377. This is for the Anonymous Online Trolls | Dr. Gad Saad

218 snips

Jul 27, 2023

Dr. Gad Saad, a notable professor of marketing and author, joins the discussion on happiness and the power of ideas. They delve into the concept of 'idea pathogens' negatively influencing human behavior and explore the evolutionary basis of morality and religion. Saad shares insights from his Jewish heritage, discussing how these beliefs shape happiness. The conversation emphasizes authenticity in an era of political correctness and stresses the importance of courage in expressing personal convictions. Humor's role in academia also finds its way into this lively dialogue.

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ANECDOTE

Early Support

Jordan Peterson thanks Gad Saad for being one of the few academics who supported him during early controversies.
Saad interviewed Peterson when many others deemed him reprehensible.

INSIGHT

Idea Competition

Ideas compete for memorability and communicability, much like a Darwinian race.
This competition can lead to some ideas gaining prominence due to practical function, while others act as cognitive parasites.

INSIGHT

Left-wing Authoritarianism

Left-wing authoritarianism correlates negatively with verbal intelligence and positively with dark tetrad traits.
These traits, including narcissism and psychopathy, suggest a parasitic element within this ideology.

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The Saad Truth About Happiness

8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life

\"Gad Saad\"

In this book, Professor Gad Saad explores the concept of happiness as a scientific fact that can be measured and achieved through specific strategies. He draws on scientific studies, ancient philosophies, and his personal experiences as a refugee from war-torn Lebanon to provide eight secrets for leading a good life. These secrets include living the life you want, the importance of resilience, having a career with a higher purpose than just a paycheck, the value of variety and playfulness, and the significance of choosing the right spouse. Saad argues that happiness is not a deliberate pursuit but rather a by-product of making sound decisions and adopting the right mindset, citing examples from his own life and the wisdom of philosophers like Aristotle and Viktor Frankl.

Maps of Meaning

The Architecture of Belief

Jordan B Peterson

In 'Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief', Jordan Peterson synthesizes insights from neuropsychology, cognitive science, and Jungian approaches to mythology and narrative. The book examines why people from different cultures and eras have formulated myths and stories with similar structures, and how these myths reflect fundamental aspects of human cognition and morality. Peterson argues that the human mind categorizes the world into known and unknown territories, and that myths and religious stories represent the eternal struggle between order and chaos. He also discusses the role of heroic figures in bridging these two realms and the importance of confronting the unknown to achieve personal and societal growth. The book is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that aims to make the wisdom of myth accessible to the modern mind[3][4][5].

We Who Wrestle with God

Perceptions of the Divine

Jordan B Peterson

In 'We Who Wrestle with God', Dr. Peterson delves into the ancient, foundational stories of the Western world. He analyzes Biblical accounts of rebellion, sacrifice, suffering, and triumph, such as the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, and Moses. The book explores how these stories stabilize, inspire, and unite us culturally and psychologically. It encourages readers to understand these narratives scientifically and spiritually, to become conscious of the structure of their souls and societies, and to see themselves and others in a new light.

Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life[1][2][4].

The Saad Truth About Happiness

8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life

\"Gad Saad\"

The selfish gene

Lalla Ward Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins

In 'The Selfish Gene', Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centred view of evolution, arguing that genes are the primary units of selection and that they behave selfishly to ensure their own replication. The book explains concepts such as kin selection, inclusive fitness, and the evolutionarily stable strategy, highlighting how these mechanisms can lead to altruistic behaviors in organisms. Dawkins emphasizes that the 'selfishness' of genes is a metaphorical concept, describing their evolutionary consequences rather than any intentional behavior. The book has been influential in shaping modern evolutionary thought and remains relevant today[1][3][5].

The Parasitic Mind

How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense

\"Gad Saad\"

In 'The Parasitic Mind,' Dr. Gad Saad exposes the harmful effects of 'idea pathogens'—irrational and logically flawed ideas that are spreading through universities and enforced by the tyranny of political correctness. These ideas, Saad argues, are endangering fundamental freedoms such as freedom of thought and speech. The book is a call to action, encouraging readers to use critical thinking and courage to defend reason and intellectual freedom. Saad discusses various topics including university 'safe spaces,' gender ideology, postmodernism, and the decline of intellectual diversity in academia, all while advocating for the importance of questioning and challenging prevailing dogma[1][3][4].

Darwin's Cathedral

David Sloan Wilson

In 'Darwin's Cathedral', David Sloan Wilson proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation that enhances group cooperation and survival. He examines various religious traditions, arguing that religious behaviors promote group cohesion and altruism. The book challenges secularization theory by highlighting the adaptive benefits of religion in modern societies.

1984

None

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Dr. Gad Saad discuss his newly published book, “The Saad Truth about Happiness: 8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life.” They also discuss the parasitic ability that ideas can have on the human mind, the predictors for left wing authoritarianism, the evolutionary argument for why humans are spiritual beings, the biblically rooted idea that divinity exists and manifests within rather than from without, the connections between religiosity and true happiness, and how the spirit of play is integral to living a meaningful life.

Gad Saad, Ph.D is a Canadian author, professor, podcaster, researcher, and public speaker. Saad was born in 1964 to a Jewish family (Considers himself culturally Jewish, though he is spiritually atheist) in Beirut, Lebanon, before his family fled to Canada in order to escape the Lebanese civil war in 1975. Saad earned his B.Sc. and M.B.A at McGill University, followed by an M.Sc. and a Ph.D from Cornell University. Since 1994, Saad has been a professor in marketing at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, Quebec. From 2012 to 2015, Saad was the editor of the scientific journal Evolutionary Psychology, and currently writes a blog for Psychology Today called Homo Consumericus. Saad’s research pertains to hormonal effects from testosterone and menstruation on consumer decisions as well as risk assessment. Saad also runs a popular podcast, The Saad Truth, which has garnered over 20 million views on youtube alone.

- Links -

For Dr. Gad Saad:

“The Saad Truth About Happiness: 8 Rules for Living the Good Life” (NEW Book): https://a.co/d/1IqTyM9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GadSaad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Gad.Saad/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorgadsaad/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLH7qUqM0PLieCVaHA7RegA

Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5T2wjkFxsjvuxO1SDcZh29

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-saad-truth-with-dr-saad/id1516343565