# 054: The Constant and the Variant (redux)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/satellite-haiku-7095905/054-the-constant-and-the-variant-redux
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/satellite-haiku-7095905/054-the-constant-and-the-variant-redux.md
Podcast: [Satellite Haiku](https://stenobird.com/podcast/satellite-haiku-7095905)
Published: 2026-04-07T18:31:41+00:00
Episode link: https://satellitehaiku.substack.com/p/054-the-constant-and-the-variant
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/193488910/69a391a898700aa5f2f259e5a265b4a0.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/satellite-haiku-7095905/episodes/054-the-constant-and-the-variant-redux
Duration seconds: 4887

## Resource

MiLo shares an update on his grandbabies and uses that to riff on the constant versus the variant (nature versus nurture). We linger on parenthood for a bit, and then we talk about approaches to human learning, analogous approaches to training AI, Waldorf education, screen use and attention span, ADHD, the purpose of school and different college majors, STEM versus the humanities, the idea of the “collective” (i.e. society) and its obstacles, globalization, “fraternity” versus selfishness, whether selfishness is endemic (constant) or learned (variant), proxy debates in politics, Steven Pinker’s view of human progress, the need for certainty and cognitive closure, religious belief. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit satellitehaiku.substack.com

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## Transcript

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