The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion

Jonathan Haidt

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moral psychology

moral foundations theory

tribalism in politics

contemporary american political landscapes

cultural insights

experimental results in psychology

engaging and educational prose

understanding human behavior

empathy in political discourse

accessibility of complex topics

lack of traditional characters

narrative vs. academic pacing

non fiction insights

social manifestations of morality

'The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion' by Jonathan Haidt delves into moral psychology from an evolutionary perspective, proposing a theory of Moral Foundations that underlie observable moral systems. Haidt's exploration of the drives behind people's feelings of right and wrong offers insight into actions driven by tribalism or politics. also provides copious data on experimental results, making it a thought-provoking read that sheds light on human behavior and the development of social manifestations of morality.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is engaging, educational, and accessible, employing metaphors and structured summaries to aid understanding.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around the exploration of moral psychology and its impact on political and religious divisions among individuals, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding.

Setting:

The thematic setting revolves around contemporary American political landscapes, intertwined with historical and cultural insights.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, alternating between dense academic analysis and more engaging narrative storytelling.

If you are like most of the well-educated people in my studies, you felt an initial flash of disgust, but you hesitated before saying the family had done anything morally wrong. After all, the dog was...

Genres:

Topics:

moral foundations theory

political polarization

intuitive vs. rational thinking

group behavior and evolution

division by politics and religion

moral psychology

cognitive dissonance

intuition vs reason

Notes:

The book explores why humans often see things differently and can become divided.

Haidt argues that our intuitions come first, followed by reasoning, using an elephant and rider metaphor.

There are six foundational moral principles: care, harm, fairness, cheating, loyalty, betrayal, authority, subversion, sanctity, and degradation.

Haidt suggests that conservatives generally use all six moral foundations while liberals focus mainly on two: care and fairness.

The author highlights that our moral decisions are often based more on feelings than on reasoned thoughts.

Haidt acknowledges a deep divide in political and religious views but aims to promote understanding between sides.

The author believes that understanding other moral foundations can help bridge political divides.

This book is based on Haidt's research in moral psychology, drawing upon extensive studies and examples.

Haidt asserts that humans have evolved to be groupish, balancing individuality with community.

He discusses how moral values can lead to conflicts, making it harder for people to see opposing viewpoints as legitimate.

From The Publisher:

The bestseller that challenges conventional thinking about morality, politics, and religion in a way that speaks to conservatives and liberals alike-a "landmark contribution to humanity's understanding of itself" (The New York Times Book Review).

Drawing on his twenty-five years of groundbreaking research on moral psychology, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns.

In this subtle yet accessible book, Haidt gives you the key to understanding the miracle of human cooperation, as well as the curse of our eternal divisions and conflicts. If you're ready to trade in anger for understanding, read The Righteous Mind.

Ratings (6)

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It Was OK (1)

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1 comment(s)

smirex436

It Was OK

3 months

This book would have been better with an author who is a deeper thinker and does not cherry pick data.

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About the Author:

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. He obtained his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, and then taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, and the co-editor of Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived. He lives in New York City.

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