Episode
#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
3:10:58
Published: Mon Feb 20 2023
Description
Tim Urban is the author of the blog Wait But Why and a new book What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - House of Macadamias: https://houseofmacadamias.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order - Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit - Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex to get 1 month of fish oil EPISODE LINKS: Tim's new book: https://waitbutwhy.com/whatsourproblem Tim's Twitter: https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy Tim's Website: https://waitbutwhy.com Tim's Instagram: https://instagram.com/timurban Tim's TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5C149J9C0 PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (05:48) - Human history (21:47) - Greatest people in history (29:35) - Social media (36:17) - Good times and bad times (47:48) - Wisdom vs stupidity (49:55) - Utopia (1:04:05) - Conspiracy theories (1:17:16) - Arguing on the Internet (1:37:16) - Political division (1:47:10) - Power games (1:55:09) - Donald Trump and Republican Party (2:12:17) - Social justice (2:34:59) - Censorship gap (2:42:30) - Free speech (2:46:33) - Thinking and universities (2:54:56) - Liv Boeree joins conversation (3:07:15) - Hopes for the future
Chapters
The podcast features an author and blogger from Wait, But Why who discusses his new book called "What's Our Problem?".
00:00 - 02:28 (02:28)
Summary
The podcast features an author and blogger from Wait, But Why who discusses his new book called "What's Our Problem?". They also talk about jujitsu and discovering new opportunities in life.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The history of human beings can be summed up in a thousand-page book, where each page represents 250 years.
02:28 - 07:23 (04:54)
Summary
The history of human beings can be summed up in a thousand-page book, where each page represents 250 years. The importance of hiring and using the best tools in the recruitment process is highlighted, along with an ad for Athletic Greens' AG One drink.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reflects on how the life experiences of our primate ancestors would have been vastly different from our own, and how their daily routines and physical sensations were things we take for granted.
07:23 - 11:50 (04:26)
Summary
The speaker reflects on how the life experiences of our primate ancestors would have been vastly different from our own, and how their daily routines and physical sensations were things we take for granted.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker talks about the challenges of adjusting to new experiences and perspectives, using visits to the grocery store and traveling as examples.
11:50 - 18:30 (06:40)
Summary
The speaker talks about the challenges of adjusting to new experiences and perspectives, using visits to the grocery store and traveling as examples.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the concept of patriotism and its association with gratitude, as well as the arbitrary nature of historical figures like Genghis Khan and William the Conqueror becoming powerful.
18:30 - 26:16 (07:46)
Summary
The podcast discusses the concept of patriotism and its association with gratitude, as well as the arbitrary nature of historical figures like Genghis Khan and William the Conqueror becoming powerful.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This episode explores the potential impact of singular figures, like Elon Musk and Genghis Khan, on the direction of artificial intelligence and social media development, with social media having a major impact on collective intelligence.
26:16 - 32:31 (06:14)
Summary
This episode explores the potential impact of singular figures, like Elon Musk and Genghis Khan, on the direction of artificial intelligence and social media development, with social media having a major impact on collective intelligence.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker shares his thoughts on the potential of VR headsets and how a revolutionary person could change the game in the industry.
32:31 - 38:10 (05:39)
Summary
The speaker shares his thoughts on the potential of VR headsets and how a revolutionary person could change the game in the industry.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reflects on the feeling of good times in the 1950s after World War II and the Great Depression, wondering if it was America's peak, but acknowledges that safety and convenience advancements have been made since then.
38:10 - 46:16 (08:06)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the feeling of good times in the 1950s after World War II and the Great Depression, wondering if it was America's peak, but acknowledges that safety and convenience advancements have been made since then.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The 1890s in the United States was a time of immense political contention, with newspapers lying and spreading radicalism.
46:16 - 51:54 (05:38)
Summary
The 1890s in the United States was a time of immense political contention, with newspapers lying and spreading radicalism. Some are concerned that the current era of political polarization may be viewed in the future similarly to the McCarthyism era.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The allure of junk food lies in the fact that our primitive minds are always seeking out high calorie foods for survival.
