Episode
#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
1:14:23
Published: Sat Sep 19 2020
Description
Justin Tosi is the Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Texas Tech University & an author. Moral grandstanding is the easiest way to signal your virtue without having to actually do anything virtuous. Why has it recently become so prevalent? Expect to learn why wishing that someone would get cancer isn't a good debating tactic, the different forms that grandstanding takes, why it is a moral problem, how hierarchies play into people's desire to grandstand & much more... Sponsor: Sign up to FitBook at https://fitbook.co.uk/join-fitbook/ (enter code MODERNWISDOM for 50% off your membership) Extra Stuff: Buy Grandstanding - https://amzn.to/2F8iPQo Follow Justin on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JustinTosi Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact
Chapters
This podcast episode discusses the concept of moral grandstanding, its various forms and how it operates in language and communication, especially on social media.
00:00 - 01:43 (01:43)
Summary
This podcast episode discusses the concept of moral grandstanding, its various forms and how it operates in language and communication, especially on social media. It also highlights the moral issues with grandstanding and how it allows people to signal their virtue without actually doing anything virtuous.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
This podcast episode explores grandstanding, a phenomenon where people make moral statements and turn it into a vanity project for personal gain or social status.
01:43 - 06:50 (05:06)
Summary
This podcast episode explores grandstanding, a phenomenon where people make moral statements and turn it into a vanity project for personal gain or social status. The hosts explain how grandstanding differs from genuine moral talk and the importance of authenticity in social interactions.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The rise of 'wokefishing' - people pretending to be more progressive than they really are to impress potential partners - is a growing problem, making it hard for genuine progressives in the dating scene.
06:50 - 14:04 (07:13)
Summary
The rise of 'wokefishing' - people pretending to be more progressive than they really are to impress potential partners - is a growing problem, making it hard for genuine progressives in the dating scene.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
Humans crave validation and attention from others, and the internet grants the ability to reach a large audience in a matter of seconds.
14:04 - 22:36 (08:32)
Summary
Humans crave validation and attention from others, and the internet grants the ability to reach a large audience in a matter of seconds. This makes emotionally charged and morally driven statements appealing to individuals seeking attention and validation, ultimately driving outrage culture.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The rise of social media has created a window of acceptable speech, giving users the opportunity to nitpick and pick people apart.
22:36 - 27:53 (05:16)
Summary
The rise of social media has created a window of acceptable speech, giving users the opportunity to nitpick and pick people apart. This has led to a desire for people to signal and the potential to swing outside of the acceptable window.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
Navigating the current political climate can be difficult when trying to express a nuanced viewpoint as people often view it as a target or attacker.
27:53 - 32:51 (04:57)
Summary
Navigating the current political climate can be difficult when trying to express a nuanced viewpoint as people often view it as a target or attacker. It is also possible for the majority of people to shift the acceptable speech or the Overton window, making it harder for opposing views to be heard.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
People grandstand to stay in the good graces of their group on issues like orthodoxy, but it's damaging because we need dissenters to feel comfortable sharing their opinions without a high cost.
32:51 - 38:42 (05:50)
Summary
People grandstand to stay in the good graces of their group on issues like orthodoxy, but it's damaging because we need dissenters to feel comfortable sharing their opinions without a high cost.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The hosts discuss how people sometimes value moral grandstanding over actual discussions of social justice issues, and how this tendency often comes from a lack of understanding of the complexity of the issues being discussed.
38:42 - 44:33 (05:50)
Summary
The hosts discuss how people sometimes value moral grandstanding over actual discussions of social justice issues, and how this tendency often comes from a lack of understanding of the complexity of the issues being discussed.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
Politicians are incentivized to appear morally good, often leading to unsustainable policies that benefit a select few.
44:33 - 52:40 (08:06)
Summary
Politicians are incentivized to appear morally good, often leading to unsustainable policies that benefit a select few. Examples include subsidizing low-income housing in expensive areas and falsely claiming residency for rent-controlled apartments.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The urge to immediately call out and shame those who engage in "grandstanding" (making moral proclamations for personal gain) has grown stronger in recent years, but this may not be the most effective way to address the issue.
52:41 - 59:01 (06:20)
Summary
The urge to immediately call out and shame those who engage in "grandstanding" (making moral proclamations for personal gain) has grown stronger in recent years, but this may not be the most effective way to address the issue.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The word "woke" has been flipped on its head similarly to the N word.
59:01 - 1:03:44 (04:42)
Summary
The word "woke" has been flipped on its head similarly to the N word. However, critics like James Lindsay, Douglas Murray, and Andrew Doyle use weaponized insight and ridicule to counteract it, as seen in medieval dining etiquette guides.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The podcast discusses the need for both polite and humorous people in online discourse, as moral rules can't always be one size fits all.
1:03:44 - 1:12:34 (08:50)
Summary
The podcast discusses the need for both polite and humorous people in online discourse, as moral rules can't always be one size fits all. It also touches on the detrimental effects of unfunny replies to humorous posts.
Episode#221 - Justin Tosi - The Abuse Of Moral Talk For Self Promotion
PodcastModern Wisdom
The hosts discuss the importance of engaging with reality and testing speculative claims.
1:12:34 - 1:14:09 (01:34)
Summary
The hosts discuss the importance of engaging with reality and testing speculative claims. They express faith in the wisdom of previous generations and explore how some concepts are still effective despite being in a new environment.