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00:00:00 – 00:09:18
Sam Harris, in his podcast "Making Sense," critiques the pervasive influence of social media on modern culture, particularly highlighting how it amplifies fringe figures and spreads dubious information. He specifically mentions Andrew Tate and Donald Trump as exemplars of individuals who gain underserved influence. Harris delves into the characteristics of people he terms "assholes," defining them as individuals who mistake their vices for virtues and equate shamelessness with integrity. He argues that such people fundamentally misunderstand what it means to live a good life, conflating self-absorption with strength. Trump is portrayed as embodying a rejection of societal norms and moral standards, promoting a cynical form of self-worship. This attitude resonates with his followers, who see his unapologetic nature as permission to disregard traditional decency. Harris concludes by emphasizing the importance of self-reflection to overcome personal flaws rather than embracing them and encourages listeners to support his ad-free podcast for full access to content.
00:00:00
In this segment, Sam Harris introduces the episode of his “Making Sense” podcast and informs listeners that they are only hearing a portion unless they subscribe for full access. He discusses the pervasive influence of social media on culture, stating that it amplifies fringe figures and dubious information. Harris singles out Andrew Tate and Donald Trump as examples of individuals with undeserved influence, criticizing the culture that celebrates their brash and arrogant behavior. He clarifies that being labeled an “asshole” is not just about style but about caring for the wrong things, addressing the misunderstanding that this term reflects personal weakness.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of and its characteristics. An is someone who mistakes their vices for virtues and fundamentally misunderstands what it means to live a good life. The speaker emphasizes that often confuse shamelessness with integrity and self-absorption with strength. While can appear charming, their core issue is a deep-seated selfishness where any expressed love or cause is used primarily to inflate their ego. The speaker argues that everyone experiences moments of pettiness, vanity, and callousness, but living an examined life involves recognizing and overcoming these flaws. The committed and unrepentant wear their lack of wisdom like a badge of honor and, surprisingly, gain admirers for their shamelessness. They propose that instead of overcoming shame by living rightly, one can simply reject the concept of shame altogether, which is a cynical form of self-worship.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the public’s perception of Trump, highlighting how he embodies a “quasi-religious absolution of shame” and a continuous celebration of cynicism. The speaker argues that Trump is beyond being shamed and is not held to any standards of decency or moral seriousness, as he doesn’t set them for himself. This lack of pretense makes his followers not care about any negative revelations about him. Trump’s admirers appreciate his unapologetic nature, which gives them permission to disregard societal norms and moral standards. His attitude propagates messages such as hatred of elites, bigotry, and disdain for norms and institutions, but fundamentally, he communicates that it is more honest and noble to unabashedly be oneself, even if that means embracing negative traits. The segment concludes with an invitation to subscribe to the podcast for full-length episodes and exclusive content.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker mentions the conversations on the Waking Up app and highlights that the Making Sense podcast is ad-free, relying completely on listener support. They encourage viewers to subscribe at samharris.org.