The Disadvantages of Transitions

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I could argue that there are certain meditative practices that increase your feeling of sort of metaphysical power over your fate. There's no evidence for consciousness at all let alone any of its actual qualitative character in a merely third person discussion about the nature of reality I mean you look at a brain and there's no indication that it's conscious. If we weren't already experiencing consciousness on our own side we would have no clue that consciousness exists, he says.

Bestselling author and friend of the podcast Sam Harris joins Tamler and Dave for a marathon podcast. (Seriously, pack two pairs of astronaut diapers for this one). We talk about the costs and benefits of religion, dropping acid in India, and the illusory nature of (a certain kind of) free will. Then we go at it on blame, moral responsibility, hatred, guilt, retribution, and vengeance. Sam thinks these are antiquated responses based on a belief in spooky metaphysics, Tamler thinks they are important components of human morality, and Dave just wants everyone to get along and be reasonable (like that nice Kant fellow).

Time markers (roughly)

0:00-47:00 Intro and costs and benefits of religion

47:00-77:30 Drugs, the self, free will

77:30-- Blame, guilt, vengeance, moral responsibility, desert.

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