The Good Fight

Jonathan Haidt on Why Public Discourse Has Become So Stupid

Apr 30, 2022

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

Episode guests

Jonathan Haidt

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Do You Think I Got It Right Or Wrong?

01:54

How to Get a Twitter Account

01:40

Intro

2min

The Dynamics of Group Rivalry

6min

The Decline of Public Discourse: Understanding Structural Stupidity

6min

The Impact of Social Media on Public Discourse and Academic Freedom

4min

Fragmentation of Discourse and Institutional Values

5min

The Crisis of American Ideals

7min

Structural Solutions for Safer Social Media

4min

Revamping Public Discourse

25min

Nudging Towards Constructive Public Discourse

4min

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.

This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

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Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry

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