Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of 'The Extinction of Experience,' joins the conversation to examine how technology reshapes culture and communication. They discuss the declining practice of handwriting and its cognitive impacts, delve into the influence of social media on political polarization, and the rise of conspiracy theories. Rosen reflects on the importance of local journalism in a fragmented media environment and the urgent need to foster genuine community understanding in an increasingly digital world.
The increasing reliance on technology is changing human interactions, fostering detachment and diminishing essential skills like emotional recognition.
The decline of cursive writing in education highlights the loss of meaningful connections to history and personal expression linked to handwriting.
Social media's influence on political discourse promotes conspiracy thinking and misinformation, making it challenging to achieve a shared reality.
Deep dives
Concerns Over Trump's Cabinet Choices
The recent cabinet appointments suggested by Trump have elicited a mix of reactions, with some choices raising significant alarm. Figures such as Pete Hegseth for Defense and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of Intelligence have provoked skepticism, with observers questioning their qualifications. Some believe these appointments reflect a possible 'affirmative action for kooks and ghouls' scenario, while others speculate if they are merely intended as trolling. Despite the unsettling nature of some choices, there is a consensus to wait for confirmations before passing definitive judgment.
Technology's Impact on Culture and Relationships
In contemporary society, there is a growing need to actively defend what it means to be human amidst rising technology use. People increasingly mediate their personal experiences through devices, which can lead to a devaluation of authentically human interactions. The dependence on technology has also diminished skills like emotional recognition and patience, essential for human relationships. This trend reinforces the argument that reconsideration of how technology affects our daily lives is crucial for maintaining our well-being.
The Dangers of Abandoning Handwriting
The decline of cursive writing education exemplifies the broader issue of losing valuable skills through technological advancement. With a generation that often doesn't learn or cannot read cursive, important connections to history and personal expression are being lost. Research indicates that handwriting fosters better memory retention and cognitive processing when compared to typing. Moreover, this absence of handwriting skills risks diminishing our connection to history and the individuality embedded in written communication.
Social Media's Role in Shaping Political Discourse
The engagement with social media has profoundly affected political discourse, often breeding conspiracy theories and misinformation. Platforms like X can surface critical issues but do so within an environment that rewards anger and sensationalism over factual accuracy. It is increasingly difficult to establish a shared reality amid the rapid spread of misleading narratives, especially when individuals curate their online experiences to reinforce existing beliefs. This leads to a detrimental decline in trust in institutions and undermines collective discourse.
The Challenge of Rebuilding Trust in News Media
To combat the erosion of trust in journalism, a renewed focus on local news reporting and the cultivation of diverse perspectives is paramount. As mainstream media struggles to adapt to changing landscapes, independent outlets offer a glimmer of hope by challenging the status quo. Philanthropic support may be necessary to revive essential components of journalistic integrity, particularly local reporting. A revitalization of the media landscape could provide a more robust platform for public discourse and counteract the growing problem of misinformation.
Sam Harris speaks with Christine Rosen about how technology is changing our culture. They discuss the courage of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, lost practices like handwriting, tradeoffs in our use of technology, social media, conspiracy thinking, X as a platform for breaking news, the future of journalism, the importance of local news, the asymmetry right and left politically, the strange case of Tucker Carlson, the antisemitic hallucinations of Dan Bilzerian, expectations for a second Trump presidency, antisemitism in America, and other topics.
Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a columnist for Commentary magazine, and a fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. She is the author of several books, and her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the New York Post, Politico, The Washington Post, National Review, and MIT Technology Review, among other outlets. Rosen has a PhD in history from Emory University and a BA in history from the University of South Florida. She also teaches martial arts and holds a third-degree black belt in aikido. Her most recent book is The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World.
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
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