Subscribe to Heretics Clips here: https://www.youtube.com/@hereticsclips/videos

Why do woke leftists seem to struggle with humour? According to world-renowned psychiatrist and author Dr. Iain McGilchrist, the answer lies deep within the human brain. In this fascinating Heretics interview, McGilchrist explains the scientific reasons behind the phenomenon — and how our divided brain is shaping everything from political ideology to the culture wars.

Drawing on decades of research into neuroscience and psychology, McGilchrist breaks down the profound differences between the brain’s left and right hemispheres. He argues that modern society has become dangerously dominated by left-hemisphere thinking — analytical, literal, and rigid — at the expense of the right hemisphere’s openness, empathy, and ability to see the bigger picture.

When it comes to humour, this imbalance matters. McGilchrist reveals how the right hemisphere is essential for understanding irony, satire, and nuance — all of which are key to comedy. Without it, jokes are taken literally, punchlines fall flat, and humour is mistaken for offence. The result? A humourless, overly sensitive political culture where outrage replaces laughter.

But McGilchrist’s argument goes far beyond comedy. He warns that this left-hemisphere dominance is fuelling polarisation, stoking the culture wars, and creating a “deluded world” where ideology trumps reality. In his view, the woke left’s lack of humour is just one symptom of a deeper cognitive shift that affects everyone — not just one side of politics.

This is a conversation that combines cutting-edge neuroscience with cultural analysis, offering a rare scientific perspective on why our political debates have become so toxic. McGilchrist’s insights will make you rethink how the brain shapes our beliefs, behaviours, and even our ability to laugh at ourselves.

Whether you agree with him or not, you’ll come away from this interview with a clearer understanding of how our minds work — and why that matters in an age of division.

👉 Subscribe now to Heretics Clips for more thought-provoking interviews with leading thinkers who challenge conventional wisdom and explain the world in new ways.

Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxupgRr-qwI

#IainMcGilchrist #HereticsClips #WokeCulture #SenseOfHumour #Neuroscience #DividedBrain #CultureWar #PoliticalHumour #Psychology

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices