Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #446 - How to Do the Most Good
14 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Michael Plant, a philosopher and director of the Happier Lives Institute, discusses the science of well-being and effective altruism. He explores how self-reported happiness can vary and questions the utility of Nozick's 'Experience Machine.' The conversation covers the implications of AI on human flourishing, the importance of treating depression over cash transfers for improving lives, and the stark disparities in charitable impacts. Plant also emphasizes the role of genuine experiences versus memories in shaping happiness.
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Consequentialism Versus Deontology
- Utilitarianism aims to maximize total happiness or well-being across people.
- Deontology resists pure aggregation but often covertly appeals to consequentialist trade-offs.
Hedonism As A Practical Measure
- Well-being can be framed as what makes a life go well for someone, often tied to positive valence.
- Michael Plant argues hedonism (how you feel overall) is the most compelling account of wellbeing.
Reality Bias And The Experience Machine
- Nozick's Experience Machine highlights a reality bias: people value actual relations and reality beyond mere pleasant experiences.
- Plant accepts a loose reality bias but treats it as another consequential factor affecting experienced well-being.
