Carl Robichaud, co-leader of Longview Philanthropy’s nuclear weapons policy program, dives deep into the looming threat of nuclear war. He reflects on the morality of the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and critiques the lessons learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis. The conversation touches on modern challenges like cyber vulnerabilities and escalating U.S.-China tensions, along with the role of private citizens in mitigating nuclear risks. Robichaud emphasizes the need for philanthropy in addressing these existential threats, blending urgency with hope.
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Oppenheimer Film Recommendation
Sam Harris recommends watching Oppenheimer in a theater for the full experience.
Carl Robichaud has seen it twice and praises its fidelity to the source material.
insights INSIGHT
Atomic Bombing Narrative
The narrative around the atomic bombings often portrays Truman's decision as a carefully weighed choice between bombing and invasion.
Declassified documents reveal this to be postwar propaganda; the plan involved both bombing and invasion.
insights INSIGHT
Nagasaki Bombing
The second atomic bomb, dropped on Nagasaki, wasn't a strategic decision but a hasty action taken while Japan was still processing Hiroshima.
Truman's awareness of the impending Soviet entry into the war adds another layer to the decision.
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In 'Command and Control', Eric Schlosser delves into the history of nuclear weapons systems and accidents, focusing on incidents like the 1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion. The book highlights the ongoing risks of nuclear weapons due to human error and technological complexity, offering a historical narrative that spans over fifty years. Schlosser's work is both a thriller and a critical analysis of nuclear safety and policy.
American Prometheus
The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Kai Bird
Martin J. Sherwin
This biography, written over a period of 25 years, captures Oppenheimer’s life from his early career to his central role in the Cold War. It highlights his transformation into a charismatic leader at Los Alamos, the burdens of secrecy and surveillance, and the tumultuous events surrounding his security hearing. The book is praised for its voluminous scholarship and lucid insight into Oppenheimer’s complex nature and his impact on American history.
The fate of the earth
Jonathan Schell
Jonathan Schell's "The Fate of the Earth" is a profound exploration of the unthinkable consequences of nuclear war. Schell masterfully paints a picture of the devastation, not just in terms of immediate destruction, but also the long-term ecological and societal collapse that would follow. He challenges readers to confront the moral implications of possessing such destructive power and urges a re-evaluation of our priorities in the face of this existential threat. The book's impact lies in its ability to evoke a visceral understanding of the stakes involved, prompting reflection on our collective responsibility to prevent nuclear catastrophe. Its enduring relevance stems from the continued existence of nuclear weapons and the persistent risk of their use.
Hiroshima
John Hersey
This book, written by John Hersey, tells the stories of six survivors of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It is a pioneering work of New Journalism, focusing on the human suffering and survival in the aftermath of the bombing. The book follows the survivors—a doctor, a surgeon, a Methodist pastor, a German Jesuit priest, a widowed seamstress, and a young female factory worker—through their experiences on the day of the bombing and in the subsequent months and years. Hersey's account is known for its straightforward and emotive prose, highlighting the personal and long-term effects of the nuclear bombing on the survivors and the city of Hiroshima.
Sam Harris speaks with Carl Robichaud about the ongoing threat of nuclear war. They discuss the film "Oppenheimer," the ethics of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the false lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the history and future of nuclear proliferation, the logic of deterrence, cyber vulnerabilities, the history of de-escalation, the war in Ukraine, war games, the nuclear taboo, growing tensions between the U.S. and China, artificial intelligence, getting to nuclear zero, the role for private citizens in mitigating nuclear risk, the Longview Nuclear Risk Policy Fund (https://www.longview.org/fund/nuclear-weapons-policy-fund/), and other topics.
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