Stephen Fry: Suffering, Capitalism & What it Means to be Human

The British have described Stephen Fry as a national treasure possessed with a brilliant mind, a natural wit, and an extraordinary verbal facility. He’s an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, and writer. In fact, he does it all. 

He is also considered the epitome of a renaissance man. He's also known for his virtuosic command and comical manipulation of the English language, both in speech and writing. 

“Why should we praise someone who's born, compassionate and dis-praise someone who is born callous, or narcissistic and malignant, like the last president, for example?”

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Stephen shares his thoughts on the nature of suffering, why effective altruism is actually cold hearted, the enormous problem with capitalism at the moment, and delves into the question of what humanity really means. 

“Society could not survive unless the vast majority of people are kind. It just could not. But you get into this narrative that people will take advantage of you if you're kind.”

To hear all this and more, download and listen to this incredible episode. 

On today’s podcast:

• The nature of suffering
• Why effective altruism is cold-hearted
• The problem with capitalism
• What really is humanity