Honorary Third Wizard, Paul Bloom, joins Tamler and David to discuss dehumanization and cruelty. They also explore the stages of Star Trek transporter cognition, the process of choosing a Dalai Lama, and give their thoughts on Season 3 of Mr. Robot.
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Quick takeaways
Recognizing someone's humanity does not necessarily prevent acts of cruelty or violence.
Cruelty can be driven by a desire to punish or dominate someone, even when they are fully recognized as human beings.
The humiliation or degradation inflicted on others is often intentionally designed to inflict pain and shame on individuals who are fully recognized as human.
Deep dives
Dehumanization: Recognizing Humanity in Cruelty
Dehumanization is a complex process that involves perceiving others as lacking certain human traits or qualities. However, some of the worst acts of violence and cruelty are actually committed when individuals recognize and appreciate each other's humanity. This challenges the idea that dehumanization is the main driver behind genocide, slavery, and other atrocities. It is important to recognize that cruelty can stem from the moral justification of one's actions, rather than an absence of recognition of another's humanity. Understanding the complexities of dehumanization can shed light on how we treat others and the motivations behind our actions.
The Limits of Dehumanization
Dehumanization, often associated with acts of cruelty, is not always the primary driver behind violence or mistreatment. Recognizing someone's humanity does not necessarily prevent acts of cruelty or violence, as these acts can also stem from feelings of resentment, humiliation, or a perceived threat. Cruelty can be driven by a desire to punish or dominate someone, even when they are fully recognized as human beings. Understanding the range of motivations behind cruelty and violence can help us navigate the complexities of human behavior.
The Role of Humanity in Cruelty
In acts of cruelty or violence, recognizing the other person's humanity can actually be part of the motivation. The humiliation or degradation inflicted on others is often intentionally designed to inflict pain and shame on individuals who are fully recognized as human. This can be seen in instances such as sexual harassment, where the humiliation and degradation of the victim is the primary goal. Understanding the role of humanity in cruelty can provide insights into the dynamics of power, control, and motivation behind such acts.
Understanding the Complexity of Cruelty
Cruelty and violence are not solely driven by dehumanization, but rather by a complex array of motivations and justifications. While dehumanization can play a role in some instances, it is important to recognize that recognizing someone's humanity does not automatically prevent acts of cruelty or violence. By acknowledging the multifaceted nature of cruelty, we can better understand the motivations behind such behaviors and work towards promoting empathy, compassion, and ethical treatment of others.
Dehumanization as a Contrary Thesis
The podcast episode explores the concept of dehumanization and how it is ingrained in soldiers during war. It discusses the idea that dehumanization is not just about denying agency or emotions to the enemy, but also seeing them as lacking individuality. The podcast mentions that this element of dehumanization is like viewing a mass of people as indistinguishable from one another.
The Complexity of Violence and Dehumanization
The podcast delves into the complex relationship between violence, dehumanization, and control. It questions whether dehumanization plays a role in acts of violence, highlighting how acts of violence often involve a lack of control rather than a deliberate dehumanizing mindset. The conversation explores the distinctions between instrumental violence and moral violence, such as drone strikes or mass incarceration. It also addresses the role of empathy and the extent to which individual acts of violence involve dehumanization.
In this Very Special Boxing Day edition of the podcast, Tamler and David welcome back honorary Third Wizard Paul Bloom to discuss his latest article in the New Yorker about dehumanization and cruelty. Is it really the case that we dehumanize in order to harm others? Or does most violence actually require us to view others as fundamentally human, agentic, and capable of true suffering? But first, we discuss the stages of Star Trek transporter cognition, whether Paul and David are closet-dualists, and whether the process of choosing a Dalai Lama suffers from p-hacking concerns. (And between segments we give our brief, spoiler-free thoughts on Season 3 of Mr. Robot). Happy Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year, and Merry Christmas to all!