Modularity and abstraction provide powerful capabilities for systems biology"
 
 
 
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54 - Kyle Housley: The Right to Bear Arms and the Wrong Way to Think About Love

Kyle Housley is a writer and co-host of a new podcast, Horizons Review, with longtime friend of the show, Cody Moser, exploring neglected intellectual texts and thinkers. We discuss the pathologization of normal relationship dynamics through misused psychological terminology, and extensively examine Second Amendment jurisprudence, particularly Kyle's disagreement with the Heller case on original meaning grounds.
Kyle critiques how terms like "narcissism" and "transactional relationships" are misapplied to pathologize healthy interpersonal expectations and natural give-and-take in friendships and romantic partnerships. He argues this reflects broader cultural problems with dismissing relational obligations in favor of personal convenience.
The majority of our conversation focuses on Kyle's disagreement with the 2008 Heller case. He argues that the core holding identifying self-defense as the primary protected right is wrong on original meaning grounds. Instead, he contends the amendment's original purpose was to protect citizens' right to bear arms most useful in military service to maintain effective militias, not individual self-defense which was already protected under common law.
Kyle provides extensive historical context on the founders' deep concerns about standing armies versus citizen soldiers, heavily influenced by Roman Republic history and fears that professional armies would lead to the same factional civil wars that destroyed Rome. We explore the distinction between a "right to rebellion" versus organized resistance, the founders' view of standing armies as mercenaries, and how the militia clause connects to republican virtue and citizenship.
We conclude by examining modern challenges to Second Amendment interpretation, including 3D-printed guns and drone warfare, and how technological advances create new questions about effective citizen militia capability in the 21st century.
 
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53 - Charles Herrman: Duties of Honor vs. Rights of Dignity

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Charles Herman, a philosopher and senior research fellow at the American Institute for Philosophical and Cultural Thought. We explore into a distinction that Charles has been developing, which revolves around the concepts of honor versus dignity cultures.
Drawing insights from his Substack post titled “A Short Survey of Honor and Dignity,” we explore how this theoretical framework can help explain significant pairings throughout Western history, including the philosophical debates between Epicureanism and Stoicism, Romanticism versus Classicism, and the modern cultural divide between liberalism and conservatism.To start, Charles defines the core attributes of honor and dignity cultures. In an honor-based culture, esteem is earnestly sought and is predicated on notions of trust, respect, and earned merit. Individuals are expected to exemplify socially approved behavior to maintain their standing and reputation. In contrast, dignity cultures center around inherent worth and individual rights, grounded in the belief that all human beings deserve a certain measure of respect, regardless of their achievements or failures. This fundamental distinction, as Charles elaborates, has immense implications on behaviors and social interactions within these cultures.As our conversation unfolds, we discuss how the perception of status differs radically in honor versus dignity systems. Honor cultures traditionally elevate status through established hierarchy, often venerating elders and those who have earned their merit. This contrasts sharply with dignity cultures, which emphasize equal rights and universal dignity upheld by rationalism, a legacy of Enlightenment thought. Charles analyzes how these two cultures negotiate relationships, particularly in contractual matters, shedding light on cultural tensions witnessed in historical and contemporary political negotiations.Diverting into the realm of risk, Charles highlights that honor cultures appear more accepting of death and risk-taking, viewing these as part of a dignified existence. This differs from the almost preventative, risk-averse mindset prevalent in dignity-based societies. The conversation probes deep into the psychology of risk, challenging us to consider how these frameworks fundamentally affect ambition and the pursuit of personal goals.We further contemplate the adaptive qualities of these cultural systems. While Charles notes that 90% of the world's current population embraces honor-based systems, he suggests that adaptability is not inherently tied to type of culture. Rather, he points out that historical shifts—such as the changing landscapes of governance in modern China—demonstrate that various political systems can exhibit forms of adaptability.The discourse also touches on the implications of free riding within dignity cultures, especially in the context of immigration policies in Europe. Charles critically examines how dignity frameworks, which emphasize inherent worth, may inadvertently neglect the pragmatic implications of individual contributions to society, illustrating a vulnerable point in the dignity culture paradigm.As we wind down, the conversation shifts to the philosophical roots of dignity, questioning how secularization and the loss of metaphysical foundations may impact its future longevity. Charles argues that while dignity is a relatively recent sociocultural construct, the progress made in this aspect over the last few centuries cannot be overlooked. Yet, he emphasizes that the respect and adherence to human rights remain critical challenges that practitioners of dignity culture must navigate moving forward.This episode invites listeners to reflect upon the nuanced interplay between honor and dignity within their own contexts. We draw conclusions on how these cultural frameworks influence our personal interactions and societal structures, highlighting the potential for mutual understanding and respect across differing cultural ideologies. Concluding our dialogue, Charles encourages the audience to explore his works on various platforms, as he captivates with further examination of these critical themes.
 
A Short Survey of Honor and Diginity: https://charlesherrman.substack.com/p/a-short-survey-of-honor-and-dignity
Charles' Substack: https://charlesherrman.substack.com/
 
 
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52 - Uberboyo: Christ vs. Nietzsche - The West's Moral Revolutionaries

In this episode, I sit down with Uberboyo, a prominent YouTuber and Nietzschean thinker, to explore the complex relationship between Christianity and Nietzscheanism.
Our conversation begins by examining what it means to be "Nietzschean" - not as an ideology, but as a methodology for approaching morality and understanding psychological patterns in society. We discuss how moral systems evolve with changing demographics, comparing the nationalist God of the Old Testament with the more universal God of later Christianity. Uberboyo presents a fascinating neurological perspective, discussing how the brain's threat detection center influences both religious belief and tribal identity, suggesting both are rising among younger generations disillusioned with modern culture.
The conversation goes into the psychological distinction between "life-affirming" and "life-denying" worldviews, with parallels drawn between ancient Rome's decline and our current cultural moment. We discuss the challenges facing Western civilization, the generational divide between institutional "Boomer" thinking and the more tribalistic instincts emerging in Gen Z, and whether there might be a path forward that incorporates elements of both Christian and Nietzschean thought. Throughout our discussion, we grapple with profound questions about metaphysics, morality, and meaning in an age of decadence and cultural transformation.
Despite our challenges, Uberboyo offers a white pill of hope: the possibility that younger generations might organically develop healthier moral instincts, potentially leading to cultural renewal in the West.
 
