David Eagleman

Why were you attracted to the terminology contract? Because it's not something you can break. Because it's not that Ulysses said, okay, tie me to the thing, but leave a little string here that I can pull and let the ropes down or something. It's that he was bound to that mast. He was attached to it and could not get off the mast. Okay, that's the important part. It's like a marriage contract.

Why were you attracted to the terminology contract? Because it's not something you can break. Because it's not that Ulysses said, okay, tie me to the thing, but leave a little string here that I can pull and let the ropes down or something. It's that he was bound to that mast. He was attached to it and could not get off the mast. Okay, that's the important part. It's like a marriage contract.

Yeah, exactly. But even more, you know, a marriage contract you can break also, but the key with Ulysses' contracts is you really want to make them unbreakable. Here's just a couple examples. For example, in Alcoholics Anonymous, the first thing they have you do is clear all the alcohol out of your house. Because even if somebody feels like, hey, look, I'm done.

Yeah, exactly. But even more, you know, a marriage contract you can break also, but the key with Ulysses' contracts is you really want to make them unbreakable. Here's just a couple examples. For example, in Alcoholics Anonymous, the first thing they have you do is clear all the alcohol out of your house. Because even if somebody feels like, hey, look, I'm done.

Yeah, exactly. But even more, you know, a marriage contract you can break also, but the key with Ulysses' contracts is you really want to make them unbreakable. Here's just a couple examples. For example, in Alcoholics Anonymous, the first thing they have you do is clear all the alcohol out of your house. Because even if somebody feels like, hey, look, I'm done.

I'm not going to drink, but I'll leave those things in case I have a party or whatever. They know that on some, you know, festive Friday night or a lonely Sunday night or something, you might, okay. So you get rid of it so that the temptation can't be there. Or with drug addiction programs, First thing they tell you is, look, don't ever walk around with more than 20 bucks in your pocket.

I'm not going to drink, but I'll leave those things in case I have a party or whatever. They know that on some, you know, festive Friday night or a lonely Sunday night or something, you might, okay. So you get rid of it so that the temptation can't be there. Or with drug addiction programs, First thing they tell you is, look, don't ever walk around with more than 20 bucks in your pocket.

I'm not going to drink, but I'll leave those things in case I have a party or whatever. They know that on some, you know, festive Friday night or a lonely Sunday night or something, you might, okay. So you get rid of it so that the temptation can't be there. Or with drug addiction programs, First thing they tell you is, look, don't ever walk around with more than 20 bucks in your pocket.

Because even if you think you're over it, at some point, someone's going to offer you drugs. And if you've got the money, you might spend it. So there's a million ways that we can make these kinds of contracts with ourselves. And the reason it's important is because what we're doing is setting up some kind of higher order ideal. Yeah. And I know you think about this in terms of religion.

Because even if you think you're over it, at some point, someone's going to offer you drugs. And if you've got the money, you might spend it. So there's a million ways that we can make these kinds of contracts with ourselves. And the reason it's important is because what we're doing is setting up some kind of higher order ideal. Yeah. And I know you think about this in terms of religion.

Because even if you think you're over it, at some point, someone's going to offer you drugs. And if you've got the money, you might spend it. So there's a million ways that we can make these kinds of contracts with ourselves. And the reason it's important is because what we're doing is setting up some kind of higher order ideal. Yeah. And I know you think about this in terms of religion.

I don't know that I agree with the definition. Let me think. Because all the Ulysses contracts that I try to set up in my life, I don't think about them as being religious, although they are… That's why it's a matter of definition.

I don't know that I agree with the definition. Let me think. Because all the Ulysses contracts that I try to set up in my life, I don't think about them as being religious, although they are… That's why it's a matter of definition.

I don't know that I agree with the definition. Let me think. Because all the Ulysses contracts that I try to set up in my life, I don't think about them as being religious, although they are… That's why it's a matter of definition.

I think the contract is part of the game, which is to say, gosh, I know I'm going to behave badly in that situation. So as one twist on this game, as a play in this game, I'm going to put something in place so that I can't do it. It forbids it. It forbids it, exactly. It's a way of saying, look, I know I've got all these rivaling networks and I'm not going to get through this.

I think the contract is part of the game, which is to say, gosh, I know I'm going to behave badly in that situation. So as one twist on this game, as a play in this game, I'm going to put something in place so that I can't do it. It forbids it. It forbids it, exactly. It's a way of saying, look, I know I've got all these rivaling networks and I'm not going to get through this.

I think the contract is part of the game, which is to say, gosh, I know I'm going to behave badly in that situation. So as one twist on this game, as a play in this game, I'm going to put something in place so that I can't do it. It forbids it. It forbids it, exactly. It's a way of saying, look, I know I've got all these rivaling networks and I'm not going to get through this.

I know that right now I feel like I'm not going to drink or smoke or whatever somebody's trying to get or die. Okay, so I've never had a drinking or smoking problem, but one thing I do try to prevent is... You know, I'm in a restaurant and let's say it's a predefined meal and they put a dessert down. I want to have a taste of dessert, but I don't want to eat the whole thing, okay?

I know that right now I feel like I'm not going to drink or smoke or whatever somebody's trying to get or die. Okay, so I've never had a drinking or smoking problem, but one thing I do try to prevent is... You know, I'm in a restaurant and let's say it's a predefined meal and they put a dessert down. I want to have a taste of dessert, but I don't want to eat the whole thing, okay?

I know that right now I feel like I'm not going to drink or smoke or whatever somebody's trying to get or die. Okay, so I've never had a drinking or smoking problem, but one thing I do try to prevent is... You know, I'm in a restaurant and let's say it's a predefined meal and they put a dessert down. I want to have a taste of dessert, but I don't want to eat the whole thing, okay?