Sam Harris: The great problem of our time

[@PecosHank]

"If you're beliefs are non-falsifiable... If there's no scenario that can convince you that your most cherished opinions are in error, then that's proof that you didn't get them by being in contact with reality." -Harris ^

[@zachr0]

This is true in a sense but also every persons subjective conscious experience is true for each person and is also not falsifiable.

[@mbogucki1]

@@zachr0 Reality itself is objective. Regardless of individual perception, gravity pulls objects inward, the color red corresponds to a wavelength around 430 terahertz, and the speed of light remains constant at 299,792,458 meters per second.

[@sandrawoodworth8391]

wow!

[@Godsen5]

Can you show me the reality in which I can encounter the verification or falsification of the following statements: "You should not rip someone's eyes out of their skull".

[@Brunoburningbright]

​@@zachr0In terms of their feelings, opinions or beliefs this is true. Facts are another matter.

[@mock1EVOviii]

Teaching people how to think will forever be superior to telling people what to think.

[@markartist8646]

So true! Critical thinking skills...

[@mr.c2485]

Fact. 👍

[@MrSub132]

Except we don't teach anyone how to think the right way. The only way we have rn is "teach them to think left". The only teachings on how to think we need is one that is declared by the one with the purified mind. His teachings didn't focus on wisdom and self control for nothing. Karma is real and we see it in real time. Not the western ego centric version of Karma.

[@halfnelson6115]

Excatly. Kids should be taught how to think, not what to think.

[@shugaroony]

@@halfnelson6115 "all I know, is I know nothing." - Socrates. He understood.

[@BendingPinkSteel]

This is such a powerful reminder that our minds are the battleground. If we don’t learn to train our thoughts, they’ll train us.

[@christinekerby3562]

that's exactly what i was saying the other day! whether you're talking about political ideologies, religious beliefs right; down to depression and anxiety disorders; it all starts in one's own mind. we can only control our own thoughts and one has to actively want to exercise control over your thoughts. i love these kinds of talks; deep; meaningful and providing some tools to deal with inside thoughts and outside pressures. i love sam harris, thank you, so very much!!!

[@jackserna3440]

We live in the matrix. It's time we all wake up

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Best sentence I have read in months.

[@ThreeFingerG]

You need an apropriate Epistemic model. And it isn't Sam's. Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. Read it.

[@J_Klutch]

The biggest battle was resisting an authoritarian takeover, but a bunch of nations failed that already.

[@ufftatabummbumm]

What's wrong with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.

[@dennismitchell5276]

Needs to be said with confidence.

[@mikev4373]

Bingo

[@AlanRadMethods]

Lol yes! Someone who says this statement with confidence is surely not intelligent.

[@stvndwld]

Dunning kruger effect

[@osks]

That’s a very confident observation!

[@bijanjan100]

The real problem of being certain of own opinion is that we transform our opinions and concepts into our identity and when we are confronted by others it becomes a threat to what we consider our identity

[@AlexisDavis16]

@@bijanjan100 this

[@Jahchristo]

Thank you. It’s like combating egos.

[@DonBonin]

You are pretty much describing identity politics.

[@seansean6604]

Sam Harris the Zionist apologist speaking as a genocide is happening. He's suffering from Zionist Derangement Syndrome. No respect for his musings whatsoever.

[@istantinoplebullconsta642]

Exactly right. Ego, not money, is "the root of all evil."

[@Dozenz]

Unfortunately, the problem isn't that people don't care about facts, it's that people choose the facts that suit their beliefs.

[@BlueGnome42]

@@peteMickeal33 well I nominated Big Bird but they decided to go with the vice president. Go figure

[@peteMickeal33]

@@BlueGnome42 let's be honest, you would have voted for whatever puppet they told you to vote for. Be that Big Bird or Kamala, as it turned out.

[@HikikoAmore]

you just described religion

[@bimfred]

You should watch the video again. Where do their beliefs come from? You don’t ‘choose’ what a fact is, either. The fact doesn’t need you in order to be true.

[@subaquaticencountersofthed8515]

Cough* Ya, Sam cough*

[@shaneh9591]

"The real problem of humanity is we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and god-like technologies.” -E.O. Wilson.

[@davidhelman3045]

This is probably the best quote I have heard in a while.

[@360.Tapestry]

so.... porn and tiktok

[@lupemerrit]

Amen👍👍

[@isaacquirivan6093]

I’m a philosophy major who chose to go back to supporting kids in school because I think an education in the ideas that Harris describes among others are one of the most important goals of the 21st century. We HAVE to break the cycle, somehow…

[@kasparskrustins3391]

good luck to you

[@gaborvajda6398]

Thank you

[@tom8008135]

Totally agree. That's awesome. Hope it's going well.

[@sallyduda9619]

“Good people, normal people under the influence of bad ideas.” Need to remember that when I get angry or frustrated.

[@edgepixel8467]

Also remember that it might be you, not them, who is under the influence of a bad idea.

[@allwheeldrive]

But that's not completely right. It's not bad ideas, but the acceptance of a false reality that feels like it has relevance to them. Trump was speaking directly to the electorate's emotional state and fed the fear. The lies became truth, and many were willing to lay down their lives for those lies. This ain't over.

[@Azobichamkartofilaaaaa]

​@@allwheeldrivewanting to be great(again?), not really telling what that means, believing someone else poisoned your blood while letting a foreign power that arrests people for standing with blank sheets convince you you have no freedom of speech. Letting people convince you you have some special knowledge of pizza scandals and really ridiculous stuff - that means some narcissism complacency and arrogance on their behalf, they do have a very dark side and they should know it.

[@jayinderkaushik]

I am always astonished how effortlessly articulate Sam is

[@words007]

But he is either suppressed in YT algo or simply not in limelight in recent times.

