Social reality is so complicated that, once you join one team or the other, you become specialized in detecting certain patterns, but you become blind to other patterns.
Jonathan HaidtRead
I got interested in the American culture war back in 2004, and it's one of the only growth stocks I've ever invested in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jonathan Haidt reflects on the American culture war as a significant area of interest and growth, highlighting its importance in societal discussions.
In this quote, Jonathan Haidt expresses his long-term fascination with the American culture war, which he views as a dynamic and impactful phenomenon in society. By describing it as a 'growth stock,' he suggests that this cultural conflict has the potential for substantial development and influence, indicating his belief in its relevance and significance in contemporary discourse.
Themes
CultureSocietyGrowthDiscourseInterest
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on societal trends, I highlighted Haidt's view on the importance of engaging in the culture war to foster understanding.
More from Jonathan Haidt
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Suppose you read about a pill that you could take once a day to reduce anxiety and increase your contentment. Would you take it? Suppose further that the pill has a great variety of side effects, all of them good: increased self-esteem, empathy, and trust; it even improves memory. Suppose, finally, that the pill is all natural and costs nothing. Now would you take it? The pill exists. It is meditation.
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Trying to run Congress without human relationships is like trying to run a car without motor oil. Should we be surprised when the whole thing freezes up?
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If you grow up in a WEIRD society, you become so well educated in the ethic of autonomy that you can detect oppression and inequality even where the apparent victims see nothing wrong.
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When you hear someone criticize a policy on the other side, that's fine. But when you start hearing motive-mongering and demonization, stand up to it just as you would if it were something that was racist or sexist. If we avoid the demonization, disagreements can be positive.
Jonathan HaidtRead
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Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
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But would we know, whether the pretended prophet had really attained a just sentiment of morals? Let us attend to his narration; and we shall soon find, that he bestows praise on such instances of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, bigotry, as are utterly incompatible with civilized society. No steady rule of right seems there to be attended to; and every action is blamed or praised, so far only as it is beneficial or hurtful to the true believers.
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What we make testifies who we are. People can sense care and can sense carelessness. This relates to respect for each other and carelessness is personally offensive.
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