Does Andrew Tate Give Good Advice? - Sam Harris
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the influence of controversial figures like Andrew Tate and Donald Trump on society, particularly young men. It touches on the importance of seeking wisdom from various sources, even if they are flawed, and the need for a more compassionate and less self-absorbed role model. The conversation also critiques the abandonment of direct conversation with young men by figures like Jordan Peterson, leading to a vacuum filled by less ideal voices. The discussion emphasizes the importance of discerning between fluency and truthfulness in messaging and the role of storytelling in shaping societal values and personal beliefs.
Takeaways
- 💡 The speaker believes there is a thirst for wisdom, even from controversial sources like Andrew Tate, despite concerns about the toxicity or divisiveness of the messages.
- 📈 The speaker acknowledges why young men are drawn to figures like Andrew Tate but expresses concern that Tate is not an ideal role model for the current generation.
- 🤔 There's a need for a more compassionate and less self-infatuated standard for manliness and success, in contrast to figures like Andrew Tate and Trump.
- 🌍 The speaker comments on how people are seeking answers in a world that doesn't align with their evolved psychology, leading them to figures who offer fluency in their messages, even if they aren't necessarily truthful or insightful.
- 🚫 The speaker criticizes figures like Trump and Tate, who flaunt selfishness and shamelessness as strengths, which resonate with a particular audience.
- 🧠 The speaker distinguishes Jordan Peterson from figures like Trump and Tate, yet disagrees with Peterson’s views on objective truth versus storytelling, noting that Peterson seems to value myth and fiction.
- 📚 The speaker believes that religious texts like the Bible have value but should be viewed as human-made, emphasizing that they are not necessarily the wisest or divinely inspired books.
- 🔄 The speaker draws comparisons between ancient religious texts and modern examples like Mormonism and Scientology, implying that all religious texts were constructed by people, not divinely inspired.
- 🎭 The speaker notes that figures like Andrew Tate and Trump represent a certain narrative of success that is unapologetically self-serving, which appeals to those who reject societal ethics or compassion.
- 🛠 The speaker emphasizes the importance of professional help, like therapy, in enhancing one’s mental health and finding deeper insights, promoting a mental health service at the end.
Q & A
What is the speaker's view on Andrew Tate?
-The speaker acknowledges that Andrew Tate has issues and is 'radioactive,' but recognizes why young men are drawn to his content. However, the speaker believes Tate's version of success and manliness is problematic and not ideal for young men.
How does the speaker describe the influence of fluency on public perception?
-The speaker suggests that fluency in speech can be mistaken for truthfulness or insight. People are more likely to believe someone who speaks fluently, even if the content is not necessarily accurate or insightful.
Why does the speaker compare Trump’s appeal to his audience?
-The speaker compares Trump's appeal to a kind of shamelessness about his selfishness. Trump conveys that he won't judge others because he doesn’t judge himself, which resonates with a certain audience who value his unapologetic attitude.
What critique does the speaker offer about Andrew Tate’s message?
-The speaker criticizes Tate's message, stating that Tate's focus on material success (e.g., owning a Bugatti) and a selfish, unapologetic lifestyle lacks ethical wisdom. Tate's philosophy is seen as shallow and not something to aspire to.
What is the speaker’s take on Jordan Peterson’s recent focus?
-The speaker notes that Jordan Peterson has shifted his focus away from young men to broader issues like climate change and the trans debate. This shift has left a vacuum for young men, who seek guidance elsewhere.
How does the speaker distinguish between storytelling and truth?
-The speaker argues that while storytelling and myth have symbolic or figurative truths, there is a need to separate these from objective empirical truths. They view storytelling as potentially useful but caution against conflating it with actual truth.
What does the speaker say about the Bible’s wisdom?
-The speaker acknowledges that the Bible contains pearls of wisdom but asserts that it was clearly written by human beings. They argue that the Bible is not the wisest book we have and that much of its authority comes from outdated claims about divine origin.
How does the speaker view the process of creating religious texts?
-The speaker describes the creation of religious texts, such as the Bible, as an all-too-human process, likening it to more modern examples like Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon or even Scientology, where followers are sold on an unproven narrative.
What comparison does the speaker make between different religious traditions?
-The speaker compares traditional religious claims, such as those in Christianity and Islam, to more recent movements like Scientology. They highlight how the process of writing sacred texts, whether ancient or modern, often involves unverifiable claims.
What is the speaker’s position on the search for wisdom in modern society?
-The speaker believes there is a thirst for wisdom in modern society, but people often turn to flawed figures for guidance. This includes individuals like Andrew Tate, who offer solutions but are ethically deficient, and figures like Jordan Peterson, who have moved away from addressing certain demographics.