[@immers2410]

He’s Jew. They smart

[@healthymealthy775]

He's horrendous

[@jennifers8843]

@@words007Because he is suddenly sounding unhinged. Making fun of people for doing research instead of blindly trusting media! That’s not a brilliant person.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Dominion (2018)

[@WeylandLabs]

*We engage endlessly in digital discourse, debating rebutting in an algorithmic theater. Yet despite our ceaseless exchange of words, we rarely forge real solutions. We've become more invested in performance of dialogue then in the difficult work of creating change.* _Why do societies world wide seem trapped in this cycle of debate without progress ?_ _Perhaps we need to ask ourselves:_ *Are we truly seeking solutions, or have we become too comfortable in the familiar dance of endless discussions ?*

[@BaronSupremacy]

This is because those in the digitial discourse are largely screaming into the void, and very few are actually listening and open to consideration of ideas that differ from their own. It's a game of defending one's position versus a true exchange with the personal goal of growing one's perspective. Very few people hold the inner experience of wanting to know more from others, wanting to further inform their own opinion, wanting to challenge their own ideas. This is seen as weakness, not strength.

[@Zeuts85]

Imo: The problem is that the algorithms (and perverse incentives) are shutting down the right discussions and broadcasting the wrong ones.

[@adamnilsson566]

I think the problem is that we're less and less engaging in dialogue or conversation, and more and more engaging in arguments/debates. If you're in a dialogue or conversation, you're not necessarily trying to "win" or convince someone, you're simply engaged in a peaceful exchange of ideas with another person or persons. If you're in an argument or debate, the whole point of the exercise is that you have an "opponent" and to have the best argument and "win", and you're less likely to yield at any point, even if you internally might feel your "opponent" has a valid point at some point in the debate, you'll do mental gymnastics to prove them wrong, to not risk losing face or losing the whole debate. I've found that I'm much more likely to have a good time in a conversation than a debate. I'll simply share what I know, what I think I know (and be clear that I might not be 100% certain in those cases) and what I feel about that knowledge, and I'll gladly listen to someone else's perspective, and we don't need to try and convince one another of one thing or the other, that comes afterwards when we are alone and think back to the conversation.

[@WeylandLabs]

@@adamnilsson566 While I agree that both dialogue and debate have their place, I feel we're missing a more fundamental issue. The real challenge isn't about how were communicating its about turning words into action. You make excellent points about understanding different perspectives. As an American, I recognize that my westernized viewpoint is just one among many. Every region has its own cultural context, history and philosophical frameworks that shapes how people see the world. But understanding these differences, while important, is only the first step. What I am really concerned about is the gap between discussion and concrete action, let me pose some questions. _- Have you ever tried to create or change a law in your community ?_ _- Whats stops people from engaging in local governance ?_ _- Why do we feel satisfied with just commenting on social media instead of taking tangible steps for change ?_ The comfort of online discourse has created an illusion of participation. We post comments, share views, and engage and engage in debates, but often does this translate into real world change. The algorithms that shape our digital experience further complicate this by: _- Creating echo chambers that reinforce existing algorithmic views that influence and or change towards sed ideology._ _- Making it harder to verify the authenticity and context of who we're engaging with._ _- Reducing complex issues to simplified, engagement driven content._ True human progress requires more than just understanding or winning arguments, it demands the humility to recognize problems and the commitment to address them through concrete action. Online platform such as KZbin can facilitate awareness, they shouldn't be the end point of our engagement with social issues. *_"When dialogue becomes a substitute for doing, we've lost sight of true progress"_*

[@johnanhalt8787]

I say this constantly when engaging in debates, specifically online. Are you here to learn and grow, or just focused on being right, and feeding your ego?

[@Shiibai]

3 things that helped me and literally changed my life 1. I stopped telling myself I'll do it tomorrow 2. I read books on nixorus 3. I had faith and religion.

[@Imthegoats]

their books changed my life, big recommended!

[@Shiibai]

@Imthegoats y bro

[@dionysus951]

nice ad lmao

[@E.Pluribus.Unum.]

It’s reassuring to know that people don’t need faith or religion to change their life

[@myleghurts3546]

I just go for a bike ride, cook for myself & my wife and tell myself I'm just one over 7 billion

[@petergradilone4784]

The mythologist Joseph Campbell noted well over 50 years ago, that perhaps the only proper mythic symbol of our time, should be the first image of the earth from the moon taken during the Apollo program. As Campbell noted: "There is a common humanity built into our nervous system, out of which our imaginations work". That's just hard science as much as common sense. Genuine community only happens if there is a larger picture to work for, often when crisis is widely perceived. That said, also heed Carl Jung's warning about individuals who are too judicious with their "understanding" of those who are intolerant. Too many people just want to burn the house down. Be open, but be aware.

[@dezzick398]

Well said Peter. Thank you.

[@Chickenwingsinthedings]

One reason I hate people who talk about free speech when spreading hate speech. "we cant have tolerance without being intolerant of the intolerant". In my belief i think you can say or think whatever you believe, but I'll be damned if I let you spread a hateful narrative without negative reactions.

[@PaulTenenbaum]

I'd rather be fishing.

[@Darhan62]

If Joseph Campbell hadn't talked about Star Wars, I might never have paid attention to him. His Bill Moyers interviews were an influence on me during a formative period of my life.

[@GMC-qo9xi]

@@Chickenwingsinthedings you are referring to cause and effect =law… hate is akin to murder… yet murder is illegal. People do it like the idea of thought police, but our intention is the major source of all action, good or evil. Shunning, is an innate reaction to something we deem illegal at some level… like raising a child who hits their sibling, especially out of malice or bad intention, etc… they get put in a corner and told to be quiet and are ignored… that’s ultimately what cancel culture is all about… and obviously it’s a normal and needed mechanism. But when the one getting cancelled is the truth teller, then chaos and breakdown must follow… it’s ultimately about authority… who has it? The truth is what real authority is fundamentally based on… but we are in a post truth world. Truth has been thrown to the ground, and yet even people like Harris are not really conveying the whole truth-but are none the less seeking the authority as if they were… like they should have a larger audience, which may be true to a point, but at another point he’s be shutting down certain fundamentals of the truth to fit his perspective, which means he shouldn’t be listened to at the same time… night has fallen… best thing is to keep one’s head down?

