Jonathan Haidt: Religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence

[hugofilho]

Wonderful lecture. One does not need to agree 100 percent to be grateful for the enlightenment.

[OvenBakedCookie]

Before you dislike the video, watch the whole thing. Read the Selfish Gene, and compare. This is intriguing. TED is not about who's right & wrong, it's more about new ideas.

[loramoore]

2022 and I just tapped into his wisdom…I trust I am part of the Great Becoming…I will now follow these teachings…I am so incredibly Grateful♥️🌀

[clmbatze]

That last video resonated with me. It moved me. His theory of how the sacred arises is very interesting, I hope someone delves more deeply into this subject maybe with some neuroscientific studies that could investigate aspects of this. I also think that humans can transcend themselves when connecting deeply with others, but I don't think that is the only way, though (I remember he also mentioned drugs, but nothing else). Other ways could be meditation, or through losing oneself in a project.

[SkaterK]

I much preferred the 3 minute overview at the end to the metaphor-laden speech at the beginning for his argument. I found it took that entire ~14 minute speech to properly connect all the metaphors he used.

Regardless, he makes an interesting yet unsurprising point about human collectives. I was talking to an intellectual the other day who reported on a study he read which stated ~90% of people in the world need some form of religion in their life. Not necessarily an organized religion.

[funkyboodah]

"nothing brings people together like war, and that bringing them together opens up the possibility of extraordinary transcendent experiences."

[Eggs-n-Jakey]

One of the most beautiful comment sections on youtube. Should be in a museum.

[mg]

Self-transcendence is not about losing self, it's about transcending self, you are still conscious about your self, but you see it in a bigger context, as just a role in a game, life forms are born, struggle to survive then die, it's natural. To be in a state of self-transcendence means to see your self playing a role and being able to accept what is natural.

[MusicbyWordPlay]

In my eyes the main purpose of this talk was for people to realize there is more to life than filling your face and satisfying every desire we may have. There is something else to life that humans have access to but must seek out on their own, which can even be showcased by evolution. He uses religion as a mere example of the coming together that humans can experience as a result of self-transcendence.

[francismausley]

"Man ever aspires to greater heights and loftier goals. He ever seeks to attain a world surpassing that which he inhabits, and to ascend to a degree above that which he occupies. This love of transcendence is one of the hallmarks of man." – Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i Faith

[squishycommander]

It deeply concerns me that people dislike this video, just because it is slightly religious. Most of the video wasn't even about religion. Don't confine yourself to one belief. Open yourself up and try to learn as much as you can about the world and break yourself away from ignorance.

[vxllvxn]

I'm an atheist but I felt and realized this after taking psychedelics.

[freesk]

This guy is excited about situations in which war and tragedy makes us work together. He wants us to be unified. But these are BAD situations! I'd rather we were disunited and peaceful and prosperous, thank you very much.

[Jared-khuk]

Very interesting yet I don't think he really connected the concept of self transcendence and human cooperation enough

[czabeats]

Good video. insightful. I do not agree with his conclusions but these are interesting topics. wonder what a free rider is is modern society.

[freesk]

Contradiction: the "self" melts away, and the feeling is incredible... If there is no self, there is no feeling. When people say "spiritual" the only coherent thing they could really mean is "sublime or intensely good non-sexual emotion." Spirituality is just another word for some kinds of emotions. Emotions happen in the brain. If it is supposed to be good for the self to dissolve, isn't that just death worship? I value life, not death. Flow is good. That is concentration, not death.

[exitrealitatis]

The idea that an individual trys to transcends itself through group consciousness is interesting but I like to think that transcendence means moving beyond human definitions and ideas such as individuals and groups. I think that to transcend oneself means to leave every earthly feeling such as love, hope, gratitude, fear and despair behind and reach a level of consciousness where one can calmy look upon chaos and find truth, peace, balance and perfect order without emotional attachment.

[operachild]

Competition is understood because it is rooted in fear and foolishness. Communal thinking is what transcendence encourages. However, cooperation with discernment will control those parasitic free-radicals that he mentioned. I can drop that speech to 4 words: choose kindness, share love. #choosekindness

[TheFolkUtopia]

Self-transcendence is directly related to self preservation. As is adhering to a group dynamic to prevent becoming prey. I felt this speaker was reaching so hard for a profound finding of a greater good that he failed to see it is at odds with itself. Even if as populations grew and cooperation was necessary for survival it is still in the interest of the self. It does not transcend but adapts the self to be more cooperative.

[xx]

thx very much from Germany ^^
so much fascinating and inspiring work from Jonathan Haidt