Making Sense of Death | Episode 9 of The Essential Sam Harris

In this episode, we explore Sam’s conversations about the
phenomenon of death.


We begin with an introduction from Sam as he urges us to use our
awareness of death to become more present in our day-to-day
lives. We then hear a conversation between Sam and Frank
Ostaseski, founder of the Zen Hospice Project, who
shares the valuable lessons he has learned through caring for
those in their very last days. Next, we move on to a conversation
with Scott Barry Kaufman, who explains what it
means to pursue a good life by putting a modern spin on Abraham
Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs.


Researcher and professor of neuroscience Roland
Griffiths then details his findings on psychedelic
therapies. He and Sam discuss the inexplicable powers of
psychedelics in easing the anxiety around death, and how these
experiences can potentially help us live fuller lives. Shifting
perspectives, we move on by hearing NYU professor Scott
Galloway explain the social and economic impacts of a
society made painfully aware of death by the COVID-19 pandemic.


We then listen in to author Oliver Burkeman as
he outlines how the knowledge of our mortality can inform
practical time management techniques before addressing an age-old
question with physicist Geoffrey West:
Theoretically, could we engineer humans to live forever?


Sam closes this episode with a solo talk, explaining that we
needn’t be cynical about the fact that all life must come to an
end. Instead, it is the transient nature of life that might be
the very thing which makes it beautiful in the first
place.


 


About the Series


Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam
Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring
the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his
career.


Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical
perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most
compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you
are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made
up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.