Uberboyo's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrk8Y2fsR5i_5c1iTR9tZpg
Uberboyo's website: https://uberboyo.com/
 
 
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51 - Patrick Casey: The New New Right

I sit down with Patrick Casey — political commentator, writer, and creator of Restoring Order — for a deep-dive interview on the state of right-wing politics in America.
We explore the rise of the dissident right, Trump’s 2024 comeback, paleoconservatism, the influence of online political movements, and the challenges of building lasting alliances on the right.
Topics include: the impact of tech elites on immigration policy, generational shifts among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the return to traditional religion among young conservatives, and the future of nationalism, populism, and right-wing strategy. Patrick also shares insights into his own motivations, his view of Trump’s evolving political instincts, and which figures he’s eager to interview next — from J.D. Vance to Nick Land.
 
 
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50 - Arcadius Strauss: A Techno-Nationalist Future

In this episode of Hacking State I discuss "Techno-Nationalism for Building Western Civilization 4.0" with Arcadius Strauss. We examine the un-sustainability of our current societal structures influenced by technology, globalization, and cultural shifts. Strauss presents 3 competing visions for the future—"Matrix West," "Space West," and "Neo-Traditional West"—each reflecting potential paths for civilization.
We also explore demographic challenges and the ideological conflicts between traditional values and technological solutions. Strauss advocates for a vision that integrates innovation with tradition, concluding that with strong leadership, we can navigate toward a thriving future.
 
Arcadius Strauss
On X: https://x.com/ArcadiusStrauss
On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArcadiusStrauss
On Substack: https://arcadiusstrauss.substack.com/
 
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49 - Alex Petkas: Greco-Futurism and the Return of Zeal

Alex Petkas is host of Cost of Glory podcast. He holds a PhD in Classics from Princeton, and teaches on persuasion, heroes, and Plutarch’s "Parallel Lives."
We talk about the value of Plutarch’s “Parallel Lives”, the contemporary thirst for heroes and grand narratives, Platonism vs. Stoicism, Archeofuturist aesthetics, why futurism is ripe for our cultural moment, his Rostra group and training men in the art of rhetoric, and why our future depends on recovering the spirit of zeal.
 
Cost of Glory:
On X: https://x.com/costofglory
Website: https://www.costofglory.com
 
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48 - Raw Egg Nationalist: Health, Hormones, and Social Control

I am joined by Raw Egg Nationalist, creator and publisher of Man’s World Magazine, co-founder of Kindred Harvest, and author of "The Eggs Benedict Option."
We discuss the relationship between individual health and the political system, his upcoming book with Passage Press, “The Last Men,” the consequences of declining testosterone levels and sperm counts, the harmful effects of environmental xenoestrogens, MAHA (Make America Healthy Again), the dangers of reliance on Ozempic and other GLP1 agonists, the iatrogenics of the medical industrial complex, and his upcoming speech at the 2025 Natal Conference.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Raw Egg Nationalist05:07 The Eggs Benedict Option: Philosophy and Reception10:10 Food, Politics, and Social Control14:48 Testosterone Decline and Masculinity20:02 The End of Men Documentary and Its Impact24:56 The Last Men: Upcoming Book Insights29:53 Cultural Resurgence of Vitalist Health33:48 The Mind-Body Connection and Education38:25 The Weight Loss Drug Dilemma42:17 The Power of Big Pharma49:40 The Crisis of Medicalization and Control52:06 Philosophical Insights on Fertility and Captivity
 
Raw Egg Nationalist on:
X: https://x.com/Babygravy9
Man’s World: https://mansworldmag.online/
Kindred Harvest: https://kindredharvest.co/
Eggs Benedict Option: https://antelopehillpublishing.com/product/the-eggs-benedict-option-by-the-raw-egg-nationalist/
 
 
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47 - Alex Priou: From Plato to Palantir - Philosophy's Place in Technological Society

Alex Priou is Associate Professor of Political Philosophy and Interim Dean of the Center for Intellectual Foundations at University of Austin, as well as co-host of The New Thinkery podcast.
 
We discuss the place of the Great Books in education, a justification of political philosophy in terms of the good life, his review of Palantir's Alex Karp's and Nicholas Zamiska's book, “The Technological Republic,” the challenges posed by life mediated through technology, the interplay between great thinkers, and his upcoming book on Plato’s Republic and Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, exploring how times of decadence create a desire for revolutionary politics and drawing parallels to the pitfalls of today.
 
Alex Priou
Personal site: https://alexpriou.com/
UATX profile: https://www.uaustin.org/people/alex-priou
On X: https://x.com/alexpriou
 
 
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46 - ARX-Han: The Shape of Meaning | Shame, Masculinity, Nihilism, and Agency

ARX-Han is a novelist and publisher of the Decentralized Fiction Substack. He joins me to discuss cultural accelerationism, shame and masculinity, nihilism and the crisis of agency, and AI & fears of human obsolescence.
 
ARX-Han
On X: https://x.com/ARX_Han
On Substack: https://www.decentralizedfiction.com/
His novel, INCEL: https://www.amazon.com/INCEL-Novel-ARX-Han/dp/B0CJLCZVCG/
 
 
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