A Conversation with Jonathan Haidt (Episode #204)

In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Haidt about the maintenance of a healthy society.

They discuss:
- The problem of orthodoxy
- The history of political polarization in the US
- The breakdown of public conversation
- Remaining uncertainty about Covid-19
- Motivated reasoning
- The 2020 election
- The future prospects for Gen Z
- The effect of social media on the mental health of girls
- Jonathan's experience with psychedelics
- Positive psychology
- Loss of self
- The experience of awe
- and other topics

Released: May 18, 2020

Twitter: @JonHaidt

[dominicbalconi]

Sam, please be advised that none of these recently uploaded podcasts are showing up in subscription boxes. I’m not sure if this is intentional, but it explains the view count.

Thank you so much for the content you continue to produce in all formats. You’re a truly inspiring and insightful being.

[joshuabela]

Sam, can you please condense these discussions into 4 minute series of punchy, simplistic talking points, squeezed between loud commercials?

[Ireland]

Sam is a smart guy who has great discussions in good faith. His absolute failure to be able to accurately represent how Trump supporters think highlights just how difficult a concept this must be for an average Democrat.

[krshrv]

i found this conversation to be extremely helpful for a reason that i imagine hovers close to many people's experience: it gave articulate and precise names and descriptions to many of the extreme and troublesome dynamics which we've been sensing and reacting to without the advantage of detached consideration, or even an appropriate vocabulary. this is an important transcript. thank you!

[pcfreakx]

Sam/Jonathan - LOVE to hear an update to this conversation now that the epidemiologists and experts that are spoken of so fondly in this discussion, decided social distancing and masks were completely irrelevant for the purposes of BLM protests.

[sva]

Does the US seriously expect to be first in line if another country develops an effective vaccine? Would the US extend the same courtesy if circumstances are reversed?

[stephenarmiger]

Decided to subscribe to Making Sense. Was able to listen to the entire podcast. Enjoyed!

[effingright]

So if virtue signaling is a result of adding likes and retweets to social media, creating a public square where social pressure and social bullying/shaming is rampant, how would forcing people to use their real names on the internet alleviate the problem?

[AM-ryis]

Why isn't there a video component?

[Chillibe]

Are any of the podcasts not about Trump? I've checked around 3 now and they are all about trump, I stopped watching this channel because of this, so I genuine wonder if any of them have something else?

[neildunford]

If you want to beat the Republicans, the Democrats need to do 4 things:

Hold themselves & their own, to the same standards as they hold others.

They have to be able to engage with & understand, rather than alienate, current Trump voters.

And whilst societal issues are important, if you're struggling economically; pronouns just don't pay the rent.

You have to operate from demonstrable evidence, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be, and how difficult a conversation it may be - those conversations have to be had.

[TeleportlabsETH]

I knew I saw this in the apple podcasts app but it doesn’t seem to be there anymore.

[stephenarmiger]

You recorded this prior to the events that occurred in Minnesota and are now playing out across the globe. But the conversation is relevant. I am concurrently taking your meditation course. Today was day twelve. Very helpful. Thanks for all you do.

[matshepherd]

Holy shit TDS can cripple even the brightest of minds.

[bennieblanks]

How the hell does Haidt think that MORE consequences for online speech is what we need right now?

And that wasn't just one of many proposals; that was his number one recommendation. This is shockingly out of touch.

Also, the "Russians" bought less than $100k in Facebook ads, the majority of which weren't even political. Let it fucking go you absolute crazy people.

Finally, if the government knows who you are, you aren't anonymous. Haidt was genuinely disappointing in this discussion.

[CalebBrandalise]

~24:00 "its definitely just going to be all trump and the election the whole time (for the next 6mo).."
Oohh the good ol days, when we were only talking about coronavirus or trump.

[MIAJoe]

Wow Sam.. you wouldn't give Brett Kavanuagh even an inch and he's on the court for a lifetime.. but you'll give Biden a mile cause he's President for 4 years?!! That's not fair Sam..

[HouseJawn]

36:00 "opening Twitter is like opening a trash can and watching the cockroaches and rats fight, there's something interesting about it" 🤣

[deejaye]

I like Jonathan's Haidt's talk about the hyper-connectivity that started in 2011-2013. Also i don't believe Sam has any Trump supporting friends. He should do a podcast with one of them. Oh the Russia, Russia Russia stuff has shown to be more of a Chinese thing by 150X

[KnockManJo]

Interesting how people who tend to be very nuanced intellectuals like Sam can also display high degrees of simple-minded thinking when it comes to politics, along with huge generalizations and blind spots.