[@What_If_We_Tried]

Extremely thought provoking video! Thanks so much!

[@njay4361]

It's a battle between truth and lies. The awareness needed to differentiate between the two has been eroded.

[@DearMr.Fantasy]

I agree, and that erosion has been exponentially accelerated by intellectual laziness.

[@SaviorMoney-777]

Sam is doing everything he can to avoid being challenged on his views, and there are A LOT of serious, highly credentialed challengers.

[@DManOnFire]

You missed the point. Its about moving from battle to real discussion real respect real empathy and allowing for differences of opinion. Not battle. There is no absolute truth and lie; there is each mind’s personal perception/belief of those concepts.

[@andyhampsten4252]

@@DManOnFire You seem to be saying that all opinions are equally valid. Maybe to one's self but there are objective truths in the community.

[@x0234dsx]

its more of a battle of critical thinking. lies are not lies to people that were convinced to believe in them as truths. there is active effort to distort peoples ability to distinguish what is true and become cynical and give up. great channel to follow for that is @ProfessorDaveExplains

[@SashaFox669]

The great problem of our time is the lack of personal integrity from top to bottom.

[@wovasteengova]

yup!

[@russellmakar579]

And Trump and Musk have just brought us to a new Low. A lot of stupid people in the U.S.

[@Kormac80]

YES and... the incentives of powerful technologies encourages and monetizes dishonesty, deception and division.

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@userumbleandgettr4freespee501]

@@360.Tapestrybecause of the green serpent in the garden of Eden

[@fortune-cookie-monster]

"Good people under the influence of bad ideas", brilliant!

[@bille77]

Of course, Harris advertises conversation over violence because he and his kind know that wherever there is reasonable dialog, they'll win the argument.

[@mprado4177]

Does oil mix with water? No. Well, good and bad don't mix either. People listen to what they want to hear.

[@BristleHiffyn]

Numbers 35 New International Version Towns for the Levites 35 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, 2

[@StrangerThanNonfiction]

​@@mprado4177we would be wise to move away from this good/bad thinking. I think most of us know someone in our families or personal lives who we consider a good person by most measures, but they've been swept up in misinformation and lies. I have family members who I know are good people (treat their kids well, make an honest living, don't commit crimes, etc.) but they also have these bizarre, quiet beliefs about conspiracies peddled by alt-right influencers. I don't know all the answers about how to counter those beliefs, but I know that calling them bad people doesn't help persuade them of anything.

[@mprado4177]

@@StrangerThanNonfiction I know that is true. But right now I have no sympathy left. This is a blatant take over by insanity, and they need to be accountable for the fall of the USA. Because unless there is a miracle, this is the end of an attempt to have a society ruled by law. They have voted for the lawless, the exploiter, the tyrants. So sorry. I also know people. And I have been avoiding them. That's the only way I can show mercy for them.

[@stodgepodge]

You know that point near the end of a relationship where no matter how rational you think you're being, no matter how careful you are, things keep breaking down again and again to the same tired conflict? This is where I fear humanity is today on a species wide level.

[@nyxcole9879]

Yep, exactly

[@DonBonin]

That's the way it is with "reality vs the others" these days. Unbending, "reality" just has to throw up its hands while the "others" walk away, looking for echo chambers and simple, black and white answers to all uncomfortable questions.

[@CCOREY5]

@@stodgepodge truth in that. The reason is because we feel we don’t need each other anymore. Mistakenly.

[@RedOne50-x]

@stodgepodge Absolutely we are. Yeats' The Second Coming is happening right now. "What rough beast, it's hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?"

[@PharaoTeti]

Great analogy!

[@Ali-e5h1b]

You said it better than I could. There is no order in this digital network. We need the communication, but can't rid ourselves of the "noise."

[@Sean-oy8xm]

I was an Evangelical Christian for forty years. I was in ministry and church leadership, and was an avid Apologist of the Christian faith. That path of seeking for solid arguments, along with the overwhelming lack of evidence for the claims of Christianity has led me to an Atheistic worldview. Thank you Sam.

[@afgafg6471]

Thank you for sharing! It’s testimony like yours that are make it possible for more of us to live in a closer approximation of truth! 🙏✌️😎👍

[@robertvann7349]

You're a fool. I don't need the Bible to prove God exists, just simple logic science 101. I dare you to ask a PhD Logic Science instructor to write out this absolute objective truth which is a non truth. non p is or caused p. This is a formula, plug data into the formula. 1>, non p, non conscious non intelligent non being caused the Illogical impossible contradiction 2>, p, conscious intelligent being in the universe You will agree this is non p is or caused p, this is impossible. Only, p is p, absolute objective truth, self evident. Only conscious intelligent being can cause conscious intelligent being. Do you have parents? Well they are conscious intelligent beings. Nothing caused something is stupid on steroids. Only life can cause life, not non life caused life, that would be non p caused p, illogical impossible contradiction. Don't be a brain dead fool bro. 🎉🎉

[@mrm4sherman271]

Evangelical Christianity is probably the lowest bar you could have for Christianity. It has not produced great thinkers and scientists like Augustine, Aquinas, of Edward Fesser.

[@guybartlett9587]

I'm happy you got out of that trap. Religion being a joke dosnt mean there isn't a god. Also just because there is no god dosnt mean there is no afterlife IMO

[@layitluke7139]

@@guybartlett9587very true. If rationality leads you away from a certain religion, why not use reason to evaluate other existential claims? Christianity does not equal theism, or realism, or spirituality… there are several questions and debunking one of them doesn’t debunk the rest. Remember that.

[@Simon89Jeppesen]

I think the CEO's of the social media has a lot to do with bad things in the world today.

[@beyondfitrd]

Yes, and before that it was talk radio (Rush Limbaugh), and then FOX News. The indoctrination of Boomers listening to those sources is decades, a whole adult lifetime long. Then social media finished the job.

