In this enlightening discussion, Jonathan Haidt, a renowned Professor of ethical leadership at NYU's Stern School of Business and co-author of influential works on moral psychology, explores the troubling decline of public discourse. He highlights the toxic influence of social media and the rise of 'structural stupidity' in American debate. Haidt advocates for systemic reforms to improve online interactions and empower moderates. He emphasizes personal responsibility and empathy as crucial elements for nurturing constructive dialogue in a fragmented society.
01:04:31
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Breakdown of Objectivity
Institutions like universities and newspapers have formal structures promoting objectivity.
However, these structures are failing due to external pressures, primarily from social media.
insights INSIGHT
Impact of Social Media Features
Social media became significantly more toxic around 2009 with the introduction of features like the "like" and retweet buttons.
These features amplified virality and facilitated intimidation, changing online discourse.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Academic Self-Censorship
Academics used to challenge university policies based on evidence.
Now, they face accusations of bigotry, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
Jonathan Haidt
In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.
The Coddling of the American Mind
Jonathan Haidt
Greg Lukianoff
The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture. These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.
The Great Experiment
Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure
Yascha Mounk
In *The Great Experiment*, Yascha Mounk explores the challenges of creating diverse and equal democracies, arguing that achieving this goal is central to the democratic project. Drawing on history, social psychology, and comparative politics, Mounk offers a hopeful vision for bridging societal divides and building a more inclusive future. The book is praised for its profound understanding and practical suggestions for mitigating conflicts over race and identity.
The Happiness Hypothesis
Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Happiness Hypothesis,' Jonathan Haidt delves into the nature of happiness, fulfillment, and meaning. He discusses the division of the self into two parts: the primitive limbic system and the rational neocortex, using the metaphor of a rider and an elephant to explain the relationship between conscious and unconscious processes. Haidt examines 'Great Ideas' from ancient thinkers like Plato, Buddha, and Jesus, and evaluates them in light of contemporary psychological research. He argues that happiness is influenced by both internal and external factors, including biological set points, life conditions, and voluntary activities. The book also explores the importance of social relationships, the role of adversity in personal growth, and the concept of 'vital engagement' in work and life[2][3][5].
One of the world’s most influential social psychologists, a professor of ethical leadership at NYU's Stern School of Business, and a member of Persuasion's Board of Advisors, Jonathan Haidt is the author of The Righteous Mind and, with Greg Lukianoff, co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind. Haidt recently wrote a much-read feature in The Atlantic entitled “After Babel.”
In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Jonathan Haidt discuss how we can make social media less toxic, what political and technological reforms might help fix the problem, and how we can empower the moderate majority to fight for its values.
The Good Fight 
