Dr Robert Sapolsky on Faith
The article is a theoretical piece.
The article discusses the concept of human ability to gain strength and willpower through the irrefutable evidence of something that cannot be. It uses quotes from Kierkegaard and tells the story of a nun named Sister Helen Prejean who ministers to men on death row in a maximum-security prison. The article discusses the irrationality and greatness of forgiving and loving those who are not forgivable or lovable, and how this is something unique to humans. It also talks about the realm of philosophy and religion, and how this kind of thinking shows up in both. The article concludes by suggesting that this ability to cultivate the irrational and great should be used to better the world.
Main topics: human ability to gain strength from irrefutable evidence, forgiveness, love, religion, philosophy, brain's evolutionary challenge, moral abstractions.
Secondary topics: Kierkegaard, Sister Helen Prejean, aggression, males, meat.
- Introduction
- Explanation of human ability to find strength in the face of the impossible
- Examples of contradictory beliefs
- Kierkegaard's belief in holding contradictory beliefs
- Sister Helen Prejean's belief in forgiveness and love for the unforgivable and unlovable
- The irrationality and magnificence of human capacity for contradictory beliefs
- Unique human ability to turn abstractions into powerful metaphors and moral imperatives
- The challenge of reconciling moral abstractions with the brain's evolutionary development
- The ability to build entire worlds of good or bad acts from these metaphors and imperatives
- The intersection of philosophy and religion
- The theological framing of beliefs like Sister Helen's
- Other possible approaches to the same beliefs
- Cultivating the capacity for contradictory beliefs and moral imperatives
- No clear answers
- The suggestion to provide tubercular meat to aggressive males on the planet as a humorous aside
Dr. Robert Sapolsky on the Human Ability to Find Strength in Contradiction
In this talk, Dr. Robert Sapolsky discusses the human ability to find strength and willpower in the face of contradictory beliefs or facts. He uses the example of Sister Helen Prejean, a nun who ministers to men on death row, as an illustration of this concept. Sister Prejean has said that the less forgivable and lovable a person is, the more important it is to forgive and love them. This, to Sapolsky, is an irrational yet magnificent part of our species that allows us to build entire moral worlds based on contradictions and metaphors.
Sapolsky argues that this ability to build abstract worlds in the context of moral imperatives sets us apart from other species, as our brains have evolved to process moral abstractions and turn them into action. He notes that this is similar to what philosophy and religion do, but with a different emphasis or framing. Additionally, Sapolsky suggests that learning to cultivate this ability is a challenge, but perhaps a crucial one if we want to make a difference in the world.
Conclusion
Overall, Dr. Robert Sapolsky's talk highlights the unique ability of humans to find strength in contradiction, to build moral worlds out of abstractions, and to use this as a source of motivation for making a difference in the world. Although the cultivation of this ability is a complex challenge, it may be an essential part of being human.
The article by Dr. Robert Sapolsky explores the human ability to gain strength and motivation from evidence that something cannot be done. This information can influence various areas of life, including psychology, philosophy, and religion. The notion of holding contradictory beliefs is significant in understanding religious beliefs and practices. The author also speaks about morality and the importance of forgiveness, which has implications for ethical decision-making in various aspects of life.
However, the article misses out on examining the influence of cultural and social factors on human behavior. It is important to consider how cultural norms and societal structures affect our beliefs, attitudes, and actions. Additionally, the article does not explore the role of neuroscience in understanding human behavior, despite the fact that the author is a neuroscientist. Neuroscience can complement and add to our understanding of how our brain processes and responds to different stimuli.
The author of the article misses out on the fact that forgiveness is not always easy. It is a complex process that requires an understanding of the harm caused and empathy towards the person who caused it. Forgiveness cannot be forced, and some individuals may not be willing or able to forgive, despite their best efforts. Furthermore, the notion of making a difference in the face of overwhelming odds may lead to burnout or feelings of helplessness, especially if one's efforts do not yield immediate results.
Question 1:
What is the human ability described in the article?
"...this human ability in some settings to gain the strength and the will to do something from the irrefutable evidence that that something cannot be..."
Question 2:
What is the example of the nun's belief system described in the article?
"...this is a nun named sister Helen Prejean... how can you have just spent your whole life doing this and she always has the same answer the less forgivable the fact the less forgivable what the person has done the more we must find the means to forgive them the less lovable the person is the more we must find the means to love them..."
Question 3:
What is the conclusion about human ability mentioned in the article?
"...an inevitable conclusion that you have to reach which is none of us can make things better because we're too small and they're too big and they're too powerful and it's not going to matter anyway and none of us can make things change and what we have to deal with is the notion that the more clearly irrefutably and arguably it's the case that you cannot make a difference the more that must be the motivation to make a difference and have that is a moral imperative..."
Question 4:
How can one cultivate the ability described in the article?
"...I think for starters it suggests we should give tubercular meat to all of the aggressive males on this planet..."
(Note: This answer is not a serious suggestion for cultivation and is presented in a humorous tone.)
Outline: Music Text Quiz 1
- a. The evidence of facts
- b. The strength of will
- c. Gaining both evidence and will to do something
- d. The impossibility to achieve something Answer: c. Gaining both evidence and will to do something
- a. Believing in one God only
- b. Imposing a set of beliefs on oneself based on irrefutable facts
- c. Holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time
- d. Converting to a certain religion Answer: c. Holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time
- a. A movie actress
- b. A minister
- c. A nun
- d. A South African political activist Answer: c. A nun
- a. Their kindness and goodness
- b. Their repentance
- c. The less forgivable and lovable they are, the more they need forgiveness and love
- d. She receives a reward for her actions Answer: c. The less forgivable and lovable they are, the more they need forgiveness and love
- a. To make the world a better place by any means necessary
- b. To accept that we cannot make anything better so we shouldn't bother
- c. The more irrefutable the evidence that we cannot make a difference, the more we must try to make a difference
- d. To align our actions with religious teachings no matter what Answer: c. The more irrefutable the evidence that we cannot make a difference, the more we must try to make a difference
Question 1. What is the essence of human ability in some settings?
