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Big Think
By bigthinkEducation
Big Think episodes
- Sam Harris: Is AI aligned with our human interests?
Sam Harris' argument for diffusing the AI arms race.
0:00 About our sponsor
0:16 The solution to “God-like AI”
1:20 The risk of self-improving AI
4:30 Two levels of risk
9:08 The AI arms race
About Sam Harris:
Sam Harris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers, The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction.
Mr. Harris' writing has been published in over ten languages. He and his work have been discussed in Newsweek, TIME, The New York Times, Scientific American, Rolling Stone, and many other journals. His writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, The Times (London), The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Nature, The Annals of Neurology, and elsewhere.
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21 min - The #1 cause of burnout is not what you think | Liz Wiseman for Big Think+
Burnout doesn’t happen because of too much work. Liz Wiseman, an executive advisor, suggests it’s something else entirely.
We normally associate burnout with being overworked, but that’s not actually the cause of it.Studies show that when you’re working on something you feel passionate about — when you feel impact — you’re often able to go on much longer and be more productive than when you’re simply going with the motions.Executive advisor Liz Wiseman shares the difference between the kinds of people who burnout easily and those who self-generate a dynamic environment for themselves in the workplace.---------------------------------------------06:30-17
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10 min - The 5 core principles of life | Nobel Prize-winner Paul Nurse
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Paul Nurse defines the 5 core principles of life.
What is the essence of being alive? This is the question that geneticist and cell biologist Paul Nurse dissects in his book What Is Life? At the core of life is the cell — an entity that can grow, divide, and reproduce.Using yeast as a model organism, Nurse discovered a similarity in cell reproduction mechanisms between yeast and humans, hinting at a shared ancestral origin for all life. This commonality extends to genes, the units of inheritance, first recognized in pea plants by Gregor Mendel. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection proposes that life adapts and evolves, favoring traits — and the genes that encode them — that are advantageous for survival.The essence of life, therefore, is a complex orchestration of chemistry and information management that allows organisms to adapt and persist through inheritance.0:00 The big question of biology0:57 1. The Cell2:41 2. The Gene3:28 3. Evolution by natural selection4:20 4. Chemistry5:20 5. Information6:27 What is life?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Paul Nurse:Paul Nurse, Ph.D, is a British biochemist. He was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Leland H. Hartwell and R. Timothy Hunt for their discoveries regarding cell cycle regulation by cyclin and cyclin dependent kinases. He became Rockefeller University's ninth president in 2003.----------------------------------------------------------06:30-17Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 min - The neuroscience of extremes: Ruthless psychopathy to extraordinary generosity | Abigail Marsh
“There's a very pervasive belief that human nature is fundamentally selfish, but I know for a fact that that can't be true in part because my life was saved by a stranger a long time ago when I was 19.”
Is it possible that kindness and cruelty aren’t opposites, but points along the same spectrum of human nature? Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh has spent decades studying what she calls the “caring continuum:” A range that runs from extreme altruists to individuals with psychopathy who feel little or no concern for others.Marsh challenges the widespread belief that humans are fundamentally selfish, showing instead how neuroscience, psychology, and everyday observation tell a more complex story.00:00:00 What draws you to this field of research?00:00:31 Are humans fundamentally selfish?00:03:06 How do you define psychopathy?00:04:13 What does research reveal about psychopathy?00:18:05 What distinguishes sociopaths from psychopaths?00:23:23 What myths surround psychopathy?00:25:29 What are some treatments for psychopathy?00:28:35 What is “The Mask of Sanity”?00:29:30 What behaviors signal potential psychopathy?00:36:36 Why are people drawn in by those with psychopathy?00:39:12 What traits are common among those with psychopathy?00:47:57 Is psychopathy genetic?00:59:35 What traits characterize altruistic individuals?01:00:21 What defines extreme altruism?01:03:06 Are humans an altruistic species?01:07:59 What are pop culture examples of altruism?01:11:05 Is genuine altruism possible?01:15:06 What’s your take on effective altruism?01:16:51 Can I assess my spot on the psychopathy-altruism spectrum?01:22:32 What does research say about boosting altruism?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Abigail Marsh:Abigail Marsh is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at Georgetown University. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University in 2004.----------------------------------------06:30-17
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1 hr 32 min - Is it time to change the way you think about sex_ _ Cindy Gallop
Cindy Gallop answers our questions about sex, identity, and why we need to stop giving a damn.
