Gad Saad, an academic researcher in behavioral science, joins to explain the psychological impact of wokeness. He discusses how ideologies like postmodernism can infect rational thought, similar to a disease. Saad tackles troubling phenomena such as cultural relativism and gender identity, critiquing their implications for women’s rights. They also examine the spread of harmful ideas and the threat to free speech in contemporary discourse, highlighting the need to combat these 'ideological viruses' to preserve democratic values.
Gad Saad argues that wokeness, influenced by postmodernism and cultural relativism, acts as a 'mind disease' that undermines rational thought.
The podcast highlights the alarming infiltration of ideological rhetoric into critical fields like medicine, jeopardizing professional standards and patient care.
Deep dives
The Threat to Western Values
The discussion highlights the significant threats faced by Western societies, particularly the erosion of foundational values such as freedom, reason, and liberalism. Gad Sad emphasizes that these threats are exacerbated by the rising influence of political correctness, which distorts traditional social norms under the guise of tolerance. As these ideologies proliferate, they undermine rational discourse and foster a culture of fear, where people are hesitant to express dissenting opinions. This situation has been ongoing since at least 2020, and even supportive figures like Elon Musk have recognized the urgent need for a comeback of rationality in societal discussions.
Parasitic Ideas and Their Origins
Gad Sad elaborates on the concept of 'parasitic ideas'—ideologies that invade and manipulate human thought patterns, analogous to biological parasites. He traces these ideas back to the academic realm, where concepts like cultural relativism and postmodernism first emerged and gained traction among social scientists. These ideologies have detrimental effects, as Sad argues that they can inhibit critical thinking and rational analysis, leading to irrational societal behaviors. The popularity of these ideas is alarming, illustrating how academic theories can escape their contexts and influence broader societal norms.
Cultural Relativism's Impact
The impact of cultural relativism is a central theme, arguing that it allows harmful practices to go unchallenged under the premise of respecting cultural differences. Gad Sad cites instances where this ideology has led to the justification of practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, as critics are labeled imperialists for condemning these actions. This ideological framework prevents objective moral judgments and undermines efforts to promote universal human rights. As a result, societies struggle to confront serious moral issues, often opting instead for silence in fear of being accused of cultural insensitivity.
The Dangers of Ideological Rhetoric
The podcast discusses the rise of ideological rhetoric that prioritizes identity politics over empirical evidence, particularly in fields like medicine and education. Gad Sad criticizes the trend of placing social justice considerations above professional competency, arguing that this undermines essential standards in critical fields. He shares concerns that medical training and practices are increasingly influenced by non-medical ideologies, such as anti-oppression and anti-racism, which ultimately could jeopardize patient care. This evolution signifies a broader societal shift where bad ideas are no longer confined to academic settings but infiltrate vital institutions, leading to potentially harmful consequences for the population.
If you’ve ever wondered how some self-proclaimed feminists can defend the brutal rapists of Hamas, or how people can passionately believe men can get pregnant, Gad Saad has an explanation. As an academic researcher in behavioural science, Saad has spent his career studying how perceptions and ideas can produce biological effects. He joins Brian this week to discuss how “woke” concepts like postmodernism, moral relativism and social constructionism act like pathogens on people’s minds. He explains how wokeness can spread, damaging people’s ability to think rationally, in the same way that other dangerous ideologies have warped the minds of masses in the past. And he talks about how he, and others, are working hard to save society from the disease. (Recorded August 30, 2024)