Question 2. What is religiosity about according to a quote from Kierkegaard?
Question 3. Who is Sister Helen Prejean?
Question 4. What motivates Sister Helen Prejean to forgive and love men on death row?
Question 5. What is the moral imperative suggested by the text?
Outline: Music Text Quiz 2
- a. Our ability to create metaphors
- b. Our ability to confuse the real with the metaphorical
- c. Our ability to turn metaphors into powerful sensory experiences
- d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above
- a. To come up with new moral abstractions
- b. To find a way to process moral abstractions in our brains
- c. To abandon moral abstractions altogether
- d. To align moral abstractions with religious teachings Answer: b. To find a way to process moral abstractions in our brains
- a. Theologically only
- b. Philosophically only
- c. Both theologically and philosophically
- d. As part of scientific thinking Answer: c. Both theologically and philosophically
- a. How to cultivate the ability to hold contradictory beliefs?
- b. How to establish a new religion based on moral abstractions?
- c. How to make sense of the irrationality of human behavior?
- d. How to cultivate the ability to turn metaphors into powerful sensory experiences? Answer: a. How to cultivate the ability to hold contradictory beliefs?
- a. To give tubercular meat to aggressive males on the planet
- b. To establish a new religion for atheists
- c. To rely on hamsters for moral guidance
- d. To embrace irrationality as a way of life Answer: a. To give tubercular meat to aggressive males on the planet
Question 1. According to the text, what distinguishes humans from other species?
Question 2. What is the evolutionary challenge of moral abstractions?
Question 3. How does the text suggest that this style of thinking can be framed?
Question 4. What is the final question the text poses?
Question 5. What humorous suggestion does the professor make at the end of the text?
Outline: Music Text Quiz 3
- a. To fight against the system that puts men on death row
- b. To help the most lovable and forgivable among men on death row
- c. To find the means to love and forgive men on death row who are the most unforgivable and unlovable
- d. To convert men on death row to a certain religion before their execution Answer: c. To find the means to love and forgive men on death row who are the most unforgivable and unlovable
- a. None of us can make things better because we're too small and they're too big and they're too powerful
- b. None of us should make things better because it's not going to matter anyway
- c. We should focus only on making things worse
- d. We should give up and stop thinking about it Answer: a. None of us can make things better because we're too small and they're too big and they're too powerful
- a. To make things worse instead of better
- b. To stay ignorant about the world's problems
- c. The more clearly irrefutable and arguably we cannot make a difference, the more that must be the motivation to make a difference
- d. To align our actions with religious teachings no matter what Answer: c. The more clearly irrefutable and arguably we cannot make a difference, the more that must be the motivation to make a difference
- a. We become as powerful as gods
- b. We become more irrational and confused
- c. We create entire worlds of good and bad acts built from a certain human wisdom
- d. We are unable to distinguish reality from imagination Answer: c. We create entire worlds of good and bad acts built from a certain human wisdom
- a. The realm of science
- b. The realm of philosophy
- c. The realm of religion
- d. The realm of moral abstractions and imperatives Answer: d. The realm of moral abstractions and imperatives
Question 1. What is Sister Helen Prejean's central Credo?
Question 2. What is the conclusion we inevitably reach when we learn enough about the world?
Question 3. What is the moral imperative according to the text?
Question 4. What is the outcome of our ability to turn abstractions into sensory experiences according to the text?
Question 5. What is the realm where we can do our most uniquely human things according to the text?
- Hold two contradictory beliefs: According to Kierkegaard, religiosity involves holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time. In everyday life, this can mean accepting that something is both good and bad at the same time, or acknowledging that a person can have both positive and negative qualities. This tip can help promote tolerance and understanding in daily interactions.
- Forgive the unforgivable: Sister Helen Prejean, a nun who ministers to men on death row, believes that the less forgivable something is, the more important it is to forgive it. In daily life, this can mean finding forgiveness for those who have wronged us, even if it seems impossible. This can promote healing and reconciliation.
- Take action despite feeling powerless: When faced with the overwhelming challenges of the world, it can be tempting to feel powerless and give up. However, Dr. Sapolsky argues that the more powerless we feel, the more important it is to take action to make a difference. This tip can help to promote a sense of agency and purpose in our lives.
- Use metaphors to create powerful meanings: Our ability to use metaphors to create powerful meanings can be a uniquely human trait. In everyday life, this can mean using metaphors to inspire and motivate ourselves and others. For example, thinking of life as a journey can inspire us to keep moving forward even when things get tough.
- Cultivate moral imperatives: Moral imperatives can help to guide our lives and motivate us to take action for the greater good. In everyday life, this can mean cultivating a sense of responsibility towards others, and actively seeking opportunities to make a positive impact. This tip can help to promote a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives.
The best tip to include in daily life may vary depending on individual circumstances and needs. However, cultivating moral imperatives and taking action despite feeling powerless are two tips that can be universally valuable. By focusing on our ability to make a positive impact, even in the face of overwhelming challenges, we can promote a sense of agency and purpose in our lives. Additionally, cultivating a sense of responsibility towards others can help to create a more compassionate and just society.