Sam Harris and the Lemming Dilemma

Are you there, God? It’s Sam Harris and Jonah. At long last, the neuroscientist-philosopher and father of the new atheism movement has come to The Remnant for a Horatian salon that is poised to discuss the really big questions—questions so big we had to double the length of the episode. Jonah and Sam debate dogma, epistemological free-for-alls, the emancipation of C-3PO, and truth as its own defense. Questions abound: Would society be free from all ill if every man and institution was fully secularized? When do we defer to the experts? How do we grapple with the cognitive dissonance of human nature and our modern ethical sensibilities?But the party doesn’t end there. In the second hour of their conversation, Jonah and Sam dig into the root causes of the rise of antisemitism in elite institutions, ranging from cultural addiction to transgression to the feelings economy. They cover the rise and future of artificial intelligence, speak to the camaraderie that comes with being a classical liberal, and discuss what has been gnawing at the back of everyone’s brain: What happens after Trump? Fair warning, if you make it to the end, you may have some newfound fears about an impending dogpocalypse. Show Notes: —Sam’s podcast: “Making Sense” —Sam’s Substack —Yuval Harari: Nexus — Chestertonian ideas The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including Jonah’s G-File newsletter, weekly livestreams, and other members-only content—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices