#729 - Alex O'Connor - Are People Becoming Less Moral?
Jan 8, 2024
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Alex O'Connor, a YouTuber and podcaster known for tackling moral dilemmas, discusses whether society is becoming more immoral in the digital age. He explores the effects of outsourcing morality to technologies like ChatGPT and Wikipedia. The conversation touches on nihilism's potential resurgence, the implications of free will, and the complexities of ethical debates driven by emotions and cultural paradigms. O'Connor also critiques historical narratives like the resurrection of Jesus, questioning the foundations of belief and morality in modern society.
Emotions greatly influence our ethical thinking, shaping our perceptions of right and wrong.
Nihilism challenges traditional ethical frameworks by suggesting that actions have no inherent meaning.
Cultural norms and taboos play a role in promoting social coordination and harmony, guiding our ethical behavior.
The debate around free will does not impact our everyday actions, as our decisions are driven by desires and preferences.
Deep dives
The Influence of Emotions on Ethical Thinking
Emotions play a significant role in shaping our ethical thinking, often dominating our decision-making process. Recognizing this can help us understand why certain ethical stances or actions may feel right or wrong.
The Challenge of Nihilism and Embracing Meaning
Nihilism challenges traditional ethical frameworks by suggesting that there is no non-contingent reason for acting. However, embracing nihilism fully would mean rejecting any inherent meaning in our actions beyond our preferences and biological drives.
The Role of Cultural Norms and Death Denialism
Cultural norms and taboos, including moral values, are often seen as effective ways to manage the fear of death and promote social coordination and harmony. As humans, we have evolved to avoid actions that could potentially harm ourselves or others and are influenced by societal expectations.
The Illusion of Free Will and Acting as If It Exists
The debate around free will does not necessarily affect how we act in everyday life. Despite some arguing that free will may not exist, our actions and decisions are driven by our desires, preferences, and biological motivations, giving us the sense of agency and choice.
The Mystery of Jesus' Resurrection
The podcast episode explores the historical facts surrounding Jesus' alleged resurrection and the various explanations for these events. It discusses the belief that Jesus was crucified by the Romans and that people claimed to see him after his death. The podcast explores the possibilities of lying, mistaken identity, group hallucinations, and the idea of a genuine resurrection. It delves into the contradictions within the Gospels and the challenges of proving a resurrection as a historical event. The episode raises the question of how to explain these facts and the significance of these beliefs in shaping society.
The Seductiveness of Being a Critic
The podcast delves into the seductiveness of being a critic and the reluctance of people to propose actionable solutions. It highlights the ease of criticizing others' beliefs without providing alternative proposals. The discussion touches on the comfort of being a critic and the lack of consequences or accountability. It explores how being a critic allows one to avoid taking risks and making genuine moral sacrifices. The episode questions whether the decline of grand narratives and the rise of comfort contribute to the avoidance of proposing new ideas.
The Comfort of Illusion
The podcast explores the comfort of holding onto beliefs that are comforting and provide a sense of meaning, even if they may not be objectively true. It discusses the role of religion in providing comfort, especially in the face of existential uncertainty and the fear of death. The episode raises questions about whether the comfort of illusion can have practical consequences and whether it can lead to genuine moral sacrifices. It touches on the tension between holding onto comforting beliefs and seeking objective truth.
Literally True, but Figuratively False
The podcast examines the concept of beliefs that are literally true but figuratively false and vice versa. It discusses the idea that certain beliefs may provide comfort and practical benefits, even if they may not align with objective reality. The episode explores examples such as the belief in free will or the gun being loaded and how these beliefs can impact decision-making. It raises questions on the nature of truth and the role of beliefs that may be subjectively or metaphorically true.
Alex O’Connor is a YouTuber, writer and a podcaster.
Grappling with difficult moral questions is a part of human life, but in the age of Wikipedia and ChatGPT, are we now outsourcing our morality? Are people becoming less moral over time?
Expect to learn why Peter Hitchens really does not like Alex, whether ChatGPT can be convinced of the existence of God, what the non-identity problem is, if Nihilism will make a comeback, the impact of the debate around free will, how much we can trust the historical accuracy of the bible and much more...
