Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content Ask Me Anything #10
Feb 16, 2018
The discussion touches on Christopher Hitchens' views on meditation and the ethics surrounding homelessness. Legalizing prostitution and pornography is examined through the lens of consent, while Sam shares his favorite podcasts. He reveals his process for forming opinions and advocates for universal health care. The conversation also explores challenging biases, the ethics of suicide, and the importance of emotional expressiveness. Solitude is considered both fulfilling and potentially maladaptive, and insights on adoption versus biological parenthood are shared.
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Meditation Reveals The Illusion Of Self
- Meditation can reveal the absence of a central self by attending closely to experience.
- Sam Harris distinguishes experiential meditation claims from religious cosmological claims about gods or miracles.
Be Intentional When Helping The Homeless
- Assess context before giving money to homeless people and prefer supporting trained charities.
- Ask who you are helping and what behavior you are encouraging when deciding to give.
Giving In India Led To An Uncomfortable Lesson
- Sam Harris gave compulsively to beggars in India and Nepal until he learned begging can be an exploitative industry.
- He cites cases where children are disfigured or hobbling to increase begging income.