Religion, Evolution, and the Ecstasy of Self-Transcendence

1. What is self-transcendence?

a. The ability to transcend one's own personal identity and ambitions is referred to as self-transcendence in
religious meditation and awareness.

2. What example of self-transcendence does Haidt describe?

a. Haidt uses the metaphor of the intellect as a building with many amenities that the person may be
familiar with to illustrate self-transcendence. Assuming a gateway appears someplace and a stairway

follows it, people will climb the stairs, which will lead them to a higher level of consciousness.

3. Where is the surprising place Haidt discusses and why do many people report finding self-transcendence there?

a. Conflict is in fact an unanticipated environment in which people might develop self-transcendence,

according to Haidt.

4. According to French sociologist Emile Durkheim, what is the function of religion?

a. According to Durkheim, the goal of faith is to foster in people a sense of sanctity that may be used to bind
them together as a community.

5. According to Haidt, why does the staircase feel good to us?

a. According to Haidt, the stairs imparts a nice sense since, as one climbs the stairway, one becomes less
captivated, which gives one the idea that others appear to be respectable and decency people.

6. What is group selection? What example does Haidt provide?

a. Team choice, as opposed to spontaneous decision, is a particular type of growth, according to Haidt.
Take into consideration the following fictitious situation to better understand team selection: several

hamsters. Initially, such creatures usually cooperate to remain helpful, but as the population grows and

things change, one or more of them may decide to act selfishly in place of cooperating.

7. Describe the free rider problem.

a. The free rider problem arises when people work for little to no pay while putting out almost little effort.
Utilizing the work they've put in for their own gain.

8. What are two examples from nature of group selection?

a. The body's natural method of introducing a unique collection of deoxyribonucleic acid into the core, which
is different from the deoxyribonucleic acid present in germs, serves as an illustration. The cooperation of

honeybees to construct beehive houses is in fact a separate instance.

9. Relate what you learned in this video to your own life. Have you ever had an experience of self-transcendence or

group selection? Explain.

a. I believe I had one, but I can't recall what it was.