[@Photik]

And politicians. And big tech and big pharma.

[@cdub42]

​@@Photikbut mostly social media. Like by a lot.

[@MrCamiloGabri]

A lot of blame being directed - 0 constructive proposals of how to change things.

[@Simon89Jeppesen]

@MrCamiloGabri stop using social media 👍🤔 Get educated. Stop trusting everybody on KZbin, but go to universities. I simply see no good in the world coming from social media...

[@patrickstjean7646]

"Everything in reality can be explained. If your beliefs are rational, they can be explained. If your beliefs are not falsifiable, they can't be explained and that's proof you didn't get them from being in contact with reality" Paraphrased 3:20 - 4:42

[@patrickstjean7646]

Yes I liked my own comments. I'm giving myself a bump because I think this idea Sam shared is the must important one in this whole video, and if you take away nothing else take this.

[@watson5551]

@@patrickstjean7646 Thanks for posting, I felt the same about it and was going to write it down.

[@JoyceJohnson99]

That statement (If your beliefs can’t be falsifiable…) is confusing to me. Shouldn’t that be “verifiable”? If your beliefs can’t be verifiable, (then they don’t reflect reality - can’t recall the exact last part).

[@khester7397]

Lol. The scientific method doesn't "falsify" hypotheses. It verifies or doesn't, that's it. Science isn't used to disprove anything. Stupid leftists.

[@AlbertBalbastreMorte]

@@JoyceJohnson99 falsifiable is the correct word. Imagine someone believes something you disagree with. You gather tons of proof that would show this person is in the wrong, because all that evidence effectively makes their claims false. However, they refuse to reconsider. Puzzled, you may inquire "what amount/kind of evidence would you need to accept that your belief is wrong?" If their answer is "no amount nor kind evidence would persuade me that I'm wrong" then they're openly saying their claim is not falsifiable. Sam argues that in this case, their claim is not based on reality.

[@MariaAileenMarina]

judgmentcallpodcast covers this. Sam Harris: Problem of our time.

[@xq8152]

I told a friend a long time ago that a time will come when people will be told that 2+2 actually doesnt = 4. And many will believe it. We are almost there.

[@RobertMollentze-r4w]

Like men who can one day just decide to be women? Or how we argue that abortion is now totally fine? Things that used to be obvious like 2+2=4 are up for debate, and Sam is actually a reason why a lot of this chaos has happened with his religion called science. He's a religious fanatic posing as an intellectual.

[@istantinoplebullconsta642]

Reminds me of the movie, "Don't Look Up!" People will refuse facts that go against what they want to believe.

[@360.Tapestry]

numbers are just an approximation of infinity for basic daily use. 2 + 2 = 4 is a concept. 2 + 2 = infinity is the reality most can't comprehend

[@sarita931]

Yours is the voice of sanity, I always look to you Sam. And since the election results my meditation practice is what is keeping me sane. Thank you!

[@domcruise274]

That type of meditation is only temporary escape. You’ll know what I mean in 10 years

[@sarita931]

@@domcruise274 Really in 10 years? Meditation has been a life practice of mine for over 50 years, way before Sam was on the scene. How little you know. It is WISDOM when you no longer look for strategies or ways to escape.

[@JasonBeiler]

Yes. That means that we have successfully trapped you inside of your head.

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@dr.rationalist9669]

I remember during the covid pandemic there was a tv host here in Germany admitting that he is not an expert in all this microbiology and epidemiology stuff but at the same time is absolutely sure that he is right. For me this was the most characteristic statement of our time. I think the main challenge is that we have less personal contact with other people but much more indirect contact by social media. The latter is just based on stories about others and we can‘t rely on our natural judgement which requires personal contact.

[@anthonyperez5757]

but if we only ACT on or ACCEPT things we are experts on, we'll all die while investigating. Not to mention we all have a bias

[@dr.rationalist9669]

@@anthonyperez5757 No need to be expert. What I mean is: Rely on plausibility. Ask questions to find out if things fit together. Accept that there is nothing you can absolutely be sure of. Embrace the idea of changing your opinion as something positive. True, we all have bias but we can enhance it or we can try to minimize it. And acting is not always better than doing nothing. It can make things worse.

[@bryancunningham3043]

“One of the great challenges in this world is knowing enough about a subject to think you're right, but not enough about the subject to know you're wrong.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@adrianqx]

Neil should take his own advice

[@finnmccool6613]

The most ironic quote ever

[@nemtom20]

That guy is a sham, don't know why you quote that idiot.

[@peteMickeal33]

oh wow.. could that be Neil talking about him being a "physicist"?

[@SaviorMoney-777]

That guy's almost as insane as Sam.

[@vaunniethayer1484]

My take on this is that humans are first and foremost emotional beings. When emotions are not managed in a healthy way rational thinking becomes compromised. I worked with small children for many years as a speech therapist. It was very clear to me that if a child doesn’t feel emotionally safe , as in I like this person and I know they care about me. Then what you have to teach them will be very limited. This caring has to be genuine, kids can tell the difference believe me. I don’t think adults are much different which is why even educated adults can be so easily manipulated by skilled con artists . Say what you will Trump is a skilled con artist. The Democrats say that people just need to be educated and that will solve everything. In my view that is important but emotional reassurance is paramount. This may sound silly to some, but face it emotions drive what we pay attention to and how we interpret things. We all know very intelligent people who make very bad choices because they are completely out of touch with this aspect of being human. Elon Musk would be a classic example of this, a person who has no understanding of his own emotional drivers much less anyone else’s. I can see when watching his interviews and tweets that he is filled with rage and projects it outward, Trump does the same thing. That drive to get even with the world is very evident . The combination of these two is beyond dangerous.

[@Jack458111]

Think, it ain’t illegal yet!

[@Photik]

1948 meets Idiocracy, coming to you soon!

[@danielschaeffer1294]

In large areas of the globe, yes, it is.

