There is something almost mythological about the fall of Sam Harris. I was never a big fan of his and yet there is something so fascinating about his fall. Is it Hubris? Is it obsession? Gad Saad talks about Sam in his latest podcast. Worth a listen
Just think how humiliated the smart Sam Harris would be if he were resurrected, and he'd realized the braindead and souldead one been mindkilled by Donald Trump. I mean, talk about losing to the worst possible competitor. I imagine it's why Hillary is so bitter.
In Gad's podcast, he says Sam treats relationships as instrumental. He says Sam would have conversations about whether a particular guest would be good for "his brand".
I'm sorry you had to experience the loss of admiration and respect and love you had for Sam Harris, but I admire your clear and honest recognition of his fall from grace, so to speak. I listened to Sam Harris for a year or so prior to the revelation of his bizarre hatred of Trump, but when that set in I couldn't listen to him anymore. He was refuting every principle and ethical morality that here-to-fore seemed so honestly held. My assessment, for what it's worth, is Trump is the mirror in which in his deepest heart he sees himself.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: same is the reason why I no longer place any faith in public figures. The sense of betrayal has felt so immense on so many occasions that I've done away with that habit of mine (in so far as I can manage consciously.) Great read! You nailed it!
Well written as usual. I became aware of Sam after my deployment and I have always found him interesting. It’s a shame for some of the stuff he has said in the last few years. I remember he did a podcast with Caitlyn Pacific and she said something similar when the Joe Biden accusations came out, “I don’t care if Joe Biden assaulted someone, he can beat Trump.” And then I realized they don’t have the moral high ground, it’s all partisanship.
Followed Sam for around ten years, had similar admiration for him; he is a thought leader, but totally lost my faith in his rational judgement. At the time I stopped my financial contribution to him I posited two scenarios (emailed him); one he slipped up cognitively (unlikely) or two he been got at (also unlikely). I now wonder if he has been compromised. Although I even the smartest people can be brainwashed it seems…. Thank you for writing this article- it has helped square things a bit better!
The only figure in my life that fits a comparable role for me to the one Sam Harris seems to have fit for you is C. S. Lewis. I can’t imagine having to write something like this about him. I can’t say I haven’t taken some pleasure in Harris’ downfall but I think that has more to do with my arrogance than his actual flaws. But whatever my feelings on Harris, I am sorry for the pain this fall from grace has caused you.
The term “critical thought” implies to me applying rigorous critique to our own heretofore positions on the topic we are focusing on, and it is a chosen path of integrity that fewer and fewer seem inclined to take. While a case of shunning integrity in favor of self-justification is central to to your subject matter here in “requiem”, the candor with which you express changes in your own personal perception validate your writing. Thank you for your “truth-telling”.
Nov 26, 2022·edited Nov 26, 2022Liked by Holly MathNerd
This tracked my progression exactly.
It's strange the amount of grief I am feeling; why did some of us revere Sam so much? ... And why has his fall been so devastating?
I think Sam inspired hope ... hope that any one person, and even all of humanity, could elevate above our ape-like nature into some Vulcanized utopia untainted by ego and reptilian impulses, where rationality reliably and consistently led to truth and harmony.
Nope.
We are nothing but apes, all the way down.
Any assertion to the contrary is just another pernicious delusion of the ego ... the stronger the assertion, the stronger the delusion.
Never followed him except to notice this recent stuff. That said, wow. So much here and your writing gets better and better. Guess my last thought/feeling is sadness in what can happen to people and a wanting to increase my integrity. Stay gold Ponygirl.
Very good. All of this needed to be said, and you said it well.
There is something almost mythological about the fall of Sam Harris. I was never a big fan of his and yet there is something so fascinating about his fall. Is it Hubris? Is it obsession? Gad Saad talks about Sam in his latest podcast. Worth a listen
Just think how humiliated the smart Sam Harris would be if he were resurrected, and he'd realized the braindead and souldead one been mindkilled by Donald Trump. I mean, talk about losing to the worst possible competitor. I imagine it's why Hillary is so bitter.
In Gad's podcast, he says Sam treats relationships as instrumental. He says Sam would have conversations about whether a particular guest would be good for "his brand".
I'm sorry you had to experience the loss of admiration and respect and love you had for Sam Harris, but I admire your clear and honest recognition of his fall from grace, so to speak. I listened to Sam Harris for a year or so prior to the revelation of his bizarre hatred of Trump, but when that set in I couldn't listen to him anymore. He was refuting every principle and ethical morality that here-to-fore seemed so honestly held. My assessment, for what it's worth, is Trump is the mirror in which in his deepest heart he sees himself.
A perfect eulogy for the man you admired. I honestly believe even Hitchens would have approved...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: same is the reason why I no longer place any faith in public figures. The sense of betrayal has felt so immense on so many occasions that I've done away with that habit of mine (in so far as I can manage consciously.) Great read! You nailed it!
Well written as usual. I became aware of Sam after my deployment and I have always found him interesting. It’s a shame for some of the stuff he has said in the last few years. I remember he did a podcast with Caitlyn Pacific and she said something similar when the Joe Biden accusations came out, “I don’t care if Joe Biden assaulted someone, he can beat Trump.” And then I realized they don’t have the moral high ground, it’s all partisanship.
Followed Sam for around ten years, had similar admiration for him; he is a thought leader, but totally lost my faith in his rational judgement. At the time I stopped my financial contribution to him I posited two scenarios (emailed him); one he slipped up cognitively (unlikely) or two he been got at (also unlikely). I now wonder if he has been compromised. Although I even the smartest people can be brainwashed it seems…. Thank you for writing this article- it has helped square things a bit better!
I never rated Sam Harris, as you know, because he seemed to misunderstand so many basic things (which I've discussed on your substack previously).
This piece helps explain how he spoke to so many people.
The only figure in my life that fits a comparable role for me to the one Sam Harris seems to have fit for you is C. S. Lewis. I can’t imagine having to write something like this about him. I can’t say I haven’t taken some pleasure in Harris’ downfall but I think that has more to do with my arrogance than his actual flaws. But whatever my feelings on Harris, I am sorry for the pain this fall from grace has caused you.
Integrity
The term “critical thought” implies to me applying rigorous critique to our own heretofore positions on the topic we are focusing on, and it is a chosen path of integrity that fewer and fewer seem inclined to take. While a case of shunning integrity in favor of self-justification is central to to your subject matter here in “requiem”, the candor with which you express changes in your own personal perception validate your writing. Thank you for your “truth-telling”.
This tracked my progression exactly.
It's strange the amount of grief I am feeling; why did some of us revere Sam so much? ... And why has his fall been so devastating?
I think Sam inspired hope ... hope that any one person, and even all of humanity, could elevate above our ape-like nature into some Vulcanized utopia untainted by ego and reptilian impulses, where rationality reliably and consistently led to truth and harmony.
Nope.
We are nothing but apes, all the way down.
Any assertion to the contrary is just another pernicious delusion of the ego ... the stronger the assertion, the stronger the delusion.
Never followed him except to notice this recent stuff. That said, wow. So much here and your writing gets better and better. Guess my last thought/feeling is sadness in what can happen to people and a wanting to increase my integrity. Stay gold Ponygirl.
So well put, as always.