Jonathan haidt, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you so much, steve. It is a pleasure to have you here. Now, of course, your home base is new york university, across the pond in the United States. Right now, that university along with many others in the us is in ferment, with students occupying certain grounds within the university. Mm hm. Youve written a lot over many years about the intellectual atmosphere on campus in america, so i want to begin by asking you what you make of these protests. So, of course, the right to protest, were all in favour of. The key issue for me is intimidation. This is what began in 2015 a change in the nature of campus life, so that people who are making a political point are doing it not with persuasion but with intimidation. And ive done a lot of writing about how it was the arrival of social media that allowed people to intimidate others, threaten any dissenters with mob reactions. So my previous book, the coddling of the american mind, was about this strang
Who are making a political point are doing it not with persuasion but with intimidation. And ive done a lot of writing about how it was the arrival of social media that allowed people to intimidate others, threaten any dissenters with mob reactions. So my previous book, the coddling of the american mind, was about this strange, new and really kind of frightening morality that came to us right around 2015 it wasnt there in 2013. And so im starting this way because this is the backstory to whats happening today. Yeah, but what youve already said is important because you have made it clear in the past that you reject the notion that words can be seen as violence. Mm hm. And you basically say that, intellectually speaking, we all need to have thicker skins. Mm hm. We all need to understand that offence can happen, it can be taken, but it is not akin to violence. Thats right. So when you use that word intimidation about a bunch of young people chanting slogans about the israeli actions in g
In the us is in ferment, with students occupying certain grounds within the university. Mm hm. Youve written a lot over many years about the intellectual atmosphere on campus in america, so i want to begin by asking you what you make of these protests. So, of course, the right to protest, were all in favour of. The key issue for me is intimidation. This is what began in 2015 a change in the nature of campus life, so that people who are making a political point are doing it not with persuasion but with intimidation. And ive done a lot of writing about how it was the arrival of social media that allowed people to intimidate others, threaten any dissenters with mob reactions. So my previous book, the coddling of the american mind, was about this strange, new and really kind of frightening morality that came to us right around 2015 it wasnt there in 2013. And so im starting this way because this is the backstory to whats happening today. Yeah, but what youve already said is important becau
Jonathan haidt, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you so much, steve. It is a pleasure to have you here. Now, of course, your home base is new york university, across the pond in the United States. Right now, that university along with many others in the us is in ferment, with students occupying certain grounds within the university. Mm hm. Youve written a lot over many years about the intellectual atmosphere on campus in america, so i want to begin by asking you what you make of these protests. So, of course, the right to protest were all in favour of. The key issue for me is intimidation. This is what began in 2015 a change in the nature of campus life, so that people who are making a political point are doing it not with persuasion but with intimidation. And ive done a lot of writing about how it was the arrival of social media that allowed people to intimidate others, threaten any dissenters with mob reactions. So my previous book, the coddling of the american mind, was about this strange
Coming up at the top of the hour is newsday with my colleague steve lai. But first, heres hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk. Im stephen sackur. All of us are heavily influenced by the social, cultural and economic environment in which we are raised. As ideas, trends and technologies change, so too do generational traits. And right now there is intense focus on what is happening to generations of young people closer in age to my kids, than to me. Are young adults inclined to be open minded or closed . Are childrens minds being rewired by the ubiquitous smartphone . Well, my guest is the renowned social psychologistjonathan haidt. Are we losing sight of what freedom and curiosity really mean . Jonathan haidt, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you so much, steve. It is a pleasure to have you here. Now, of course, your home base is new york university, across the pond in the United States. Right now, that university along with many others in the us is in ferment, with students occupying certain groun