UnHerd with Freddie Sayers
Gad Saad: Postmodernism is making us miserable
Sep 1, 2023
Gad Saad discusses the impact of postmodernism in the Western world, including victimhood culture, decline of happiness, limits of human relationships, role of religion in happiness, importance of play, correlation between happiness and severity of Covid-19 measures, creating a happier society, and understanding eudaimonia and hedonism.
45:07
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Quick takeaways
- The mismatch between our evolved needs and our current environment can contribute to a less than happy state for many people.
- Appreciating what we have and focusing on gratitude is a more fruitful path to happiness than constructing victimhood narratives.
Deep dives
The Mismatch Hypothesis: Evolutionary adaptation and modern well-being
Dr. Gad Sad discusses the concept of the mismatch hypothesis, which suggests that our modern environment often conflicts with our evolved adaptations. For example, our desire for high-calorie foods was advantageous when food was scarce, but it becomes maladaptive in an environment of abundance. Similarly, our evolutionary history in small, tight-knit social groups clashes with the modern, urban lifestyle that can lead to a sense of loneliness and unhappiness. The mismatch between our evolved needs and our current environment can contribute to a less than happy state for many people.
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