Outlines
🤔 The Influence of Controversial Figures on Youth
The speaker discusses Andrew Tate, a figure who has gained a following among young men, despite being controversial and accused of toxic behavior. The speaker acknowledges the appeal of Tate's content but criticizes the lack of a compassionate and less self-absorbed role model for the younger generation. The speaker also touches on the idea that fluency can be mistaken for truthfulness and insight, leading people to follow figures who may not have their best interests at heart. The conversation also includes a critique of the current state of role models and the need for a more ethical and wise influence.
📚 The Debate on Objective Truth and Storytelling
This paragraph delves into a discussion about the role of storytelling and myth in shaping our understanding of truth and values. The speaker contrasts their views with those of Jordan Peterson, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between wishful thinking, delusion, and core truths. The conversation also includes a critique of religious texts, particularly the Old Testament, questioning their divine origin and the moral lessons that can be drawn from them. The speaker advocates for a more critical approach to such texts, suggesting that their human origins should be acknowledged and that objective truth should not be conflated with religious narratives.
💬 Sponsorship and Mental Health Awareness
The speaker transitions to a sponsored segment, promoting BetterHelp, an online therapy service. They discuss the benefits of seeking professional help for mental health issues and the convenience of accessing therapy through the BetterHelp platform. The speaker encourages listeners to take advantage of the service, highlighting the importance of mental well-being and the potential for personal growth through therapy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Radioactive
💡Wisdom
💡Compassion
💡Shamelessness
💡Objective Empirical Truth
💡Narrative
💡Vacuum
💡Fluency
💡Integrity
💡Myth
Highlights
Andrew is described as radioactive, indicating strong controversy or negative perception.
There's a societal thirst for wisdom, which can come from various, potentially contaminated, sources.
Young men are drawn to Andrew's content, viewing him as a life guru, despite his issues.
The need for a more compassionate and less self-infatuated standard for manliness and success is emphasized.
Jordan Peterson's influence and his shift in focus from young men to broader issues like climate change are discussed.
The vacuum left by Jordan Peterson's shift has implications for the guidance young men seek.
People will look for answers and insights, even if they come from controversial figures.
Fluency can be mistaken for truthfulness, leading to the acceptance of ideas regardless of their source.
The concept of 'assholery' being declared more concisely by fluent speakers is critiqued.
Trump's shamelessness and its impact on his audience as a form of superpower is analyzed.
The importance of distinguishing between wishful thinking, delusion, and core truths is highlighted.
Jordan Peterson's view on the status of objective truth versus storytelling is discussed.
The debate between Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins on the Old Testament God is mentioned.
The Bible is not considered the wisest book, despite containing some wisdom.
The human composition of religious texts is emphasized, challenging their divine origin claims.
The process of scripture compilation is described as too human, undermining religious authority.
The value of wisdom in world literature is recognized, independent of religious texts' veracity.
BetterHelp is advertised as a therapy service, emphasizing convenience and professional support.
Transcripts
Andrew takes a perfect example of
somebody who he's radioactive for
obvious reasons I haven't met him I
haven't done an especially Deep dive on
what he's guilty of or you know I mean
he's obviously he's
he's got issues but um
I just feel like we're at a moment now
where
there is such a a thirst for wisdom
that you know it's okay it can come from
so many different places and those
places can be more or less contaminated
with Concepts that are more or less
toxic more or less divisive more or less
confusing and
yeah I mean I've what you know
I've watched enough of his stuff to see
why young men are getting addicted to
his content and thinking that he's their
their life Guru and I've also watched
enough to think that it's not
um
it's not ideal that he's the voice of a
generation right like we need a a um
a more compassionate less
self-infatuated
standard for manliness and and success
than whether he's he's putting out if I
was to I've got Jordan uh coming on the
show again at some point later this year
and it's something that I think I'll
speak to him about that he's on to big
things with this Arc which is kind of
his competitor I think to the wef that
he's doing later this year yeah I
haven't I haven't followed that yeah no
um but I do think that Jordan's relative
abandonment of the conversation directly
to young men uh to move on to other
things whether it be climate change or
the trans issue or pick your poison
about whatever he's got interested in
recently uh I think that that has left a
vacuum and you can't expect young you
can't expect anybody to go through life
without insights coming from somewhere
and whether that Insight is for young
men or young women or old men or old
women whether it's Andrew Tate or you
know Whoopi Goldberg or whoever happens
to have the hot take of the week and and
trend insufficiently highly on Twitter
uh
people are going to look for someone
they're going to look for answers and in
a world where we are
chronically mismatched our evolved
psychology and the world that we find
ourselves in has never really been
further apart
people are going to find answers and and
sometimes
fluency is a really brilliant proxy for
truthfulness or insight and if you can
say things with a sufficiently
uh well-rounded compelling delivery
regardless of who you are yeah whether
it be Whoopi Goldberg or anybody else
people will say that sounds that sounds
