The Righteous Mind

[FinnishJon]

Thanks to Leo for pointing to the book, The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt.  I am a fan of Sam Harris who most people think of as one of the 4 horsemen, but who also has a lot of books on other topics such as meditation, freewill, and morality.  I wonder if anybody has read Sam Harris's book on morality and compared it with Jonathan Haidt... I think Sam Harris is a rationalist, based on my early reading of The Righteous Mind... and yet I have not yet read The Moral Landscape.  I would be curious to hear from anybody who has read both of those books... and whether they think Sam Harris's book is worth reading?

[Leo Gura]

I wanted to read another book of Sam's after Waking Up, but his other books are not really books. They are more like essays. Nothing wrong with that I guess, but I didn't feel like reading them. I could be wrong. If someone here knows better, then please correct me.

[Robert]

I haven't read The Righteous Mind yet, but I have read The Moral Landscape. The Moral Landscape is definitely worth reading. Although Sam Harris has other books about free will and meditation and stuff like that, in The Moral Landscape he still mentions how some of those things relate to moral values. IIRC there was a whole chapter dedicated to free will.

Edited February 7, 2016 by Robert

[FinnishJon]

Thanks Robert, that's exactly what I was wondering!

[Kelley White]

 

On 2/7/2016 at 4:08 AM, 8LanguageStud said:

Thanks to Leo for pointing to the book, The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt.  I am a fan of Sam Harris who most people think of as one of the 4 horsemen, but who also has a lot of books on other topics such as meditation, freewill, and morality.  I wonder if anybody has read Sam Harris's book on morality and compared it with Jonathan Haidt... I think Sam Harris is a rationalist, based on my early reading of The Righteous Mind... and yet I have not yet read The Moral Landscape.  I would be curious to hear from anybody who has read both of those books... and whether they think Sam Harris's book is worth reading?

 @8LanguageStud  Both sound like good books.   I like Sam Harris, although sometimes he can be a bit inflammatory.  I listen to many of his YouTube debates and lectures.   I want to look at Haidt more now that you pointed him out the other day.   Maybe I have two more books to get.   Are you familiar with David Pearce and the Hedonist Imperative?  I am going to be reading that after I finish my current book. 

[FinnishJon]

On 2/12/2016 at 10:33 PM, Kelley White said:

 

 @Kelley White  Maybe I have two more books to get.   Are you familiar with David Pearce and the Hedonist Imperative?  I am going to be reading that after I finish my current book. 

What is your current book?  No, I haven't read the Hedonist Imperative.  Is it something to do with the psychology of people who are unable to control their hedonistic desires?

[Kelley White]

Good Morning @8LanguageStud.  

"Pearce is primarily known as the author of The Hedonistic Imperative, a 1995 book-length manifesto in which he theorises how to "eradicate suffering in all sentient life" through paradise engineering.[11] In Pearce's view, suffering is not necessary for humans and only exists because humanity evolved through methods that emphasized survival, rather than happiness.[12] He writes that mental suffering will someday be seen as a relic of the past, just as physical suffering during surgery was effectively eliminated with the advent of anaesthesia.[13]

In his work, Pearce outlines how drugs and technologies, including genetic engineering and nanotechnology, could enable the end of suffering in all sentient life.[14] In the short term, Pearce argues, well-being can be helped by designer drugs, especially since safer mood-brighteners are becoming more readily available.[15] In the long-term, however, suffering could be abolished by genetic engineering through biotechnology.[9]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pearce_%28philosopher%29

I like Wikki since it will give you some background in a more precise succinct way than I will. LOL 

I follow technology and mental health.  Pearce is a Transhumanist and believes we can use technology to evolve our biology so we are less susceptible to emotional suffering.   He balances cognitive reconditioning with technological remedy for an optimal outcome of prevention and eradication.

Current book?  I want to be respectful and its required reading from Leo's course, (his reading list is available in the product section,)  so I am not going to share the title I am just going to say it is a very good book.

Thank you for taking an interest.

[FinnishJon]

Thanks.  I've been reading a lot of psychology books and that's the first I heard of Hedonism as a goal for humanity.  Most emotional intelligence books treat happiness as just one side of the differential engine of our mind.  i.e. sometimes you have to  be in a bad mood because it motivates you to do something about it.  Each emotion has it's own purpose in our world.  Without these, I think our minds could be relegated to being like vegetables.  Perhaps I'm wrong... it sounds like an interesting notion.  I will check it out if I get a chance.  I just finished The Righteous Mind and now I am on to a book about ADHD and the social problems that it causes for people who suffer from it.

[Kelley White]

8 hours ago, 8LanguageStud said:

Thanks.  I've been reading a lot of psychology books and that's the first I heard of Hedonism as a goal for humanity.  Most emotional intelligence books treat happiness as just one side of the differential engine of our mind.  i.e. sometimes you have to  be in a bad mood because it motivates you to do something about it.  Each emotion has it's own purpose in our world.  Without these, I think our minds could be relegated to being like vegetables.  Perhaps I'm wrong... it sounds like an interesting notion.  I will check it out if I get a chance.  I just finished The Righteous Mind and now I am on to a book about ADHD and the social problems that it causes for people who suffer from it.

You are welcome @8LanguageStud.  I had always heard of hedonism referred to in a negative context.  I recently had someone redefine it for me and I have been viewing it as more of a positive.  We are essentially beings of sensory experience. 

 

8 hours ago, 8LanguageStud said:

i.e. sometimes you have to  be in a bad mood because it motivates you to do something about it.  Each emotion has it's own purpose in our world.  Without these, I think our minds could be relegated to being like vegetables.  Perhaps I'm wrong... it sounds like an interesting notion.

After much thought, I cannot find anyway to eradicate the paradox, much like Stephen Hawking states, there is no creation without imperfection.   The Buddhists say that evil has its own path.  By observation thus far I have to agree with your observation; each emotion has its own purpose. 

ADHD and social problems? That sounds like an interesting book.   I am very interesting in the proliferation of data and its impact on social stress.   I'll be interested to hear what you think of the book or what you learn.    I just ordered so many books on the reading list I will be reading for weeks once they all arrive. LOL  So please, do share as you are reading.  I hope you have a great day.

[FinnishJon]

16 hours ago, Kelley White said:

ADHD and social problems? That sounds like an interesting book.   I am very interesting in the proliferation of data and its impact on social stress.   I'll be interested to hear what you think of the book or what you learn.    I just ordered so many books on the reading list I will be reading for weeks once they all arrive. LOL  So please, do share as you are reading.  I hope you have a great day.

Yes, I suspect that I may have ADD, i.e. the non-hyperactive form of ADHD and it needs self-development work to get over it or at least, to live with it.  

I'm glad I met you on this forum, Kelley!  You are a sweet person and I can tell that you have a curious and open mind.  If you ever come to Finland, look me up :-) 

[Kelley White]

@8LanguageStud, thank you.  That is very kind of you.  I got a copy of Haidt's book last night, I'm about 70 pages in.    I'm finding it very interesting.  Thank you for suggesting it.

It's nice to have met you as well.  Finland? I have learned to never say never. I must confess, Ireland is definitely on the wishlist.   I hope you have a great day.