Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content Ask Me Anything #7
Delve into the intriguing debate on whether the self is merely an illusion. Explore the implications of Charles Murray's research on IQ and society. Discover thoughts on reducing animal suffering and its moral dimensions. Learn about the challenges of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and training. Reflect on how the late Christopher Hitchens might have critiqued Trump's presidency. Unpack the complexities of centrist politics and the polarized landscape. Gain insights into parenting techniques, faith transitions, and the nature of free will.
58:04
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Self Dissolves With Focus
- The subjective sense of an 'I' dissolves under trained attention in meditation.
- Sam Harris argues this disappearance is reliable and not merely illusory like a visual trick.
Talk Facts Without Demonizing
- Charles Murray's work aims to align expectations and policies with measurable facts about intelligence.
- Harris emphasizes discussing facts without demonizing those we disagree with.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Mindfulness and the Illusion of Self
03:45 • 4min
Charles Murray, The Bell Curve, and Public Conversation
07:21 • 7min
Neuralink and Brain–Computer Interface Challenges
14:49 • 4min
Wild Animal Suffering and Moral Limits
18:20 • 2min
Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu and Training Realities
20:45 • 34sec
Debating Superhuman AI with Kevin Kelly
21:20 • 34sec
How Christopher Hitchens Would Have Reacted
21:54 • 1min
Possible Podcast with Ben Shapiro
23:20 • 2min
Free Will and Extreme Ownership
25:01 • 2min
How People Lose Their Faith
26:35 • 2min
Hope for Centrist Politics and Polarization
28:25 • 34sec
Reasoning With the Extreme Left
28:59 • 5min
Parenting, Mindfulness, and Angry Toddlers
33:41 • 2min
Explaining Religion to Children
35:35 • 3min
Returning to School and PhD Experiences
38:41 • 4min
Risk of Major Military Conflict
43:01 • 2min
Forming Views on Transgenderism
44:52 • 4min
Free Will First‑Person Experience
48:52 • 2min
Revisiting The End of Faith and Reading Plans
50:57 • 39sec
Vocabulary: Value and How to Expand It
51:36 • 5min
Outro
56:55 • 50sec
#77083
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
The 500 Words You Need to Know to Transform Your Vocabulary.and Your Life
Norman Lewis
Wilfred Funk
This classic book offers a step-by-step 30-day program to expand your vocabulary with over 500 essential words, focusing on roots, persuasive language, and practical usage.
Millions have improved their communication skills, academic performance, and self-esteem by spending just 15 minutes a day on its simple exercises.
Ideal for students and professionals seeking better command of English.
#16355
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Neuroscience of Intelligence
Richard Haier
#11064
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Freedom Evolves
Daniel C. Dennett
In 'Freedom Evolves', Daniel C. Dennett tackles the question of whether humans truly have free will.
He argues that free will is not an eternal, unchanging condition but rather an evolved aspect of human existence, shaped by natural selection and cultural memes.
Dennett explains that determinism does not preclude free will; instead, he posits that human freedom is a gradual and context-dependent phenomenon.
He uses various analogies and scientific models to illustrate how rational agents can develop 'evitability' within deterministic systems, and how this leads to the emergence of consciousness, morality, and altruism.
The book defends the compatibility of contemporary science with traditional visions of freedom and morality, emphasizing that human freedom is an objective phenomenon distinct from other biological conditions.
#57
• Mentioned in 214 episodes
Extreme ownership
How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
Leif Babin
Jocko Willink
This book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin focuses on the principle of 'Extreme Ownership,' where leaders take full responsibility for their actions and decisions.
The authors use their experiences in the U.S.
Navy SEALs to illustrate how this mindset can lead to success in any organization.
The book covers various principles such as believing in the mission, checking ego, and leading by example.
It emphasizes that leaders must own all failures, develop plans to overcome them, and ensure their teams are well-conditioned and aligned with the mission.
The authors also stress the importance of humility, discipline, and effective communication in leadership.
#927
• Mentioned in 35 episodes
The End Of Faith
Sam Harris
In this book, Sam Harris delivers a critical analysis of the clash between reason and religious faith in the modern world.
He argues that religious beliefs, even moderate ones, can lead to dangerous consequences, such as terrorism, and that these beliefs are not grounded in empirical evidence.
Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to propose a secular and humanistic foundation for ethics and spirituality.
The book is a call to action against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics and advocates for a rational approach to ethics based on human happiness and suffering.
#1386
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
Free Will
Sam Harris
In 'Free Will,' Sam Harris argues that the concept of free will is inherently flawed and incoherent.
He contends that our thoughts, intentions, and actions are determined by prior causes outside our conscious control, whether these causes are deterministic or the result of chance.
Harris uses examples such as the Cheshire murders to illustrate how even heinous crimes can be seen as the product of uncontrollable experiences and neurological mechanisms, rather than free will.
The book challenges readers to reconsider their views on morality, law, and personal responsibility in light of this understanding.
#704
• Mentioned in 43 episodes
Waking Up
A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
Sam Harris
In this book, Sam Harris argues that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow.
He explores the scientific underpinnings of spirituality, suggesting that how we pay attention to the present moment largely determines the quality of our lives.
The book is part memoir and part exploration, discussing the illusion of the self, the benefits of meditation, and the importance of understanding consciousness through both scientific and philosophical lenses.
#1104
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
The Moral Landscape
How Science Can Determine Human Values
Sam Harris
In this book, Sam Harris challenges the traditional separation between scientific facts and human values.
He argues that morality can be understood in terms of human and animal well-being, and that science can provide objective answers to moral questions.
Harris contends that moral relativism is false and that science can tell us how we ought to live to achieve the greatest well-being.
He uses his expertise in philosophy and neuroscience to make a case for a science of morality, emphasizing that moral values should be grounded in empirical facts about what causes people to flourish.
Is it possible that the mindfulness notion of the self being an illusion is itself an illusion?
Tell me some real life examples that are good for society and that are informed by Charles Murray's research in the bell curve.
Do you think reducing animal suffering is a moral blind spot of modern humans or a moral error?
How is Brazilian jiu-jitsu coming?
What are your thoughts on Kevin Kelly's article The Myth of Superhuman AI?
How do you think your friend the late, great Christopher Hitchens would have dealt with a Trump presidency?
Will you do a podcast with Ben Shapiro on religion?
How would someone lose their faith? Just a blow to the head or a good scare?
Is there hope for a centrist politics?
Can you share some insights on parenting? How does/did rational and mindful Sam Harris handle an angry toddler?
How do you explain other religions and beliefs to your kids?
Could you describe what it was like going through your PhD program? What was it like going back to undergrad after a long break?
What's your gut feeling on the prospect of military conflict between the US and Russia, China, and North Korea in the near future?
Will you have someone studying transgenderism biologically on [the podcast] at some point? How are you forming your opinions around this issue?
Just finished your book Free Will and wish it was 10 times longer. Any plans for more on this topic?
Do you plan to read more of The End of Faith?
Do you think having a large vocabulary is valuable in your line of work and life in general and what is your advice for expanding it?