A Conversation with Paul Bloom (Episode #192)

In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom speak about the psychology of adapting to the coronavirus pandemic, the disastrous analogy between coronavirus and flu, the political siloing of information, true and false concerns over “panic,” pressuring China to close down their live animal markets, the economic implications and possible silver linings of the pandemic, what our response suggests about our ability to deal with climate change, Biden vs Sanders, the ethics of praising one’s enemies, and other topics.

Paul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. His research explores how children and adults understand the physical and social world, with special focus on morality, religion, fiction, and art.

Released: March 17, 2020

Twitter: @paulbloomatyale

[joem]

In these dark times, it's important to find silver linings. And the silver lining in face of apocalypse is the return of good music!

[davidviskovich]

Took a global pandemic to get "The music" back. One positive out of this whole mess.

[TByrom]

Sam, you and Christopher Hitchens accompanied me from a Southern Baptist Deacon in South Texas to an atheist humanist in 2015, and have been a benefit to me since. I escaped at the age of 50. Thanks.

[michaelbailey]

sound advice:
"Most people have a fear of acquiring the virus. I think a good way of approaching this is to imagine you do have the virus and change your behaviour so you're not transmitting it.
"Don't think about changing your behaviour so you won't get it, think about changing your behaviour so you don't give it to somebody else." 😷

[CaebCarr]

The music is back!!!! Pandemic Shmandemic!

[Powertoolz]

That music gives me the chills now that you are using it again.

[SuperAwesomeHobo]

I was just getting used to getting up and dancing at the start of every podcast!

[psmitty]

The 33rd minute of a disaster movie line was hilarious

[gabrielekennedy]

I wish Christopher Hitchens was here today. I would to have his voice

[restlessmind]

Please do more of these the world needs help understanding and dealing with this crisis now more than ever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your great work.

[凱恩-gb]

25:04 "...Anyone who is playing with a bat in one hand and a duck in the other is just a f***ing terrorist at this point."

[patrickdoherty]

Unless bars, restaurants theme parks etc are closed, people will continue to frequent them. People need very clear, concrete messages. The average person thinks, "if they're not closing those places then obviously it's ok to go. If it weren't' ok to go, then they'd close them." In Ireland the health minister was publicly shaming people who continued going to pubs, but the government hadn't closed them yet! What did they expect?

[AZWings]

Probably many people will say this, but I was on board back in late January. The way this has unfolded and the implications were clear to me back then and have only become clearer as each development unfolds. I stopped talking about it for a while in February because so many people were either in denial or really had no idea what was going on. I still feel there are a lot of people that don't get it yet. But, as you say, time now seems to be in a completely weird state. Things from yesterday seem like weeks ago. There are still people out there that think we're going to come through this in three weeks like it's the common cold, or something. The world will never be the same. I still hope I'm wrong, but at this point, it seems crystal clear.
Stay safe Sam.

[trob-o-matic]

Ah, the good old music. We're back on track.

[PeterAndWillAnderson]

Really, Sam, 1 million deaths in the USA? Your last host, doctor Amesh, did not seem to think anything like that.

[garrywellman]

I bet Rogan is one of the people he's talking about in the beginning for not taking it seriously enough

[frogturtle]

Not on board with all of Sam's opinions but the virus coverage and diversity of relevant guests has been great so far. Thank you for this content.

[cthornton]

Twenty years in the recovery business, both of sanity & substance, educated me that denial is one of the strongest detrimental factors with which we struggle.
Thank you for your calm pragmatism in this tsunami of "fear porn."

[sonya_vegan_mindfullife]

This is the best thing I have heard in the media lately. Thanks so much from South Africa

[StevenOBrien]

"It's funny, a pandemic seems to turn everybody into a socialist"
*fade out*

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