On February 19th, 2021, we were delighted to welcome social psychologist and bestselling author, Jonathan Haidt, along with widely published speechwriter and author, Peter Wehner. Wehner is a New York Times columnist, a contributing editor for The Atlantic, and a Trinity Forum Senior Fellow with a deep interest in healing our divided nation. Haidt has done extensive research examining the intuitive foundations of morality and how morality varies across cultures. His books address these topics and provide insights into how to cultivate meaningful, moral conversations across cultural divides.

We hope you enjoy this conversation on the impact of hyper-politicization and polarization, the temptations of illiberalism, the natural tendency towards bias and blind spots in our thinking, and the role of faith in bringing healing and hope to a hurting culture. Especially in our ongoing season of isolation and social restrictions, we hope this will inspire you to reach out and connect with those around you and think about how you can grow culture-shaping friendships and communities.

Learn more about Jonathan Haidt and Pete Wehner.

Watch the full Online Conversation and read the transcript from February 19, 2021.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, by Jonathan Haidt

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukainoff

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Haidt

City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era, by Peter Wehner and Michael Gerson

The Death of Politics: How to Heal Our Frayed Republic After Trump, by Peter Wehner

A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream, by Yuval Levin

Why We’re Polarized, by Ezra Klein

Blaise Pascal

John McWhorter

Francis Collins

C.S. Lewis

Owen Barfield

David Brooks

On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill

Ibram X. Kendi

Richard Reeves, Brookings Institution

How To Think: A Guide for the Perplexed, by Alan Jacobs

The Enigma of Reason, by Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber

My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer, by Christian Wiman

Related Trinity Forum Readings:

Politics in the English Language, by George Orwell

Politics, Morality, and Civility, by Václav Havel

Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

Related Conversations:

Rebuilding our Common Life, with Yuval Levin

Special thanks to Ned Bustard for the artwork and Andrew Peterson for the music.