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According to neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris, rationality is the key to safeguarding everything we cherish, and its only true enemy is dogmatic inflexibility. Harris speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the views that have made Harris famous, teasing out the often mind-blowing subtleties of his religious and cultural critiques. They discuss what Harris has learned as a podcaster and author, and how ecstasy launched his spiritual journey. Finally, they move on to the power of meditation, exploring the way it can lead to self-transcendence and real connection with others.
Watch this podcast episode on YouTube:
Sam Harris on Meditation, Mindfulness, and Morality. Live-recorded audio. Still shots, no video.This week's guest:
Sam Harris's Home pageMaking Sense. Sam Harris's Podcast.Waking Up--A New Operating System for your Mind. App created by Sam Harris.This week's focus:
The End of Faith, by Sam Harris at Amazon.com.*Additional ideas and people mentioned in this podcast episode:
Letter to a Christian Nation, by Sam Harris at Amazon.com.*"Waiting for your waiter in Israel," by Russ Robert. Medium, September 28, 2022.A few more readings and background resources:
"Come From Away". Musical."Shtisel". Television show. IMDb."Is There an Afterlife?--Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, David Wolpe, Bradley Artson Shavit". Debate. YouTube.Free Will, by Sam Harris at Amazon.com.*The Noble Lie: When Scientists Give the Right Answers for the Wrong Reasons, by Gary Greenberg at Amazon.com.* Gary Greenberg on Depression, Addiction, and the Brain. EconTalk."THIS IS WATER!" David Foster Wallace's Graduation Speech. Vinay Prasad on Pharmaceuticals, the FDA, and the Death of Duty. EconTalk.Hasdai Crescas. Wikipedia.Mordechai Yosef Leiner. (1801-1854). Also known as Mei Shiloach, Mei Hashiloach. Biography per Wikipedia."Saccade".. Wikipedia.Moral Luck. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Russ Roberts on Sam Harris's Making Sense,, by Alice Temnick. EconTalk Extra, Nov. 19, 2022. EconTalk.A few more EconTalk podcast episodes:
Michael Munger on EconTalk's 500th Episode. EconTalk. Robert Wright on Meditation, Mindfulness, and Why Buddhism is True. EconTalk. Alan Lightman on Science, Spirituality, and Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine. EconTalk. Alan Lightman on Stardust, Meaning, Religion, and Science. EconTalk. Christopher Hitchens on George Orwell. EconTalk.More related EconTalk podcast episodes, by Category:
Industry Interviews: Individuals at WorkMeditation and SpiritualityPsychology, the Brain, and the MindTurned Tables: Russ Gets InterviewedALL ECONTALK CATEGORIES* As an Amazon Associate, Econlib earns from qualifying purchases.
TimePodcast Episode Highlights0:37Intro. [Recording date: January 12, 2023.]
Russ Roberts:
Today is January 12th, 2023, and my guest is neuroscientist, philosopher, and author Sam Harris. He hosts the podcast Making Sense and is the creator of the meditation app Waking Up.
Sam recently hosted me on his podcast Making Sense, and he graciously invited me to change places at the table and let me interview him. Sam, welcome to EconTalk.
Sam Harris: Hey, great to see you, Russ.
Russ Roberts: I want to let parents listening with young children know this conversation may stray into adult themes, so feel free to vet it before sharing.
1:17Russ Roberts: And our first topic, Sam, is you. Give us a thumbnail of how you came to be where you are, with an incredibly popular podcast, an incredibly popular meditation app. How'd that happen?
Sam Harris: Well, I started as a writer. And, I started kind of in an unconventional spot there because I wrote my...See full post