It's Hard to Gross Out a Libertarian: Jonathan Haidt on Sex, Politics, and Disgust

"Morality isn't just about stealing and killing and honesty, it's often about menstruation, and food, and who you are having sex with, and how you handle corpses," says NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who is author of THE RIGHTEOUS MIND: WHY GOOD PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED BY POLITICS.

Haidt argues that our concern over these victimless behaviors is rooted in our biology. Humans evolved to feel disgusted by anything that when consumed makes us sick. That sense of disgust then expanded "to become a guardian of the social order."

This impulse is at the core of the culture war. Those who have a low sensitivity to disgust tend to be liberals or libertarians; those who are easily disgusted tend to be conservative.

Haidt discussed his views on morality and politics at an event hosted by the Reason Foundation, which was held on February 19, 2013 at the Museum of Sex. Haidt's lecture was followed by a Q&A with New York Times Science Columnist John Tierney.

Approximately 35 minutes. Camera by Jim Epstein and Naomi Brockwell. Edited by Epstein.

Go to http://Reason.com/Reason.tv for downloadable versions of this video and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic notifications when new material goes live.

• Category

  News & Politics

[666or999]

There really isn't a large libertarian opposition to 'redefining marriage' libertarians generally don't care how the government defines marriage and argue that the government shouldn't control marriage anyway.

'As marriage culture declined in Scandinavian countries, government spending increased' As a rule you can pick any country and the chances are that their spending has increased it's just how the world is at the moment. It's a bit of a leap to say that is effected by that obscure variable.

[Greg Gauthier]

Ok, look, my main point wasn't to debate anarchism. But I can do that if you want.

I just wanted to point out that the speaker in this video is tossing out a whole bunch of unsupported generalizations, and no one is questioning him. Libertarians are more likely to think it's OK to fuck quadriplegic little girls? Really? Seriously? What hooey.

[pianokid100]

He just dismantled his premise by stating that he supports gay marriage because many people are gay, but is against beastiality because there isn't a loud vocal movement. That's not very Benthamite. Also, although homosexuality doesn't cause "physical pain", it does have consequences for society (aids [1 in 5 American gay men have HIV], the possibility of evolutionary failure by producing pricey that will grow up homosexual and defeat your genetic investment, lower reproductive rate, etc)

[TheLDW]

He's working on the assumption that everyone wants to legislate their moral views. There are things I think are immoral, but I don't think they should be illegal. The two are not the same.

[Spanakoptia07]

I don't like christians.

[sinuoussausage]

I'm of the opinion that being rational is being compassionate. Hysterical people talk all about how much they "care" while sucking the very life and sanity out of anything.

[TANKHOWLAND]

I still don't like gays.

[Christopher Denning]

Is there more video to this talk? It feels like it kinda gets cut off at the end, and if there's more I'd like to see it.

[Gerald Davis]

No surprise. I have asperger syndrome

[moretap]

Yes, there are not many libertarian reasons to want government in the business of marriage at all, but especially in the business of refining it for all of society. I see no reason for Libertarians to want government endorse same-sex marriage. There is also the Libertarian position of letting government support the liberty of families that procreate. Liberty for family and future citizens is prior to many other liberties. Wherever the family is weak the government can come in and take over.