The Social Animal

Acclaimed New York Times columnist David Brooks explores new insights into human nature and the forces that shape our choices and actions. Chaired by Madeleine Bunting.

• Category

  Nonprofits & Activism

[dingdongpingpong69]

that's right, he supported it, and he criticized it afterwards. why is that problematic?

jesus, what a dumb post

[tvswnet]

Wow, such interesting points brought up...I'm glad this dialog is happening. I disagree with most of his purported conclusions, but this is valuable discourse indeed. I'm also quite surprised to hear some of the conciliatory remarks, as the David Brooks of even a couple of years ago would have publicly been loathed to qualify his absolute opinions. He's still stuck in the idea that others get to define our Selves, but this is indeed progress from him...

[wbrutus22]

Amazing insight...great speech!

[Jacob Canote]

THANK YOU!



[Daniel Rodmann]

Amazing, so many interesting studies mentioned, so surprised he is a political journalist. Hadnt he mentioned that in the beggning, I wouldve said he had masters in philosophy and psychology or some sort of social studies, then again journalism is a sort of social studies ey? PS: Loved the new intro.

[scientiaarsvita1]

It is disheartening to see RSA feature David Brooks. Brooks criticizes the Iraq war and the Bush admin. as if he didn't absolutely support both. Don't believe a word he says without checking facts and context from original sources.

Brooks excels at making things up to fit his world view. Check Issenberg's scathing review of "Bobos ..." Every time Brooks was caught in a lie, he claimed it was a joke. Brooks is not a journalist, much less a scientist.

Hubris incarnate. Beware!

[Drixicon]

Would I be incorrect in saying that this talk is a definite justification for a humanist religion? Or did I completely miss what he just said?

[tangent272]

I love the mental stimulation I get from RSA, pleasurable in its own right quite separate from what I actually learn here, But I do wish, when they talk about politics and economics like thsi, that they weren't almost invariably mired in the system as currently constituted. It feels like a terrible waste that these brilliant people are hamstrung in this way.

Personally I'd prefer if they had more of an anarchist emphasis. Anarchism doesn't work either, yet, but in my opinion it's closer.

[goingforthegold]

this is not a competition. let's do it together.

[goingforthegold]

@StinkyWater28 by limiting out consumption of resources?people are going to die either way! global warming and climate change are going to have a substantial amount of related deaths and suffering, not just in the global south.