true it sounds fluent not sure if it's
true yeah except the thing that
surprises me is that
it should be more obvious than it is to
more people
that someone's an [ __ ] right it's
like that like it doesn't matter how
fluent you are you're you're only just
declaring your assholery in in more
concise form right
um and
so it's kind of a trumpian moment like
Trump is obviously an [ __ ] he's
obviously a selfish person but nobody
none of his fans care right he's like
he's not a compassionate person he's he
can't even pretend to care about people
really right he's but his
his shamelessness around his selfishness
has become a kind of superpower for a
certain audience because he's he's
conveying the message
I will never I will never judge you
because I'm incapable of judging myself
right like I'm not I I'm not holding
myself to any kind of standard apart
from the gratification of my own desires
so you know I'm I'm in some sense I have
a real Integrity because I know I'm
selfish all those people who are
pretending not to be selfish or
pretending to be ethical and
compassionate to care about you know the
sub-Saharan Africa and the you know the
education and developing countries I
mean someone like Bill Gates right you
know Bill Gates is somebody who can't
get laid and he's just going to
microchip you with the next vaccine
right like that that's this is going to
be a great uh quote to export from this
podcast
um
uh you're welcome Twitter
um
that's so that's the that's the center
of narrative and ethical gravity for
these guys right I don't include Jordan
there but like Andrew Tate Trump there's
like a I've got a [ __ ] Bugatti and
you know you want one and I've got no
apologies right I've got no [ __ ] to
give uh I know you want to be like me
you know and if you don't if you're not
good enough to be like me I'll sleep
with your girlfriend right like that's
that's the that's not an ethically wise
person on any [ __ ] level even if he
can even if he can string together a few
sentences that seem actionable and
useful to get you to clean your room and
get in shape and and meet a girl right
um we should be asking more of our
elders than that right and and so and so
where I part ways with Jordan again I do
not put Jordan
um in the same category but he is
he has a very different view of the
the kind of the status of objective
empirical truth in relation to the
stories we tell about
uh ourselves and our place in the world
and
um
what makes life worth living what what
allow what will allow for a society to
really cohere around shared values and
he thinks that there's a a layer of
storytelling and you know what I would
what I would call myth and fiction
really in a way that is
kind of somewhat derogatory right it's
not to say that I'm I don't see the
power in it but it's just what I want to
do is be able to distinguish between
the
layer of wishful thinking and a layer of
delusion and a layer of uh ancient
confusion that is still has good
standing among millions of people and
probably some symbolic truth or
figurative truth in there too and and a
kind of harmless harmless uses of the
imagination that it could be a nobling
and fun and empowering right
um and kind of core truths that don't
require a story to be a nobling did you
see that Jordan got into it with Richard
Dawkins on well you wouldn't have done
you're you're off Twitter so I will no
I'll uh be the Weathervane to update you
on whatever's happening in Twitter's
conditions at the moment uh
Richard's a clip of Richard one
semi-viral of him criticizing the Old
Testament God right and then I think
Jordan basically called him out Anytime
Anyplace anywhere it wasn't far off that
I think that the actual tweet was about
saying that it was a I think damaging
science and and and doing a disservice
to
maybe Dawkins himself and and some other
stuff yeah well so I mean that's
I mean I agree with Richard yeah with
respect to the
what I think of the the Old Testament
God and the the moral instruction we can
or can't take from him I mean I just
think that's I just don't think that the
the Bible is the wisest book we have
even though there are there are Pearls
of real wisdom there which I I
understand that people love
um
it's a book it was clearly written by
human beings right so like the
fundamental the the breach point is not
he is is Upstream of many of the things
people might want to debate there's just
this basic claim we've got millions upon
millions of books
were they all written by people or not
right and the moment you admit that they
were all written by people okay we're
having a very different conversation
about the status of religion certainly
the religion of any of the religions of
Abraham right I mean these are these are
claimed at bottom Judaism Christianity
and Islam are claims about the divine
origin of of a specific book or certain
texts
um and some of these texts were
canonical for centuries and then got
thrown out you know within within
Christianity and then some got added
later
um so the the process of cobbling
together these these scriptures was all
too human we know way too much about it
if you if we knew more about it it would
look much more like Joseph Smith in the
Book of Mormon and the and it would look
like a you know the South Park episode
that Mormonism in fact looks like right
and you drag it further into the present
and it looks like Scientology right and
then you're like you're just staring at
L Ron Hubbard's driver's license and it
says okay this goofy guy with bad teeth
sold all these people honest on a story
about the stars that was just obviously
[ __ ] and should have it should have
been obvious to them now again that's
not to say that there isn't real wisdom
in in all of these streams of
information even
Scientology but
you just
the basic claim and I think Richard
would agree with this is that you don't
have to believe anything on insufficient
evidence to extract
all the wisdom that is to be found in
the world's literature and in the
conversations conversations with people
in the present and conversations with
the dead by reading their their books in
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