Peter Singer's "The Most Good You Can Do" explores the concept of effective altruism, urging readers to maximize their positive impact on the world. He argues for a rational and evidence-based approach to philanthropy, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and measurable results. The book examines various charitable causes, analyzing their impact and suggesting ways to donate effectively. Singer challenges conventional notions of charity, encouraging readers to consider the potential to save lives and alleviate suffering on a global scale. He provides practical guidance on how individuals can make a significant difference through their donations.
In 'Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion,' Paul Bloom challenges the conventional wisdom that empathy is a moral guide. He argues that empathy, defined as feeling what others feel, is a capricious and irrational emotion that can lead to poor decision-making and even cruelty. Bloom contends that empathy distorts our judgment in various aspects of life, from philanthropy and justice to medical care and education. He advocates for a more distanced compassion based on rational, deliberative reasoning and a utilitarian approach to moral decisions. The book is grounded in scientific findings and explores the limitations and biases of empathy, suggesting that clearer, fairer, and more moral decisions can be made without relying on it.
The Sleepwalkers is a comprehensive and meticulously researched book that explores the intricate events and relationships that led to the outbreak of World War I. Clark's narrative delves into the decades of history preceding 1914, examining the mutual misunderstandings, unintended signals, and complex alliances that drove Europe into war. The book highlights the fraught situation in the Balkans, the role of key players such as Serbia, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Germany, and France, and the broader geopolitical context that contributed to the war. Clark's analysis is insightful, drawing together politics, alliances, personalities, geography, fear, and false hopes to provide a detailed and authoritative chronicle of Europe’s descent into war.
In this book, Robert Wright argues that Buddhism offers a secular, Westernized approach to mindfulness meditation that can help individuals and society by reducing suffering and increasing empathy. He draws on evolutionary biology, psychology, and neuroscience to support Buddhist teachings, such as the concept of 'no-self' and the nature of human suffering. The book is a personal journey that began with Wright's work on evolutionary psychology and deepened through his practice of meditation and conversations with skilled meditators. It aims to show how Buddhist principles can be applied in a secular age to improve individual and societal well-being.
In this book, Robert Wright explores the development of God concepts from pre-agricultural societies to the rise of Christianity and Islam. He uses archaeology, theology, history, and evolutionary psychology to reveal how these faiths have evolved away from belligerence and intolerance towards harmony and reconciliation. Wright also discusses the potential for a modern scientific worldview to coexist with a divine perspective, challenging conventional wisdom about the origins and evolution of monotheism.
In 'The Moral Animal', Robert Wright delves into the world of evolutionary psychology to explain human behavior, emotions, and moral conduct. The book uses Charles Darwin's life and personal conduct in Victorian England as a case study to illustrate how evolutionary forces shape human behavior. Wright discusses topics such as jealousy, altruism, and social class, arguing that many of our actions are driven by subconscious genetic strategies aimed at survival and the propagation of our genes. The book also explores the paradox of how moral and responsible actions can emerge from a strictly Darwinian interpretation of human behavior, suggesting that understanding our evolutionary past can help us override our primitive programming and develop a more common moral outlook[1][2][4].
Robert Wright's "Non-Zero" explores the concept of non-zero-sum games in history and evolution. It argues that cooperation and increasing complexity have been driving forces throughout history, leading to progress and societal advancement. The book examines various aspects of human history and evolution, highlighting the role of cooperation and competition in shaping our world. Wright uses game theory and evolutionary principles to explain how cooperation can lead to mutual benefit and progress. The book challenges traditional views of conflict and competition, suggesting that cooperation is often a more effective strategy for achieving long-term success. It offers a unique perspective on the trajectory of human civilization and the potential for future progress.
In 2003, Saddam Hussein refused to let Iraqi weapons scientists leave the country to be interrogated. Given the overwhelming domestic support for an invasion at the time, most key figures in the U.S. took that as confirmation that he had something to hide — probably an active WMD program.
But what about alternative explanations? Maybe those scientists knew about past crimes. Or maybe they’d defect. Or maybe giving in to that kind of demand would have humiliated Hussein in the eyes of enemies like Iran and Saudi Arabia.
According to today’s guest Robert Wright, host of the popular podcast The Wright Show, these are the kinds of things that might have come up if people were willing to look at things from Saddam Hussein’s perspective.
Links to learn more, summary and full transcript.
He calls this ‘cognitive empathy’. It's not feeling-your-pain-type empathy — it's just trying to understand how another person thinks.
He says if you pitched this kind of thing back in 2003 you’d be shouted down as a 'Saddam apologist' — and he thinks the same is true today when it comes to regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
The two Roberts in today’s episode — Bob Wright and Rob Wiblin — agree that removing this taboo against perspective taking, even with people you consider truly evil, could potentially significantly improve discourse around international relations.
They feel that if we could spread the meme that if you’re able to understand what dictators are thinking and calculating, based on their country’s history and interests, it seems like we’d be less likely to make terrible foreign policy errors.
But how do you actually do that?
Bob’s new
‘Apocalypse Aversion Project’ is focused on creating the necessary conditions for solving non-zero-sum global coordination problems, something most people are already on board with.
And in particular he thinks that might come from enough individuals “transcending the psychology of tribalism”. He doesn’t just mean rage and hatred and violence, he’s also talking about cognitive biases.
Bob makes the striking claim that if enough people in the U.S. had been able to combine perspective taking with mindfulness — the ability to notice and identify thoughts as they arise — then the U.S. might have even been able to avoid the invasion of Iraq.
Rob pushes back on how realistic this approach really is, asking questions like:
• Haven’t people been trying to do this since the beginning of time?
• Is there a great novel angle that will change how a lot of people think and behave?
• Wouldn’t it be better to focus on a much narrower task, like getting more mindfulness and meditation and reflectiveness among the U.S. foreign policy elite?
But despite the differences in approaches, Bob has a lot of common ground with 80,000 Hours — and the result is a fun back-and-forth about the best ways to achieve shared goals.
Bob starts by questioning Rob about effective altruism, and they go on to cover a bunch of other topics, such as:
• Specific risks like climate change and new technologies
• How to achieve social cohesion
• The pros and cons of society-wide surveillance
• How Rob got into effective altruism
If you're interested to hear more of Bob's interviews you can subscribe to The Wright Show anywhere you're getting this one. You can also watch videos of this and all his other episodes on Bloggingheads.tv.
Producer: Keiran Harris.
Audio mastering: Ben Cordell.
Transcriptions: Sofia Davis-Fogel.
80,000 Hours Podcast 
