The Joe Rogan Experience #1504 - Alan Levinovitz
Jul 8, 2020
Dr. Alan Levinovitz, an Associate Professor of Religion and author, delves into the concept of 'natural' versus 'artificial,' questioning societal values on what we deem as natural. He critiques 'natural parenting' and explores modern farming's impact on urban living, including health implications of ultra-processed foods. The conversation shifts to online discourse, highlighting communication challenges and society's oversimplified narratives. Levinovitz examines the tension between religious control and personal autonomy, pushing for nuanced dialogues in sensitive topics.
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Naturalness as a Spectrum
- Naturalness is a spectrum, not a binary.
- It's important to distinguish between natural and unnatural, but worshipping nature is problematic.
Elimination Communication vs. Hunter-Gatherers
- Alan Levinovitz discusses "elimination communication", where parents try to be natural with potty training.
- He contrasts this with anthropologists' observations of hunter-gatherers, who simply let children "piss in the forest".
Misuse of "Natural"
- People often misuse "natural" to justify their preferences, labeling favored things as "natural" and disliked things as "unnatural".
- This applies to various domains, including sex, child-rearing, and economic theories.