Cindy Gallop, the founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, answered our questions about self-worth, the weight of other people’s expectations on women, and hope.She shares her mission to normalize and destigmatize conversations about sex, including the negative consequences of using pornography as a substitute for sexual education.Cindy hopes for a world where we’re all unburdened by societal judgments and true equality is achieved.-------------------------------------------------06:30-17
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10 min - Understand these 4 key concepts for a happier life | Arthur Brooks
### 😊 Happiness Isn’t a Feeling—It’s a Formula (Backed by Science!)
We think happiness = joy, love, laughter.
But what if we’ve been chasing the *wrong thing*?
🎯 **Happiness is *not* a feeling**—it’s the **cause** of feelings.
Think of happiness like Thanksgiving dinner, and feelings as the delicious smell.
Smells come and go. The feast is deeper. **Lasts longer.**
That’s *good news.* Because if you’re sad, tired, or frustrated sometimes…
👏 **You’re normal. You’re human.**
Negative emotions are survival tools. Without them, you’d be dead in a week.
## 🧠 Emotion ≠ Good or Bad
All emotions are **information** from your brain.
- 😡 Fear, anger, sadness?
Signals of danger—crucial for survival.
- 😄 Joy, surprise, curiosity?
Clues that something’s good for you.
They're all helpful. Just like hunger reminds you to eat, **feelings guide your actions**.
## 💛 What Actually Makes Us Happy?
Arthur Brooks has studied **millions of people**, and found 3 key ingredients that define lasting happiness:
### 1️⃣ **Enjoyment** ≠ Pleasure
🍕 Pleasure is basic—like eating pizza.
👫 Enjoyment = pleasure + people + memory.
Think *beer with friends,* not chugging alone.
### 2️⃣ **Satisfaction**
Comes **after struggle**.
The “I earned this” feeling after hard work.
Cheating might get you the prize, but never the pride.
### 3️⃣ **Meaning**
We *need* it constantly.
Go even one hour without it, and you’ll feel empty.
**Meaning =**
- **Coherence:** Why do things happen?
- **Significance:** Why do *I* matter?
- **Purpose:** Where am I going?
Find answers, and you find **fulfillment.**
## 🧘♂️ So... How Do We Find Real Happiness?
Not through **money, power, pleasure, or fame**—those are *traps.*
Instead, pursue the **4 Pillars of Happiness:**
### 🌌 1. Faith (or Awe)
Not just religion.
It’s about **connecting to something bigger**—nature, music, philosophy, silence.
### 👨👩👧 2. Family
You don’t have to love every relative, but **you do have to show up**.
Family bonds = long-term emotional security.
### 🤝 3. Friendship
Not followers. **Real friends.**
You need more than just your partner.
Old friends are like emotional vitamins—**don’t skip the dose.**
### 💼 4. Work (That Serves Others)
Work brings joy **only** when you:
- Create value (💪 *earned success*)
- Help others (❤️ *service*)
You don’t have to save the world. Just lighten someone else’s load.
## 🛤️ Happiness = Direction, Not Destination
You *don’t find* happiness.
You **build it**, by changing habits, seeking meaning, and serving others.
And yes—you *can* get better at it.
That’s the best part.
### 🔑 Keywords:
Happiness science, Arthur Brooks, emotional intelligence, meaning of life, faith and awe, real happiness vs pleasure, satisfaction and struggle, prefrontal cortex joy, happiness vs feelings, happiness habits, emotional survival, friendship and connection, happiness pillars, positive psychology, work-life fulfillment, happiness and purpose, slow living, service and meaning, family values, faith alternatives, direction not destination, how to be happy, happiness research
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12 min - Have a controversial idea? Good. Here’s why you should share it. | Peter Singer
Ideas that seem wildly controversial today may move humanity towards progress. Philosopher Peter Singer asks —how do we keep them from being stifled?
Peter Singer explains why he helped create the “Journal of Controversial Ideas,” a platform for discussing and examining controversial topics without fear of backlash or censorship.According to Singer, history is rife with examples of people challenging beliefs that were once considered certain but were later proven false. Persecuting those people who challenged those prevailing notions, Singer says, stifled progress.Singer underscores the importance of protecting academic freedom and freedom of thought and expression as fundamental to societal progress and knowledge advancement.----------------------------------06:30-17
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10 min - The world’s biggest problem? Powerful psychopaths. | Brian Klaas
Professor Brian Klass unpacks the truth behind history’s evil leaders, explaining how they so easily acquire power, and how we can change the pattern.