[@JasonBeiler]

Pretty soon there will be a chip in your brain that will zap you if you think an anti-Semitic thought

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@jasminecrandall2262]

Today’s political landscape is what you call the boiling point of discontent. People with their boots on the ground are feeling it first. However, the bourgeoisie class are clearly more insulated and believe it’s an intellectual problem.

[@WarrenSmithMark]

My take on this is that many in the Western world don't distinguish between social liberalism (freedom of speech, movement, beliefs, ...) and economic liberalism (which has been pushed too far with neoliberalism). This also seemed to be the case in this video. Many intellectuals argue that one can't go without the other. Yet, most people want the former, not necessarily the latter (which is a cause of alienation, through inequality).

[@TheOldHippiebilly]

I've had mixed results with meditation and I'm not so sure it's beneficial to everyone. That said, I'm always keen on listening to Sam Harris. I don't agree with him100%of the time, but he is a very sharp guy with a good heart and he is extraordinarily learned and articulate. He's always worth listening to and he makes a helluva lot of sense.

[@TheOldHippiebilly]

@MarioLopez-hb6li Nope. Not even myself.

[@Muller_Andr]

We are in our 50s with nearly $3M saved, no debt and $50K annual spending. But we avoid the stock market completely.

[@AnkurYo]

I’m retired. Your story of a conservative savings profile is a common one. Any course of action involves risks. You might be avoiding market risk, but you are taking on other risks like inflation and reinvestment risk.

[@Muller_Andr]

My wife is willing to work for another 5 years if needed. Are we in good shape? Will we be okay if I begin withdrawing from Social Security when I’m 62 and my wife is 67? Should we hire a financial planner to help us navigate this?

[@AnkurYo]

No one likes market risk, but without longer retirement, taking on risk is often a necessary evil to compensate for inflation.

[@Jennapeters144]

Certainly get a pro to look at your predicament (if you even have one, lol) A second opinion from a comprehensive financial adviser can help you look at more than just your current estimate of cash flow and needs but also longevity risk, outliving your money, tax considerations, legacy planning, healthcare costs, inflation and a myriad of other things you may not be considering when reviewing your current situation

[@Muller_Andr]

How does one get a comprehensive fa who isn’t looking to just make a buck from consultancy and whatnot

[@danieljmarvin]

Thanks for this. I just had a headache and decided to 'stare right at' the headache. I hurt initially but then I realized the spot of consciousness that I was avoiding was actually the 'center' of my 'inner vision'. I have visual snow syndrome (seeing static) and palinopsia (seeing reality blur when items in it move). This constant uncertainty can sometime take a shape. These shapes are actually what it feels like to dream or 'see in your mind'. One can train this 'light' to be brighter. Sometimes we can burn it out. When we look at light for too long, it can make us reduce or 'inner light' since we don't need to engage as much to get stimulation. Mediation ends up being the process of searching for a feeling and making peace with it. For example, if we search for boredom, they we will eventually find a way to reward ourselves with less stimulation. The goal is to find peace even with low stimulation. We need our mind to punctuate reality both physically and temporally.

[@pta8734]

Glad there are people like Sam in the world because at 64 years old and our recent election, I'm so angry, I'm done caring about anything or anyone but me and my family. I won't lift a finger for anyone, unless it benefits me.

[@skeeterbodeen8326]

Me too brother.. I turn 60 and I’m so disgusted by how the 80’s & Reagan started the unraveling of our country to the robber barons, and our current shit show.

[@bjh1284]

Money is influence. Money decides which messages are the loudest and have the broadest influence. Follow the money and you will find the motivation behind the "truth". Wealth concentration is the goal of capitalism.

[@bredlify3079]

Study Bitcoin ❤

[@kpetro1675]

Kamala spent a billion $ in 6 months and lost quite soundly to trump who spent less than half that over an entire campaign. The elites couldn't buy her into power and democracy indeed prevailed over corrupt money

[@Drawperfectcircles]

False. The basics of control is power and power lies not in an individual but in a group. Money is value, not influence. You can buy influence with value. To be able to exert power, your targets have to believe in your authority. Money can buy you that influence, but it can also make the dynamic more diluted. When you buy influence, you’re giving away value to another authority, the authority could be your targets, or your accomplices. These people will take out of your power one way or another. If you try buying votes, you’ll become more dependent on those money buying the voters, therefore you become closer to the slave, becoming slaves to their wealth themselves. But sure, if you have a lot of money, the gap is wider between you and them, so you can maintain the relationship more easily… until they demand for more. Also, the influence of a large group of people combined is actually more powerful than the modern day billionaires. We just don’t use that power. We’re too busy buying their games and watching their movies.

[@Puleczech]

@@bjh1284 Yawn... Are you 19 to think that any other system's (communism, feudalism, you name it) primary goal ISN'T wealth concentration? Ridiculously enough, capitalism seems to be the most fair of them all so far. Not perfect, not ideal, but far better than any other real system that you can name. I challenge you.

[@keenanvandeusen]

I think wealth concentration isn't the goal but rather the result of capitalism and who knows how to solve that when money is the decision-maker

[@zzer0_fox]

Thank you❤

[@terrihartbarger]

So basically, the EGO has gotten out of control.

[@EricMusicCollab]

The dramatic music was unnecessary and takes away from the message.

[@Bom-pff]

Yup. Pretentious af.

[@doomerbloomer6160]

That's big think for ya. Bring on amazingly articulate and smart people, and frame them as generic gurus

[@禺囸]

so as hundreds of random distracting second-long videos. tiktok era...

[@hungryghost-90]

3:51. “Good people being captured by bad ideas.” If most of someone’s personality, worldview, values and the way they think about, speak to and treat people with opposing ideas has been consumed by their “bad” ideology? At what point are they no longer a “good” person?

[@mikemolaro4198]

If your Sam Harris and an atheist than everything is an ideology. Including the ideology of there being such things as "good" and "evil".