51:54 - 54:44 (02:50)
Summary
The allure of junk food lies in the fact that our primitive minds are always seeking out high calorie foods for survival. However, Mars Inc. has capitalized on this by marketing to people's lower minds instead of their higher minds.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Challenging ideas indirectly and avoiding triggering words can lead to a culture where people don't attack each other's ideas and it becomes a sport, as seen in martial arts, to explore and discuss diverse concepts.
54:44 - 1:03:48 (09:03)
Summary
Challenging ideas indirectly and avoiding triggering words can lead to a culture where people don't attack each other's ideas and it becomes a sport, as seen in martial arts, to explore and discuss diverse concepts. This high rung space leads to a more intellectual discussion which highlights the use of our higher minds versus our primitive minds.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Being open to the possibility of a conspiracy is healthy, but it’s important to avoid becoming too gullible and believing in every theory that confirms your worldview.
1:03:48 - 1:11:30 (07:41)
Summary
Being open to the possibility of a conspiracy is healthy, but it’s important to avoid becoming too gullible and believing in every theory that confirms your worldview. What separates a real conspiracy from a crazy theory is its ability to withstand scrutiny from others.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast episode discusses a study which explores the phenomenon of disgust in humans, and how it has evolved over time.
1:11:31 - 1:19:52 (08:20)
Summary
This podcast episode discusses a study which explores the phenomenon of disgust in humans, and how it has evolved over time.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The conversation explores the dynamics of argumentation and camaraderie, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect in effective communication.
1:19:52 - 1:26:15 (06:22)
Summary
The conversation explores the dynamics of argumentation and camaraderie, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect in effective communication. The speaker points out how our primitive mind can be appealed to by agreeing with someone even if they are being an "asshole."
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses the language and tone they use when engaging in Twitter discussions and the importance of meeting negativity with a higher mind.
1:26:15 - 1:33:00 (06:45)
Summary
The speaker discusses the language and tone they use when engaging in Twitter discussions and the importance of meeting negativity with a higher mind.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Different parts of the brain are triggered when political beliefs are challenged, as opposed to non-political beliefs.
1:33:00 - 1:39:53 (06:52)
Summary
Different parts of the brain are triggered when political beliefs are challenged, as opposed to non-political beliefs. The default mode network, associated with introspection and personal identity, is more active when political beliefs are threatened, which can lead to online conflicts and arguments becoming more personal in nature.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Discussion on how political tribalism affects people's beliefs and associating with certain political groups.
1:39:54 - 1:46:00 (06:06)
Summary
Discussion on how political tribalism affects people's beliefs and associating with certain political groups.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses how intellectuals like Steven Pinker or Jonathan Haidt get accused of being highfalutin and not taking a side, depriving Americans of the freedom of liberal games by imposing a social culture that is power games-esque.
1:46:00 - 1:55:58 (09:58)
Summary
The podcast discusses how intellectuals like Steven Pinker or Jonathan Haidt get accused of being highfalutin and not taking a side, depriving Americans of the freedom of liberal games by imposing a social culture that is power games-esque. The host explains that liberal laws and culture should be married to truly have liberal games going on, defending the liberal spirit.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The emergence of political echo chambers has led to the destruction of the Republican party as powerful groups did not follow the agreed-upon rules and broke the system, taking control of the party itself.
1:55:58 - 2:02:05 (06:06)
Summary
The emergence of political echo chambers has led to the destruction of the Republican party as powerful groups did not follow the agreed-upon rules and broke the system, taking control of the party itself. The author refers to this phenomenon as the emergence of a powerful monster, a Golem.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The intense political divide between left and right has resulted in people voting for their party from the top to the bottom of the ticket, causing a shift in the environmental policy of Congress.
2:02:05 - 2:08:12 (06:07)
Summary
The intense political divide between left and right has resulted in people voting for their party from the top to the bottom of the ticket, causing a shift in the environmental policy of Congress. However, the hope is that Congress should prioritize the needs of their district over a national policy.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The New York Times faces an internal tug of war between liberal social justice and social justice fundamentalism.
