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The Tim Ferriss Show
#644: Jonathan Haidt — The Coddling of the American Mind, How to Become Intellectually Antifragile, and How to Lose Anger by Studying Morality
Dec 21, 2022
05:05:57
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Quick takeaways
- The shift in social media platforms from connecting people to rewarding viral and explosive content has affected discourse and engagement, leading to an erosion of shared understanding and truth.
- Creating a counterbalance within academia by promoting open dialogue, critical thinking, and intellectual diversity can help challenge echo chambers and restore the pursuit of knowledge as a primary focus.
- Reassessing the current norms and incentives of technological platforms, such as implementing features that promote healthy conversations and prioritize accuracy, can mitigate polarization and deterioration of shared truths.
- The importance of intellectual diversity in institutions, such as universities, is emphasized, encouraging individuals to seek out opposing perspectives and engage in constructive dialogue for personal growth.
Deep dives
The Influence of Social Media on the Decline of Traditional Institutions
The rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have changed the nature of communication and connection, leading to a shift in the dynamics of democratic and epistemic institutions. These platforms transformed from simply connecting people to becoming performance-driven, where viral and explosive content is rewarded with fame and prestige. This shift in nature has had a profound impact on discourse and the way people engage with each other. Additionally, features like threaded comments have fueled aggression and polarization, leading to an erosion of shared understanding and truth. This decline of traditional institutions has affected academia, journalism, and other epistemic disciplines alongside democratic processes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial in addressing the issue and finding ways to redirect the current trajectory.
The University of Chicago's Response and the Possibility of Proactive Measures
The University of Chicago's response to the wokeness spreading throughout academia serves as a notable example. By publicly rejecting the trends and affirming a commitment to free expression, they bucked the prevalent patterns and attracted support from alumni. However, the feasibility of repeating this response depends on numerous factors, including the specific circumstances at the time and the existing institutional culture. Creating a counterbalance or changing incentives within the academic world requires careful consideration. It may involve promoting open dialogue, encouraging critical thinking, and fostering a culture of intellectual diversity. The goal is to cultivate an environment where ideas can be freely expressed and explored, challenging echo chambers and restoring the pursuit of knowledge as a primary focus.
Technological Influence and Business Considerations
When it comes to technological platforms and their role in shaping public discourse, there is a need to reassess the current norms and incentives. The trend of social media platforms rewarding viral and explosive content over thoughtful discourse has contributed to the polarization and deterioration of shared truths. Implementing proactive measures might involve introducing features that promote healthy conversations, fact-checking mechanisms, or algorithms that prioritize accuracy and quality content. Additionally, businesses and investors can play a role by supporting platforms that value open dialogue and responsible engagement. By aligning incentives towards fostering productive discussions, it is possible to create an online space that encourages diverse perspectives while minimizing the negative consequences associated with viral-driven engagement.
The Importance of Moral Homogeneity and Dart Attacks
The speaker explains that institutions with moral homogeneity, such as many universities, tend to give in to demands and attacks from students more easily. He highlights the pattern of accusations on social media without due process leading to immediate firing. This dynamic is seen in various fields, including journalism and psychology. The speaker refers to this trend as 'structural stupidity' and suggests that it prevails due to fear of being labeled insensitive. However, he believes that change will come when the tensions and negative consequences of this approach become too great.
The Need for Intellectual Heterodoxy
The speaker emphasizes the importance of intellectual diversity in universities and the benefits of engaging with different viewpoints. He shares his own experience of subscribing to conservative publications and how it broadened his understanding of current events. The speaker advocates for the creation of intellectual antifragility by seeking out opposing perspectives and engaging in constructive dialogue. He also introduces resources, such as the Perspectives program on constructive dialogue.org, which aim to teach open-mindedness and listening skills.
The Telos of Teaching and Developing Intellectual Antifragility
The speaker discusses the purpose of teaching and how it should focus on realizing the untapped potential of students. He highlights the importance of tough coaching styles and setting high standards to help individuals surpass their own limitations. The speaker also recommends ancient wisdom traditions like Buddhism and Stoicism, which promote the development of intellectual antifragility. Additionally, he provides insights from his course on work, wisdom, and happiness, where students learn strategies to become smarter, stronger, and more sociable. He urges individuals to challenge themselves, regain control of their attention, and seek out different perspectives for personal growth.
Religion and Happiness
Religious people and married people tend to be happier according to research. Surprisingly, the happiness of religious individuals is not primarily linked to their beliefs, but rather their participation in a community that promotes moral principles, self-control, and responsibility. This reflects a trend observed by sociologist Emile Durkheim, who found that individuals who are more tightly bound within a society are less likely to experience suicide. Therefore, being part of a community and having social connections is a protective factor for happiness, even for atheists or secular individuals.
The Mental Health Crisis of Gen Z
Generation Z, born after 1996, is experiencing a significant mental health crisis. Factors contributing to this crisis include overprotection, limited independence, and excessive exposure to smartphones and social media during early puberty. The constant interaction with screens and lack of independence can affect cortical development and lead to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. To address this crisis, children should be given the opportunity to practice independence and engage in free-range activities. Additionally, parents should set limits on screen time, especially during early adolescence, and consider sending their kids to summer camps that promote independence and outdoor experiences.
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Jonathan Haidt (@jonhaidt) is a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Jonathan received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. His research examines the intuitive foundations of morality and how morality varies across cultural and political divisions. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis and the New York Times bestsellers The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Mind (with Greg Lukianoff).
He has given four TED Talks, and in 2019 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 2018 Jonathan has been studying the contributions of social media to the decline of teen mental health and the rise of political dysfunction. He is currently writing two books: Kids in Space: Why Teen Mental Health Is Collapsingand Life after Babel: Adapting to a World We Can No Longer Share.
Please enjoy!
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[06:51] Richard Shweder.
[08:59] Making sense of assertions in anthropology.
[13:50] Why I invited Jon on the show.
[15:05] Moral relativism.
[21:24] How an emergentist views human rights violations.
[23:58] A turning point: why Jon almost never gets angry anymore.
[26:35] Taking LSD for the first time.
[32:21] My own transformative experience was happening simultaneously.
[34:15] Were my politics influenced or altered by this experience?
[40:17] What being a Jewish atheist means to Jon.
[45:13] From feud to friendship with Sam Harris.
[50:19] Complex dynamical system.
[54:36] How safe spaces and character cancellation took over colleges.
[1:00:50] Why did the University of Chicago initially resist this trend?
[1:02:13] What makes businesses more resilient against this trend than colleges?
[1:07:18] The University of Austin: a catalyst for academic reform?
[1:11:16] The aim of Jon’s Heterodox Academy.
[1:15:31] Distilling John Stuart Mill — the patron saint of viewpoint diversity.
[1:17:26] Aging out of anger and the disarming power of Daryl Davis.
[1:20:37] How to get smarter, stronger, and more sociable.
[1:22:55] After Babbel.
[1:24:46] What the holy and hitched can impart about happiness for the secular and single.
[1:29:20] What’s happening to Gen Z?
[1:32:17] Jon and his wife’s free-range parenting style for fostering independence.
[1:37:30] Group sports vs. individualist sports.
[1:40:40] A tough coach or teacher tests limits and taps potential.
[1:46:38] Developing intellectual antifragility.
[1:49:27] Jon’s billboard.
[1:52:00] Revisiting practical philosophies when times get tough.
[1:57:20] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
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