[@peace-hu5pn]

People don't fight , thoughts fight, thoughts are real genrals of war

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@frictionhitch]

Thank you Sam you've been pissing me off for the last decade or so but that was certainly apt and beautiful with impeccable timing. I propose the PBS NewsHour club. Let us all dedicate 1 hour once a week of our digital time to watching one episode of the PBS NewsHour. I think if we all did that for a couple months we'd be able to speak to one another once again

[@jaimebergner]

Sadly I can no longer watch PBS. My PBS app crashes every time I try to access it for a couple of days now. I miss it.

[@jennyray4698]

@@jaimebergner cancel the app and download it again, restart your phone and it should work again...

[@tarafreedom2584]

Oh you mean the lefty liberal biased news?! Don’t take me wrong. I am a sustainer of the PBS but I don’t see them as unbiased folks who want to get deeply into the roots when it comes to the politics. They are often a reminder of MSNBC for the most political matters except for occasional exceptions ( e.g., certainly Frontline episodes)

[@frictionhitch]

@tarafreedom2584 No that's not what I mean. I mean boring news. This happened. Please show me something that they falsely reported. They mostly just say this thing happened and this thing happened and good night we'll see you tomorrow. You and I can come to our own conclusions about who's right in a conflict but we need to have footage from people on the ground being like yes I saw that bomb explode that was messed up. We need to know who are the major players are and what they do and then you and I can argue about who's in the right. What we can't have is Alex Jones type people who just make crap up. MSNBC yeah is liberal crap but the Newshour isn't. Hell David Brooks just took it to the liberal elitists tonight on the Newshour. Maybe you should watch tonight's episode?

[@CP-nl2zb]

Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@ElectricBrown1]

Fear. Fear is killing us. What if I'm not on the winning side?!? Never the thought of being individually courageous, vulnerable and curious.

[@jeffj2495]

Fear has certainly fueled the U.S. to create and maintain a military megalopolis larger than multiple countries combined. It is just a weird thing that we continue to push all our money into controlling and killing.

[@autodogdact3313]

Fear of the other has now been being preached day after day in the US. It's no wonder you have fear if you are repeatedly told you are living in an invasion, that rapists, murderers and people released from mental asylums are flooding the cities.

[@RedOne50-x]

I wish what Harris is saying here was the world we live in, or could be possible. But I don't believe it anymore. Pandora's box has been opened. Principles, integrity, and honor are dead. It was a nice dream.

[@jimbody1448]

If you choose to live with that opinion, you are part of the problem unfortunately. You are falling into the trap that Harris talks about here

[@Jahchristo]

Do not give up.

[@cendrizzi]

Sam was so wrong about so many thing s himself. From the pandemic to Russia gate. He still has on the likes of Ann applebaum who has basically been wrong about everything.

[@worshadar150]

agreed, sadly. I was smart enough to save unlike most of America. It's about to get much, much worse.

[@ASMRmakeupnraindrops]

"we live in perpetual choice between conversation and violence... persuasion or coercion... conversation prevents violence...all of our failures of compassion are failures of mutual understanding" such a salient and relevant video for our times

[@_middleside]

Great sentiments. I would just add that money is also persuasive, unfortunately

[@ColinStuckert]

money is neutral. people make things persuasive

[@gwang3103]

5:28 ~ "One basis for hope is there's almost no problem human ingenuity can't solve in the end." I'd like to see how human ingenuity will come up with a solution for the problem of resource depletion. Of how indefinite growth can continue in a finite world.

[@bcjb720]

The world population will shrink, as it is already on track to do

[@ThePapawhisky]

This is truly a big think. Thank you very much. These are transformative ideas.

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you. Watching from Alaska. 🤔

[@TheInternetIsDeadToMe]

Social media makes me fill like I’m in the middle of 8 billion conversations. No wonder I feel like I’m going insane.

[@istantinoplebullconsta642]

I quit social media long ago. It's just fills your brain with noise.

[@Roach8431D2]

I wonder where'd we'd be as a civilization if we all respected each other and worked together instead of killing each other

[@EntonDelMonte]

Looking at the comments I don‘t think I‘m interacting with strangers, but scam and engagement bots :D

[@harku123]

I'm a bot and I feel like all I see in the comments is filthy humans with emotions and opinions smh

[@VCE4]

Yeah, decided to scroll comments after leaving mine and there is a lot of bots presence here

[@BassByTheBay]

They are every frickin where. When I try to point out the specifics so that people aren't duped, YT filters my comment. Nice work, YT 🙄.

[@BassByTheBay]

​@@harku123 Sorry, Agent Smith.

[@VCE4]

@@BassByTheBay same damn thing It is too often I find my long-read comments getting evaporated by YT algorithms

[@MichaelToub]

Great Video!

[@randomthings17493]

It would have been funny to hear his specific examples of false things that americans believe.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Here's one: the bible is an inerrant authority that requires interpretation. Hilarious !!!

[@dailyrant4068]

He already spoke a lot about Jan 6th and the "stolen election"

[@roddydelipsa1769]

40 % don´t believe in Evolution.

[@CathyS_Bx]

Tinkle-tinkle music, really? That Storyblocks horror will only make our videos generic.

[@CatVonMe54]

As if we can't pay attention without quick stock cuts and irritating music.

[@chazlewis8114]

The music feels emotionally manipulative. Which distracts from a valuable message.

[@Photik]

Marketing techniques.

[@dharmadude809]

It distracts as do the treacly images. It would be so refreshing to see teachers like Sam do videos without those distractions.

[@chuckm1961]

You might want to seek professional help. It’s just some fucking music and your reaction is YOUR REACTION. My reaction to the music is … nothing at all, it’s just some noise in the background.

[@禺囸]

so do tiktok visuals.

[@petergrams6390]

I needed to hear this. I still have the waking up app but have not maintained regular practice for over a year. Gonna sit for my daily now

[@miloszkraszewski3533]

Having intellectual conversations, based off of scientific facts. If only humanity could,

[@SaviorMoney-777]

If only Sam would.

