From: Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>
To: John Brockman
Subject: Re: Jon Haidt's mss
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:43:47 +0000
either sat , or in Sept
On Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 2:58 PM, John Brockman < wrote:
JE,
Jonathan Haidt just arrived in NYC for 11th months at NYU. I want you to meet him.
He's perhaps the sharpest of the younger psychologists. His EDGE piece "What Makes People Vote
REpublican" is the all-time EDGE most-read feature. "Morality is not just about how we treat each other (as
most liberals think); it is also about binding groups together, supporting essential institutions, and living in a
sanctified and noble way. When Republicans say that Democrats "just don't get it," this is the "it" to which
they refer."
Haidt's theory: there are five value virtues that matter in a society but liberals only see two of them: harm/care
and fairness/reciprocity) "Social conservatives do indeed rely upon those two foundations, but they also value
virtues related to three additional psychological systems: ingroup/loyalty (involving mechanisms that evolved
during the long human history of tribalism), authority/respect (involving ancient primate mechanisms for
managing social rank, tempered by the obligation of superiors to protect and provide for subordinates), and
purity/sanctity (a relatively new part of the moral mind, related to the evolution of disgust, that makes us see
carnality as degrading and renunciation as noble). These three systems support moralities that bind people into
intensely interdependent groups that work together to reach common goals. Such moralities make it easier for
individuals to forget themselves and coalesce temporarily into hives, a process that is thrilling, as anyone who
has ever "lost" him or herself in a choir, protest march, or religious ritual can attest."
Jon delivered his eagerly awaiting book yesterday, due to be published next January (Pantheon). He is eager to
have people read it, and advise him of a couple of points. Here are links to a a pdf and and epub version of the
manuscript:
https://www.brockman.com/Projects/Books/2012/Haidt-Righteous Mind (Nook).epub
https://www.brockman.comlProjects/Books/2012/Haidt-Righteous Mind (iPad).epub
Mind.pdf
He writes:
From: Jonathan Haidt <haidt@virginia.edu>
Date: July 25, 2011 12:13:16 PM EDT
To: John Brockman
Subject: the book!
I'd love to get your opinion on ch. 12 and the conclusion.
In particular, the last third of ch. 12 is now me going out on a limb and saying what i think each side is right
about.
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I think it's important to do this, to apply the ideas of the book to current disputes.
But do i risk pissing off lberals in particular? I think i make 3 strong points for the left, but then 3 strong points
for libertarians and social conservatives.
If you get a chance, please let me know what you think.
I should get the ms back from proofreader in 3 weeks.
At this point my main concern is: What am i forgetting? What will be the obvious criticism leveled by
commentators, particularly from the left, and the new atheists. What criticism can i head off by acknowledging
it in a few sentences at some point in the book.
I'd love to hear your and ICatinka's opinions on that. Also, do you have anyone who could read the ms fresh, in
the next 3 weeks? Anyone else in your office, or any friends? People I sent it to have all raved about it, but
they are my friends, they want to like it. What do people think who don't know me?
Thanks John.
Call any time. My work landline is below.
jon
Jonathan Haidt
Professor, Dept. of Psychology, University of Virginia
From July 2011 through June 2012:
Kaufman Scholar in Residence, Stem School of Business, NYU (_
1.1 6 .edu/--jdh6n (All publications available here)
Test your morals at www.YourMorals.org
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