How people choose to wield their power affects our daily lives, whether it’s a dictator or simply an obnoxiously officious member of a homeowner’s association. Brian Klaas, a political scientist and author of "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How it Changes Us,” joins Big Think to talk about the nature of power, the people who are drawn to it, and the ways we can improve how power is wielded within institutions.So, what’s one way to ensure that reasonable people rise to positions of power? Klaas proposes the strategy of asking politicians a fairly straightforward question before they take office: What would it take for you to think that you are no longer necessary in power? Answers to questions like these can reveal deep insights into what kind of a leader a person is likely to be.An intro to power0:00 Meet Brian Klaas0:21 Why is it important to understand power?1:55 Why did you start studying power?3:12 Who is Lord Acton and how does he relate to power?5:43 What are your 4 main arguments about power?Who gains power and why?6:18 Why do bad people often end up in positions of power?11:12 Should we only give power to those who don't seek it?14:04 What is self-selection bias?15:21 What is survivorship bias?18:12 Does evolution play a role in survivorship bias?Psychopathy and the ‘dark triad’20:43 Why are we drawn to bad leaders?25:23 Why do certain demographic groups often end up in power?33:51 How can physical appearance affect our preference for leaders?38:53 Who is Steve Raucci and what are the dark triad traits?53:20 Can psychopathy ever be a beneficial trait?55:04 Why might some psychopathy be beneficial to leaders?58:32 Do the dark triad traits always occur together in individuals?1:02:02 How common are the dark triad traits amongst dictators?Stopping the “worst person in the world”1:05:52 How can systems help us select better leaders?1:10:34 Why are systems so important when it comes to power?1:14:43 What real-world systems have you observed to learn about power?1:19:02 Why does society often fail to screen out bad leaders?1:21:18 How can we rethink democracy to help us choose better leaders?1:27:17 Does policing attract people who are more likely to abuse power?1:33:35 How do you believe we can improve policing?1:37:12 How can thought experiments help us evaluate the decisions of our leaders?1:41:30 Who is Abhisit Vejjajiva and what do his decisions teach us about power?1:49:33 How can being thrust into power affect our decision-making?1:53:45 How can we evaluate the decisions of individuals in power?-----------------------------------------------------------------------About Brian Klaas:Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic, author of Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us, and Creator/Host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------06:30-17
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2 hr 7 min - Use the Triple Check Method to jumpstart your brain | Anne-Laure Le Cunff
“Because of the efficiency worship that we have developed in our industrial age, we are now seeing procrastination as a character flaw rather than what it is, a signal that is worth listening to.”
For centuries, we’ve treated procrastination as proof of personal weakness. A defect to be optimized, to be fixed. But what if we thought of procrastination as a signal, rather than a flaw, suggests neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff.To decode these signals, Le Cunff introduces ‘The Triple Check Method,’ a diagnostic tool to understand the root cause of the delay. She also reveals how to identify your personal “magic window,” a tool for effortless concentration that can help you rewire against procrastination.0:00 The moralization of procrastination1:47 The Triple Check Method2:29 Using the method to take action3:24 Looking for systemic barriers3:55 Finding your ‘Magic Windows’5:56 Using procrastination to connect with our emotions----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Anne-Laure Le Cunff:Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Previously, she worked at Google as an executive on digital health projects. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more.-----------------------------------------------------06:30-17
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11 min - Are you really ethical? Let's find out. | Kelly Richmond Pope
Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, shares a simple test that puts your ethics under the spotlight.
What would you be willing to do if you thought you’d get away with it? Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, delves into how we often unintentionally ignore our moral compasses and veer into unethical behavior when possible consequences are intangible. Kelly says we do this mainly by convincing ourselves that everyone else behaves similarly. But is that true?She shares the results of an ethics survey she uses in her class, where her students found themselves divided about whether a social lunch with a colleague, discussing personal and work matters, should be expensed as a work-related activity. She also shares her experience of accidentally receiving an extra handbag and how different people advised her to proceed.Maybe we’re all a little unethical. But Kelly assures that there’s no need to panic. She believes that acknowledging these vulnerabilities and implementing internal controls can help us prevent unethical behavior. Fostering an environment of self-awareness and accountability can help us all make better decisions in the future.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Kelly Richmond Pope:Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope is the Dr. Barry Jay Epstein Endowed Professor of Accounting at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Pope is a nationally recognized expert in risk, forensic accounting, and white-collar crime research, and an award-winning educator, researcher, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She’s the author of Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2023). Pope teaches managerial and forensic accounting both at the undergraduate and graduate level.------------------------------------------------------06:30-17Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Get actionable lessons from the world’s greatest thinkers & doers. Our experts are either disrupting or leading their respective fields. We aim to help you explore the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century, so you can apply them to the questions and challenges in your own life.
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