5 minute summaries

1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode

__________

Podcast cover

#248 — Order & Freedom

Making Sense with Sam Harris

30 Apr 2021

38mins

Owltail Summaries

1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode

_________

#248 — Order & Freedom

30 Apr 2021

38mins

Quote

"So much of who we are comes from the culture around us. If we don't know much about culture, then we're unlikely to know much about ourselves."

Ideas

1

A lot of the time, people are horrified when they look at the practices of people with different cultures.
What they don't realise is that within every strength, also lies a weakness.

On average, cultures that are tight tend to have less crime and react better to situations like COVID because of more synchrony & uniformity, but they're worse off on factors like openness & creativity.

Certain traits of cultures are great in some contexts, but not everything works everywhere.

1

A lot of the time, people are horrified when they look at the practices of people with different cultures.
What they don't realise is that within every strength, also lies a weakness.

On average, cultures that are tight tend to have less crime and react better to situations like COVID because of more synchrony & uniformity, but they're worse off on factors like openness & creativity.

Certain traits of cultures are great in some contexts, but not everything works everywhere.

2

Part of the military system is demanding an over-the-top attention to detail, as it ultimately helps people pay attention to detail when it actually matters.
It doesn't matter whether someone's hair is cut in an exact way, or whether their shoes are shined, except for the ability to follow the orders, which ensures the mindset and habits for situations that actually count.

2

Part of the military system is demanding an over-the-top attention to detail, as it ultimately helps people pay attention to detail when it actually matters.
It doesn't matter whether someone's hair is cut in an exact way, or whether their shoes are shined, except for the ability to follow the orders, which ensures the mindset and habits for situations that actually count.

3

In both your personal life, as well as situations with others, you should discuss which areas you want to be strict in, and which areas you want to be relaxed in.
We often forget to differentiate and act differently in certain parts of our lives, because we're so used to being a certain person in places like work.

Realize that we have multiple different selves depending on the situation.

3

In both your personal life, as well as situations with others, you should discuss which areas you want to be strict in, and which areas you want to be relaxed in.
We often forget to differentiate and act differently in certain parts of our lives, because we're so used to being a certain person in places like work.

Realize that we have multiple different selves depending on the situation.

Questions

1

Can you think of a strength of yours that is also a weakness?

1

Can you think of a strength of yours that is also a weakness?

What else is in the episode

1

The difference between tight and loose cultures

1

The difference between tight and loose cultures

2

The tradeoff between order & freedom

2

The tradeoff between order & freedom

3

How tight and loose cultures played out during COVID-19

3

How tight and loose cultures played out during COVID-19

Who is Michele Gelfand?

1

who is a cultural psychologist & author whose research focuses on tight and loose cultures, culture in negotiation and conflict and the psychology of revenge and forgiveness.

1

who is a cultural psychologist & author whose research focuses on tight and loose cultures, culture in negotiation and conflict and the psychology of revenge and forgiveness.

Related episodes

Explore More