BAAE - ONLINE Book Discussion Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind

Braver Angels

A Braver Angels Abroad Europe book discussion on Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind

Braver Angels Abroad - Europe (BAAE)We have created BAAE because we feel there is a need to offer workshops and other Braver Angels programming at a time that is more convenient to those Americans living abroad in Europe, with the goal to eventually set up meetings in person all over the continent.About Book Discussion :Note: This event is to be attended online.J﻿oin us for a lively 1 hour online book discussion on Jonathan Haidt 's The Righteous Mind!S﻿ynopsis of book: <a href="https://braverangels.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Righteous-Mind-Synopsis.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://braverangels.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Righteous-Mind-Synopsis.pdf</a>Optional resources for pre-discussion reading and reflection:KnowledgeAtWharton video interview of Jonathan Haidt on “Why Liberals and Conservatives Can’t Get Along”: <a href="https://youtu.be/qN42ZLwNFBY" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/qN42ZLwNFBY</a>TED conversation with Jonathan Haidt, “Can a divided America heal?”: <a href="https://youtu.be/D-_Az5nZBBM" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/D-_Az5nZBBM</a>Understand your own moral foundations with this short quiz: <a href="https://www.yourmorals.org" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.yourmorals.org</a><a href="https://moralfoundations.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://moralfoundations.org/</a>Discussion questions1. Haidt identifies differences in “moral foundations” as a primary driver of political polarization. Can you recall a specific experience of being in conversation with someone where you sensed you had significantly different moral value systems? How did those differences influence your ability to understand one another and have a productive conversation?2. Most people are attracted to joining teams, clubs, and other group associations. Haidt calls the natural human tendency to promote our own group’s interests in competition with other groups “groupishness.” Discussions about political polarization tend to focus on the negative aspects of groupishness or political tribalism. Can you think of ways groupishness can be a positive force for democracy and anti-polarization?3. Haidt compares role of reason in human decision-making and behavior to that of a rider on the back of an elephant, which embodies our feelings, intuition and pre-rational assumptions. In this metaphor, the elephant has more power than the rider, though the rider believes he or she is in charge. What do you think of this metaphor? What are the implications for our ability to connect across difference?The Better Angels Pledge• As individuals, we try to understand the other side’s point of view, even if we don’t agree with it.• In our communities, we engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and ways to work together.• In politics, we support principles that bring us together rather than divide us.Other Possible Discussion Questions1. Discuss the elephant and rider metaphor and Haidt’s assertion that Republicans speak more directly to the elephant while Democrats speak more directly to the rider.2. Respond to Haidt’s claim that conservatives have a broader moral foundation and therefore, more ways for politicians to connect with them.3. How plausible is gene‐culture coevolution and multi‐level selection?4. Evaluate the need for both a party of stability and order and a party of progress and reform. Is this the political analog of natural selection, which balances the rates of gene replication and mutation to maintain species viability?5. Haidt says erasing boundaries that divide us is a vision of heaven for liberals, but conservatives believe it would quickly descend into hell. Discuss the paradox of the vital role of groups, which necessitates exclusion of outsiders.6. Can close‐knit groups bridge across boundaries? Under what conditions might such groups serve as laboratories in which to perfect social interaction so it will carry over into the outside world?Questions? C﻿ontactL﻿aura: lpascal@braverangels.comS﻿abrina: sgarland@braverangels.com

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BAAE - ONLINE Book Discussion Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind

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