2:08:12 - 2:16:05 (07:52)
Summary
The New York Times faces an internal tug of war between liberal social justice and social justice fundamentalism. The newspaper has a handful of articles that relate to both kinds of justice, but some of its instances have been deemed awful.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker explains the ideological foundation of wokeness, which is fundamentally anti-liberal and based on a Marxist framework with a new American social justice skin.
2:16:05 - 2:22:50 (06:44)
Summary
The speaker explains the ideological foundation of wokeness, which is fundamentally anti-liberal and based on a Marxist framework with a new American social justice skin.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The threat of radical political movements hijacking institutions is real and needs to be addressed by society.
2:22:50 - 2:32:16 (09:25)
Summary
The threat of radical political movements hijacking institutions is real and needs to be addressed by society. These movements have managed to take over universities, medical journals, and activist organizations, and it's important for society to be aware of their actions.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speech curve is a tool to measure the magnitude of influence of a statement or idea, which depends on where and by whom it is being said.
2:32:16 - 2:36:56 (04:40)
Summary
The speech curve is a tool to measure the magnitude of influence of a statement or idea, which depends on where and by whom it is being said. The level of the speech curve can indicate the possible impact and reach of an idea or statement.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses how the speech curve is changing from a natural bell curve to three regions, where certain ideas are socially rewarded, while others are not allowed to be expressed.
2:36:56 - 2:41:49 (04:52)
Summary
The podcast discusses how the speech curve is changing from a natural bell curve to three regions, where certain ideas are socially rewarded, while others are not allowed to be expressed.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast explores the concept of freedom of speech and how it relates to cancel culture and criticism culture.
2:41:49 - 2:47:32 (05:42)
Summary
The podcast explores the concept of freedom of speech and how it relates to cancel culture and criticism culture. They discuss how the ideal of the freedom of speech can be used to resist the suppression of thought and encourage further discussion.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reflects on their realization of their lack of knowledge about AI technology and their past political biases.
2:47:32 - 2:51:54 (04:22)
Summary
The speaker reflects on their realization of their lack of knowledge about AI technology and their past political biases. They acknowledge the importance of recognizing their ignorance as the first step to truly learning and developing a well-rounded perspective.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The college environment is increasingly promoting a one-sided, "woke" ideology rather than embracing diverse viewpoints and encouraging growth from disagreement.
2:51:54 - 2:56:02 (04:08)
Summary
The college environment is increasingly promoting a one-sided, "woke" ideology rather than embracing diverse viewpoints and encouraging growth from disagreement.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker shares his concerns about the future implications of technology and explains how he experiences sudden epiphanies that inspire him to write about his ideas for change.
2:56:02 - 3:01:41 (05:38)
Summary
The speaker shares his concerns about the future implications of technology and explains how he experiences sudden epiphanies that inspire him to write about his ideas for change.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this podcast, the speaker shares his tip on how to avoid procrastination in writing a book.
3:01:41 - 3:04:26 (02:45)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker shares his tip on how to avoid procrastination in writing a book. He emphasizes that the goal is to avoid taking too much time, but to produce a framework to finish the book.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Procrastination is a significant obstacle on the path to immortality because people tend to judge those who do not procrastinate, and deadlines can impede progress.
3:04:26 - 3:10:25 (05:59)
Summary
Procrastination is a significant obstacle on the path to immortality because people tend to judge those who do not procrastinate, and deadlines can impede progress. Overcoming this obstacle requires a shift in perspective and the possibility that technology may eventually allow humans to extend their lives indefinitely.
Episode#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this podcast, Tim Urban and Lex Fridman discuss how the future is going to be weird and different, and not just an extension of the past few decades.
3:10:25 - 3:11:04 (00:39)
Summary
In this podcast, Tim Urban and Lex Fridman discuss how the future is going to be weird and different, and not just an extension of the past few decades.