Sam Harris, influential in philosophy and neuroscience, discusses leaving Twitter and his favorite topics: Buddhism, consciousness, and living in the moment. He also talks about problems with free speech absolutism and reactionary conspiracism.
Social media has a negative impact on quality of life, causing fragmentation and decreased focus on reading and longer intellectual content.
Online role models may lack compassion, integrity, and a broader perspective, and seeking wisdom should not solely rely on social media figures.
Idolizing figures like Donald Trump and Andrew Tate can perpetuate divisive narratives and contribute to a self-inflicted definition of success.
Recognizing the transient nature of the self is crucial for finding true happiness and alleviating psychological suffering.
Focusing on the present moment and appreciating the current experience can lead to contentment and alleviate suffering.
Deep dives
The negative impact of social media
Sam Harris discusses how his life has improved after leaving Twitter, highlighting the negative impact of social media on the quality of life. He emphasizes the fragmentation effect and the distraction it brings, leading to a decreased focus on reading and longer intellectual content. Harris explores the illusion of engagement and the polarization that occurs on these platforms, as well as the distortion of one's perception of the world. He suggests that social media has served as an experiment with unforeseen consequences, ultimately turning him into a misanthrope.
The danger of seeking guidance from online figures
Harris and Chris Williamson discuss the desire for wisdom and guidance in the digital age, particularly regarding the search for father figures or role models on social media. They caution against following controversial individuals like Andrew Tate, highlighting his toxic and selfish behavior. They argue that the need for insights in life should not be met by online personalities, who may lack compassion, integrity, or a broader perspective. Both emphasize the importance of discerning between wishful thinking, delusion, and healthier standards for a fulfilling life.
The appeal of authenticity and the danger of idolizing figureheads
Harris shares his observations on the appeal of figures like Donald Trump and Andrew Tate, emphasizing that their perceived authenticity derives from their ability to convey selfishness and shamelessness. He cautions against idolizing such figures, as their personal philosophies often lack compassion and contribute to divisive narratives. Harris argues that society needs a more compassionate and less self-inflicted definition of success and manliness, suggesting that true role models should meet higher standards and avoid misleading narratives.
The Illusion of Self
The common starting point for most people is feeling like a self in the middle of their experience. However, this perception of a consistent self is actually the basis of our dissatisfaction and suffering. Sam Harris argues that recognizing the transient nature of the self is essential to finding true happiness and alleviating psychological suffering. This insight aligns with teachings from various spiritual traditions, suggesting that there is no fixed self and that identifying with thought and seeking external fulfillment only perpetuates dissatisfaction.
The Importance of the Present Moment
Sam Harris emphasizes the importance of focusing on the present moment rather than constantly seeking future goals or dwelling on past experiences. He highlights the tendency for people to overlook the present and always anticipate the next thing, leading to a cycle of dissatisfaction and psychological suffering. By being fully present and appreciating the current experience, one can find contentment and alleviate suffering.
The Transcendence of Religion
Sam Harris argues that the core insights of various religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, can be understood as a result of introspective practices that allow individuals to transcend their self-centered concerns and access a deeper sense of compassion and interconnectedness. These insights, he believes, are not limited to religious contexts and can offer valuable guidance in navigating life, finding meaning, and alleviating suffering, regardless of one's religious beliefs or lack thereof.
Concerns about misinformation and the importance of institutions
Sam Harris acknowledges the significant problem of misinformation while emphasizing the value of institutions and experts. He recognizes the need for institutions that capture our best thinking and decision-making on difficult issues, emphasizing the importance of a population that can trust those institutions. While he values free speech, he also criticizes the algorithmic promotion of misleading content and the challenges of having real-time conversations that converge on agreement. He disagrees with those who prioritize absolute free speech over addressing the issue of misinformation. Sam's perspective on this aligns with concerns around the proliferation of conspiracy theories and the impact on democracy and public health.
Assessing Tucker Carlson and the spread of misinformation
Sam Harris provides insights on Tucker Carlson's role in promoting misinformation. He acknowledges Tucker Carlson's skill as a demagogue and describes his political opportunism, highlighting the appetite for someone who challenges the existing power structures and institutions. Sam notes that while there are valid critiques of certain institutions, the layering of lies, misinformation, and half-truths by figures like Tucker Carlson can fuel conspiracy thinking. He emphasizes the danger of searching for anomalies without a coherent understanding of what is actually happening, leading to a 'pornography of doubt.' Sam's perspective encourages critical thinking and highlights the responsibility of media figures in spreading misinformation.
Lack of Objectivity and Research
Sam Harris's main flaw lies in his lack of objectivity and thorough research on certain topics. He tends to overlook criticisms and opinions that challenge his own views. While he presents some valid arguments, his failure to delve into the complexities of certain issues undermines his overall credibility.
Positive Impact and Mixed Reception
Despite his flaws, Sam Harris has had a significant positive impact by raising millions for charitable causes through his promotion of effective altruism. However, his wide-ranging interests and promotion of figures like Douglas Murray have led to a mixed reception. While some appreciate his insights, others find fault in his biases and failure to recognize diverse perspectives.
Sam Harris is the subject today and a man who needs no introduction. Although he's come up and he's come on, we've never actually (technically) decoded him. There is no Gurometer score! A glaring omission and one that needs correcting. It would have been easy for us to cherry-pick Sam being extremely good on conspiracy theories, or extremely controversial on politics, but we felt that neither would be fair. So we opted for a general and broad-ranging recent interview he did with Chris Williamson. Love him or loathe him, it's a representative piece of Sam Harris content, and therefore good material for us.
Sam talks about leaving Twitter, and how transformative that was for his life, then gets into his favourite topic: Buddhism, consciousness, and living in the moment. That's the kind of spiritual kumbaya topics that Sam reports causing him little pain online but Chris and Matt- the soulless physicalists and p-zombies that they are- seek to destroy even that refuge. On the other hand, they find themselves determined by the very forces of the universe to nod their meat puppet heads in furious agreement as Sam discusses the problems with free speech absolutism and reactionary conspiracism.
That's just a taste of what's to come in this extra-ordinarily long episode to finish off the year. What's the DTG take? You'll have to listen to find out all the details, but we do think there is some selective interpretation of religions at hand and some gut reactions to wokeness that leads to some significant blindspots.
So is Sam Harris an enlightened genius, a neo-conservative warmonger, a manipulative secular guru? Or is he, in the immortal words of Gag Halfrunt, Zaphod Beeblebrox's head specialist, "just zis guy, you know?".
Sam was DTG's white whale of 2023, but we'll let you be the judge as to whether or not we harpooned him, or whether he's swimming off contentedly, unscathed, into the open ocean.
