Sam Harris speaks with Timothy Snyder about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They discuss the effect of Russian propaganda, Putin’s motives, whether the US and NATO bear some responsibility for the war, widespread calls for de-escalation, nuclear blackmail and nuclear risk, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

Class 1 is an introduction to the course and an exploration of questions raised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Timothy Snyder, Marci Schor, and Volodymyr Yermolenko discuss resilience, creativity in wartime Ukraine, philosophical reflections on extremity, exploration of liminality, borders, truth in political philosophy, psychological aspect of beliefs in conflict, humanizing Ukrainians through art and culture, agency, Putinism, and the future of Russian society.

Jamil Zaki, a Stanford psychology professor, discusses the damaging effects of cynicism on individuals and societies, urging a shift toward 'hopeful skepticism.' He shares personal insights on how cynicism fosters division and conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Timothy Snyder, a Yale historian, reflects on redefining freedom, especially in light of his experiences in Ukraine. He emphasizes that true freedom goes beyond mere absence of conflict, highlighting the importance of community and moral choices in fostering a deeper understanding of liberty.

Timothy Snyder, a renowned historian and author of "On Freedom," redefines the concept of freedom in this thought-provoking discussion. He challenges the conventional belief that freedom is merely the absence of constraints, emphasizing a positive vision that includes grace, honesty, and community support. Snyder critiques American misconceptions about freedom, suggesting that true autonomy thrives within supportive societal structures. He warns against the dangers of emotional manipulation in politics while advocating for a more collaborative approach to freedom in shaping a better future.

In Class 3, Timothy Snyder, recently back from a visit to Ukraine, explores the geography and ancient history of the region. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Timothy Snyder, a renowned author and historian, delves into the evolving concept of freedom as he discusses his book, 'On Freedom.' He emphasizes the shift from 'freedom from' oppression to 'freedom to' engage in healthcare and love. Snyder highlights the role of the press in combating misinformation, warning that differing facts threaten our notion of freedom. He draws on Ukraine’s resilience to showcase freedom as an ongoing journey, advocating for a collective understanding that extends beyond political rhetoric to encompass community well-being.

How does all this tie together? Class 23 brings the effects of the past century of imperialism into sharp focus. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Class 6 continues the foundations of the Kyiv state at a time when Lithuania was much larger than most people think. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.

Do you speak the language or does the language speak you? In Class 4 Professor Timothy Snyder maps out the landscape ‘Before Europe.’ Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.