Making Sense with Sam Harris #327 — Transformative Experiences
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Jul 21, 2023 In this fascinating dialogue, L.A. Paul, a Yale professor specializing in metaphysics and cognitive science, delves into transformative experiences that reshape our identities. They explore the intricacies of decision-making, emphasizing how significant choices like parenthood redefine desires and self-perception. The conversation touches on the balance between empathy and rational charity, and the moral complexities tied to regret and future selves. A thought-provoking discussion on how personal experiences impact our values and ethical beliefs unfolds, leaving listeners reflecting on their own transformative moments.
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Transformative Experiences & Decisions
- Transformative experiences are hard to evaluate because they change you.
- The changed self may have different values, making pre-experience evaluations irrelevant.
Decision-Making and the Changing Self
- Rational decision-making is challenged by transformative experiences because the decider changes.
- The person judging the outcome is different from the person making the decision.
Regret and Transformative Experiences
- Regret is rare after transformative experiences like having children, regardless of the outcome.
- This might be due to genuine value change or psychological self-protection.