Sam Harris: Breaking the spell of propaganda | Full Interview

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Jun 4, 2025

Sam Harris, an author, neuroscientist, and philosopher, delves into the rampant misinformation fueled by the internet and social media. He argues that the crisis of meaning stems from secularism and division, complicating honest dialogues. Highlighting the dangers of rising populism and authoritarianism, he emphasizes the need for rational discourse and mindfulness. Harris also addresses the role of language in shaping beliefs and warns about the neglect of pressing issues like climate change and AI, urging society to foster cooperation and understanding.

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INSIGHT

Bad Ideas Cause Suffering

Most suffering is due to good people influenced by bad ideas, not inherently bad people.
Therefore, debating ideas is key to societal progress and understanding.

INSIGHT

Social Media Fragments Society

Social media shatters the information landscape, fragmenting culture and making fact-based discussions difficult.
This fragmentation increases political extremism and threatens our ability to cooperate.

INSIGHT

Meaning Beyond Stories

Meaning is experienced on two levels: the stories we tell and present moment attention.
True fulfillment comes from mindfulness and fully engaging the present beyond conceptual thought.

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"We're awash in lies and misinformation to a degree that was not possible before we got the internet and in particular before we got social media."

Our world seems more fragmented than ever. Author and podcaster Sam Harris thinks that an open conversation with 8 billion strangers could solve that. Here's his full Big Think interview, in its entirety.

Sam argues that the real problem isn’t bad people but bad ideas. He believes there’s a growing “crisis of meaning” caused by secularism, social media, and political division, making honest discussions harder.

He points out how online platforms spread misinformation, push people to extremes, and make cooperation difficult. He values reason over blind faith and encourages open conversations. He also promotes mindfulness and meditation to quiet the constant noise in our minds.

He’s worried about rising populism and authoritarianism, warning that ignoring big issues like climate change and AI could have serious consequences. To protect free societies, he says we need to stay rational and deal with these threats wisely.

Chapters for easier navigation:

00:00:00 - Finding meaning in a world of disinformation00:00:21 - When did you first become interested in debate?00:01:28 - What is causing the polarization we are seeing in our society?00:08:46 - How do we experience meaning?00:14:37 - What concerns you most about the future?00:21:49 - Why is freedom of speech such a powerful concept?00:28:48 - How do our belief systems affect the world around us?00:37:05 - How do we navigate the current landscape?00:45:00 - What can individuals do to make the world a better place?00:51:15 - How can we become better versions of ourselves?01:04:44 - How can we reframe our mental state into a positive experience?01:14:01 - Is artificial intelligence friend or foe?01:22:08 - How can we develop artificial intelligence responsibly?01:26:39 - How can the media regain lost trust?01:36:13 - How can you tell who is telling the truth in media?

About Sam Harris:Sam Harris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers, The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction.Mr. Harris' writing has been published in over ten languages. He and his work have been discussed in Newsweek, TIME, The New York Times, Scientific American, Rolling Stone, and many other journals. His writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, The Times (London), The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Nature, The Annals of Neurology, and elsewhere.

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