Making Sense with Sam Harris #299 — Steps in the Right Direction
39 snips
Oct 3, 2022 
Russ Roberts, President of Shalem College and a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, dives into decision-making and moral progress. He critiques economics as a science and discusses the intriguing concept of wild vs. tame problems. The conversation explores the nuances of ethical dilemmas, like marriage, revealing the tension between logic and emotions. They also touch on how our choices shape us, the challenges of predicting our future experiences, and the evolution of moral norms in today's context.
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Limits of Economics
- Economics, while valuable for understanding choices, has limitations.
- It often overlooks crucial aspects like belonging, dignity, and the human desire to matter.
Tame vs. Wild Problems
- Use data and algorithms for 'tame' problems with clear solutions, like choosing a movie.
- For 'wild' problems like marriage or career, data is less useful; consider intangibles.
Darwin's Marriage Checklist
- Darwin's marriage checklist weighed companionship against lost time for science.
- He ultimately prioritized personal connection over purely rational considerations.
