Sam Harris

[Hastur]

I don't listen to him much after 2016. His TDS causes too much cringe. Can't take him seriously when he shows how much his feelings are affecting his reasoning. I was also disappointed in his performance in the debates with Jordan Peterson. He feels shallow, unimaginative and rigid whenever he doesn't control the topics.

I did listen to his episode with Ricky Gervais. It was pretty good. A bit fanboyish.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/wakingup/Maki ... -id=480596

[DrYouth]

He's an intelligent guy and he talks about some controversial ideas, so I can see why he's popular. But he has some really stupid ideas too. He basically gives advice to society while telling everyone that they have no free will. This is the basis for his ideas on policy. With regard to our everyday lives, he recommends that we should just act as if we are free to make decisions. If you point out the flaw in his using of the word 'should', he acts like you're just being absurd by over analyzing the minor details of his fundamental argument.

The free will debate is interesting.

I'm a believer in an attenuated model of free will.

[Speaker to Animals]

Determinism is obviously false. To deny that is to reject the scientific method at this point. So the truth is somewhere between compatibilsm and pure free will. For my part, I just stick with what I know for certain: the entire universe, including atomic primates, is nondeterministic.

Sam Harris, imo, is not really very smart. Most people like him are acting. They possess average to above average intelligence, but their true strengths are in verbal acuity and possibly charisma. The only difference between him and most of you is that he is a better sophist and uses it for self-gain. He certainly is not smarter than most of you.

People who make money as "intellectuals" are usually frauds. The difference is made when they are doers. If you want to learn to become a tech entrepreneur, study Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. If you want to be a profitable writer, read what King has to say.

I don't necessarily take the Taleb route and discount all intellectual pursuit outside of doing things and taking risks, but I don't think there is anything special about an actor either. Lots of people have good ideas, but you have to draw out those ideas. Sam Harris is just a good salesman about it.

[DrYouth]

I've found him interesting and occasionally educational...

I'm gonna keep listening for a while.

Also listened to Eric Weinstein's new podcast.... The Portal.

I like him less.

He fancies himself some sort of Math Wizard...
But he's also interesting enough to listen to a few more times before I make a final judgment.

[doc_loliday]

Not a fan of Weinstein. He's pretty lame.

Try The Classicst by Victor Davis Hanson.

[pineapplemike]

I like listening to Sam Harris but I agree with many of the criticisms listed in this thread. His TDS really is hilarious at times, and his freewill argument is tedious all the time, but he still offers some credible opinions on free speech and Islamic terrorism and such, even if I fell more on the Dan Carlin side of the argument when the two of them had their debate on the ME and other issues many years ago.

And I like Eric Weinstein's appearances on Rubin and Rogan but I haven't listened much to his podcast yet. I heard the first episode was dense as fuck and I haven't had the interest to dive in. I just finished part 4 (?) of the God's Socialist Martyrmade podcast, I've been enjoying that series a lot. Next I need to check out this Mike Duncan series I keep seeing posted around these parts

Also yes Sam Harris is surprisingly funny when he hosts live events