The Importance of Love in Evolution

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The link to evolution is irrelevant with the fact that we can tell an evolutionary story about why we have certain cognitive and emotional capacities doesn't tell us anything about their ultimate value or whether we should maintain them. The basis for love is untouched because love does not focus I don't love my daughter because I'm focused on her as being the ultimate source of her neurophysiology, he says. "I think there's an asymmetry here which I think is a very happy one to discover"

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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