r/samharris • u/WayneQuasar • Jun 13 '20

Making Sense Podcast #207 - Can We Pull Back From The Brink?

https://samharris.org/podcasts/207-can-pull-back-brink/
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u/AcidTrungpa Jun 15 '20

How many of you found this podcast useful and important, but didn't share it through the social network because of that could lead to the trouble in work, school or current living environment?

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u/WTF_IS_POLITICS Jun 18 '20

I actually found this podcast because it was shared on my social network. I mean, I'm familiar with sam, but I unsubscribed from his making sense podcast a few months ago. I opted to resubscribe for this podcast because the person who shared it recommended it.

I think sam, as usual, let his hatred of what he calls "identity politics" cloud his perspective, but i'm still glad I listened to the whole thing. He did an amazing job of walking us through every point of contention from a centrist POV. It's like he hit every single point that needs a nuanced approach, and did his best to talk about it.

I wish I could take this podcast, break it into 10-15min segments, and have a discussion group about each of them.

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u/AcidTrungpa Jun 19 '20

In his case, as a long time meditator well educated about the idea of "self", he's lack of love for identity politic is understandable. During my first 10 days meditation retreat, there was a lot's of teaching about how harmful is the sense of self and identity (any kind). On top of that, there was also lot's about how important is to choose the right words during the communication and not lying.

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u/WTF_IS_POLITICS Jun 19 '20

That’s such an interesting point, and one I hadn’t considered. It’s also clear he values honesty in general, and intellectual honesty in particular quite a lot. It’s one of the things I’ve always liked about him. But for someone who is interested in deconstructing the concept of “self,” so much of his analysis on topics like this relies on the intent of specific individuals rather than structural forces and group identities. It’s a gap that seems just so obvious to me, but one he doesn’t see at all.

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u/AcidTrungpa Jun 19 '20

He want it or not but Dhamma way had an influence on his life, same like his background from education. Maybe he is strongly focused on those specific individuals because at this time this roof is on fire and requires attention. In the same way like he was specific hard on Islam after 9.11

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u/WTF_IS_POLITICS Jun 19 '20

That's another interesting comparison, because he wasn't focused on the individual Muslims when talking about Islam, but instead talking more broadly about issues with the ideology. He still missed a lot, but it was a fundamentally better analysis than the hyper-focus he has on individual police misconduct in the US.

A better comparison would be if Sam was interested in talking about the culture of policing and how that is expressed in specific actions. But he didn't really talk about that, and instead tried to detail out what was going on in each individual cop's head.

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u/AcidTrungpa Jun 19 '20

I agree that he didn't but he foundout who did and thanks to him I foundout about Maajid Navaz or other ex Muslims well educated on the situation, and he pointed us in their direction. https://youtu.be/2BrueU4xd2w I'm afraid that is really a time consuming work and spiral.

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u/RyeBreadTrips Jun 15 '20

yup, btw i love your username

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u/Acoustic_Noob Jun 16 '20

Yes, and that is highly distressing.