[@AndrewGonzalesArtistry]

“Science” … the latest in a long line of cheesy religions where people act like it’s “the truth” while forcing it on others. Covid was the perfect example where the priests of science made stupid decrees… wear a face diaper… stay 6 feet apart… only walk down the grocery store isle in the designated direction… Vaccinate… test regularly… believe the science… quarantine even if you’re healthy People still can’t recognize emerging religious systems as they get relabeled.

[@Tufarock]

Vomit

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@EvoBioChemical]

Sam Harris is a gift of eloquence, wisdom, and ethical guidance to our world.

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Except he's a bit overly emotional on some topics and tends to put too much faith in mainstream media talking points.

[@terrorists-are-among-us]

Not accurate. You're not paying attention to how unhinged he is.

[@terrorists-are-among-us]

​@@dr.emilschaffhausen4683it's so hypocritical for him to be lecturing anyone about reality 😂

[@CP-nl2zb]

Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@sportlams]

Unveiling Your Hidden Potential by Bruce Thornwood (thank me later)

[@kshould]

Googled it, saw a reddit thread that says it's a scam (can't include link, do your own research). Seems this post and the 200+ likes are part of a new marketing strategy utilizing bots. Buyer beware!

[@koitrl]

Beautifully spoken. Great video!

[@elisawinter4520]

Sam’s voice does not need that awful so-called music competing with it. Get rid of the music!

[@禺囸]

and that shitty tiktok visuals as well:)

[@KiraandtheSurvivalPod]

Sam Harris grew up in Hollywood. His Dad was a Hollywood actor and his mom a Hollywood writer (she created The Golden Girls). Went to University in California. His views are highly influenced by this all-American upbringing. His connections and born privilege have no-doubt added to his success. There are smarter, less biased, "intellectuals" out there.

[@StephenFlynn-xl2fw]

Ad hominem. What he's saying either makes sense or it doesn't.

[@joshuahafer]

It's interesting to use "Democracy" and "Capitalism" as the good side when capitalism is the complete opposite of democracy. You don't vote on how profit is split, or how the workplace hierarchy is structured, the only voting in capitalism is with your dollar, and since capitalism tends towards monopolies and monopsonies, choosing where to spend your money is becoming moot.

[@chemquests]

Agreed with your point that they work in opposite ways but I see them as 2 sides of the same coin. Generating wealth is the only way to ensure continued freedom. Being broke removes the range of choices you might otherwise prefer.

[@HeatherRogersMagic]

Thank you thank you Sam, family and Waking Up team. ❤

[@789juggernaut]

Sam takes impossibly complex problems and distills them down into simple truths that everyone should understand. Unfortunately, we're all too angry and convinced that we're right to listen to him.

[@SaviorMoney-777]

If you think Sam is telling the whole truth, you have A LOT to learn.

[@789juggernaut]

@@SaviorMoney-777 Yes please teach us all the truth.

[@SaviorMoney-777]

@@789juggernaut Okay - in a nutshell, the owners don't need so many slaves anymore. Do the math.

[@georgemartin1383]

@@789juggernaut Sam is pro lying for better outcomes. He has said so himself. After all, he cannot be moral, because evil and good do not exist and he is a utilitarian/hedonist.

[@VCE4]

Inequality is plain simple, far from impossibly complex problems. We just keep failing on the first steps, which is acknowledging that there is a problem, and what are causes and consequences of it.

[@user-ep9bs1ke6r]

Can always count on Sam to use a whole lot of words to say absolutely nothing but platitudes.

[@parttimehuman]

For real, he's like the Dalai lama for bros.

[@user-ep9bs1ke6r]

@@parttimehumanHa. I’m wholly convinced they’re both just controlled opposition. Globalist-selected pseudo-intellectiuals and spiritual guides for the “unwashed” masses.

[@user-ep9bs1ke6r]

@@parttimehuman​​⁠Ha. I’m wholly convinced they’re both just controlled opposition. Globalist-selected pseudo-intellectuals and spiritual guides for the “unwashed masses.”

[@user-ep9bs1ke6r]

@@parttimehuman​​⁠Ha. I’m wholly convinced they’re both just controlled opposition. Globalist-selected pseudo-intellectuals and spiritual guides for the naive

[@user-ep9bs1ke6r]

@@parttimehuman KZbin won’t even let me reply to your comment. Their masters are angry ​​⁠​​⁠Ha. I’m wholly convinced they’re both just contro***d opposition. Glob*list-selected pseudo-intel***tuals and spiritual guides for the “unw**hed masses.”

[@interminablyperplexed4903]

A few things I'm certain about: 1. Everyone has an opinion. 2. Death 3. Clean water is vital 4. The weather will turn on me if I plan to play hooky and enjoy anything outdoors.

[@pianistaJBP]

Well said and articulated!

[@SixStringHarmonies]

Capitalism is a failure if the gains, which fundamentally require the work of others to generate, are not equitably distributed. Stagnant wages coupled with inflation and record profits does not compute. Even worse when this paradigm exists in a system where excess, stock buybacks for example, are out of control. Almost $1T in stock buybacks in 2024. That is money NOT being paid to workers. Instead it is artificially inflating virtually the entire securities "markets" across all sectors. That's $1T that is NOT travelling through the economy at large. Not being spent on groceries, gas, tech, and a million other products. Instead, more and more each year, as a percentage of GDP is being funneled upwards and being hoarded. Then there's the monopolies, monopsonies, and various oligopolies currently in existence using money (which is somehow equated as speech through pretzel logic) to manipulate governments to make the inequality even worse.

[@SorryWereOutOfNames]

Yes, Sam is a great problem of our time.

[@patmoran5339]

He will soon reach obsolescence just like the rest of the tribalist Evolutionary Psychologists. Behaviourism will soon be in the philosophical wastebasket of bad ideas. CUE theory will save Psychology.

[@br3nto]

2:40 that’s such an American way of thinking… “we either have voice or violence”. There’s actually a lot more option of you get rid of trying to partition everything into one of two buckets. I hope this talk gets better from here.

[@br3nto]

Even just this idea that there is one truth… and those that don’t see it are wrong… is just crazy. There are multiple aspects to everything. Multiple ways of doing things. Multiple goals, some in full alignment, some completely unaligned, some unrelated, and every mix of those things.

[@jace-j5d]

Can you give examples of the other buckets? I think he makes a solid stance- you can either create a society based on voicing opinions through dialogue or forcing opinions through physical force. I can't think of anything else.

[@john-bloss]

Then you and Sam Harris agree.

[@br3nto]

@@jace-j5d Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing (FSNP) strategies for starters.

[@jace-j5d]

@@br3nto I'm genuinely asking you to explain this. I've never heard of these terms. (EDIT: I looked it up. This is just a model of group development stages for healthy progress. It is synonymous with the basic tenants of voice.)

[@mariolongtin8271]

He's the only other person I've herd say that everything comes down to the mind, I also came to the same conclusion with my psychology and neurobiology research - amongst various topics and experiences

[@Maartenkruger324]

It's snobs that are the problem. People who think they are better than others. To tell them how they're supposed to live.

[@karlthomas2609]

I used to really respect him for his seemingly clear and articulate thought process but he seems to have some giant blind spots he refuses to acknowledge and watching him lie in defense of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians is just disgusting

[@baadeeesh]

"I think we need a truly open-ended conversation with 8 billion strangers." - "but I will only accept anything that I consider rational" - Sam Harris

[@terrorists-are-among-us]

He's just as unhinged as anyone having tantrums about Trump.

[@kariahava764]

People who hasn't experienced real life threatening adversity, can't correctly comprehend what it means. No matter how empathetic you are. Different set of problems create different kinds of understanding. But what can you do about truly evil people, those who don't give a shit about strangers or much about anything except for themselves, or just a small group of people?

[@Joker22593]

Yes, Sam Harris IS the great problem of our time. It's a shame he worships critical thinking instead of practicing it.

[@MissJen-78]

Your voice is soothing. When I hear it, Christopher Hitchens I hear as well.

[@typebflieger]

Great video. It has a unique style in terms of cinematography and editing. You should list the crew in the credits so they can use this to promote themselves (assuming they’re freelancers).

[@CP-nl2zb]

Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@GianlucaAiello]

so good - thank you

[@angelic8632002]

Remember folks. Cririzise ideas, not the person. An argument stands on its own merit. Regardless of its source. Everything else is a distraction.

[@CP-nl2zb]

Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@dawn62]

Thank you

[@NikiWonoto26]

thank you youtube algorithm, perfect & right timing for my existential crisis/depression - from Indonesia -

[@diemcarl5546]

💯🙌

[@tamikuzmovich2566]

Thank you. My thoughts exactly. Now how do we do it for us and others

[@aborne]

This is one of the most important videos and messages I have seen and listened to in a long time.

[@amyrosenold-music-healing-yoga]

Thank you for this clear and insightful talk. The challenge is, as stated, when people identify with their thoughts as non-negotiable. The question is, what is a thinking person who cares about the trajectory of human civilization to do??

[@-AkhilTej-]

🎯💎🏆 Great insightful & fruitful video 🏆💎🎯 लोकः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ( May all beings lead prosperous life across Globe 🌍 )

[@mabi9731]

Thanky you

[@leta8796]

Even if there is sufficient knowledge, we won't be able to change our minds unless we doubt what we already "know". Otherwise, as adults, we will always project our past knowledge to dismiss or not fully accept new knowledge. This is how we are wired. Staying curious especially when the new info contradicts ours is so difficult that even You, Sam Harris won't be able to accept that Islam is NOT how you portrayed it. So Obvious if you just don't use your prior mental models build upon very shallow information,

[@dimbulb23]

Too many people are certain that down deep everything is simple and everyone else is just trying to confuse them. Based on that, they assume they have nothing to learn. So, they don't.

[@et1bas751]

Good point about beliefs - but knowing vrs not knowing is what interests me - knowledge is within us but we seem to not know how to reach knowledge - my personal goal is to awake & be A Man of Knowledge.

[@MADDcartman]

This comment section is a refreshing change of pace. Great to see ppl thinking and exchanging ideas instead of being toxic.

[@Staoicism]

This idea of a 'crisis of meaning' really hits home. It’s fascinating-and a bit unsettling-how much of our struggles seem tied to the stories we tell ourselves and the beliefs we hold onto. It makes me wonder: how do we actually create space for honest conversations in a world so divided? It feels like a tough challenge, but maybe it starts with small steps in our own daily interactions.

[@josiahamaze]

We are blessed to be alive. Cant we all just get along.

[@tucksimpson8769]

The great problem of our time is lack of peace. People at peace don’t start wars. Anger , resentment, vengeance are all a lack of peace.

[@johnsmith2221]

To me the main problem is that people want affirmation, not information. That’s a big problem to overcome.

[@360.Tapestry]

why?

[@johnsmith2221]

@ because then you’re not seeking the correct answer, you’re seeking the answer that you want.

[@360.Tapestry]

@@johnsmith2221 what is the correct answer?

[@InnerMindCommunication]

This is a great video, thank you.

[@snawsomes]

And yet our schools are still trying to teach us like we are still in the 80's.

[@ΓιάννηςΧατζηγεωργίου-θ9σ]

The greatest problem of our time (or any time) is that ''common sense'' has almost 8 billions different definitions....and this is how the famous ''Do you know who i am'' was born.

[@mikekrall3611]

I was agnostic most of my adult life, then in my late 30s I started attending a Christian church (I was mostly motivated by wishful thinking at the time). Nothing really happened in my life for about 6 years of regular church attendance and prayer. Then, in my early 40s I started reading the Bible for the 1st time, and it completely changed my life for the better. I can only speak for myself and my own life experience. I'm a believer and I'm grateful. Looking back, I would never have believed in God in my 20s and 30s without the personal experience. I can empathize with many agnostics/atheists (including many of my closest friends & family).