The Knowledge Delusion | Chapter | Conversational Leadership

Introduction: Knowledge Delusion We delude ourselves about what we know and how we make decisions

The Difference Between Sense-making and Meaning-making What Are Beliefs? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter If we are to create a better world, we need to make better sense of things and improve the decisions we make, especially when it comes to global issues such as climate change, regional and religious conflict, poverty, and … Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Delusion We delude ourselves about what we know and how we make decisions

What Are Beliefs? Ideas that are held to be true but not necessarily supported by any evidence

Introduction: Knowledge Delusion Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Beliefs are ideas that we hold to be true. However, we have no evidence to support many of them. False beliefs lead us to the wrong conclusions. We need to question and challenge our beliefs continually. What … Continue reading What Are Beliefs? Ideas that are held to be true but not necessarily supported by any evidence

Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Reasoning - the process of thinking about something in order to make a decision

What Are Beliefs? Belief Systems Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Making sound conclusions is crucial. Distinguishing between deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning clarifies how we derive these conclusions. Understanding these reasoning forms enhances logical thinking and decision-making. Forms of Reasoning Reasoning is the process of forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or … Continue reading Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Reasoning – the process of thinking about something in order to make a decision

Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will

Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Attitudes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Belief systems shape our understanding of reality. They are interconnected networks of ideas, not always accurate representations of truth. Examining and evolving our beliefs, while challenging, is crucial for personal growth and social progress. A belief system is a … Continue reading Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will

Attitudes A tendency to think, or feel about someone or something in a certain way

Belief Systems What Are Mindsets? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter An attitude is a tendency to think or feel about someone or something in a certain way. Over time, we tend to form our attitudes from our underlying values and beliefs, but other factors, such as our cultural environment, also influence us. Researchers … Continue reading Attitudes A tendency to think, or feel about someone or something in a certain way

What Are Mindsets? Ways of thinking, mental inclinations, dispositions, or frames of mind

Attitudes Values Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Mindsets are our mental attitudes or approaches to a particular situation or task. They are shaped by our beliefs, values, and experiences and can impact our ability to adapt to change, solve problems, and achieve goals. What are mindsets? Mindsets are the collection of mental attitudes … Continue reading What Are Mindsets? Ways of thinking, mental inclinations, dispositions, or frames of mind

Values Values are beliefs we hold that something is good or desirable

What Are Mindsets? What Are Morals? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Values are the basis of personal and collective judgments about what is valuable in life. They influence our decision-making on all sorts of issues, primarily social, environmental, and political ones. Values Acquiring Values Values are established as a result of life experiences … Continue reading Values Values are beliefs we hold that something is good or desirable

What Are Morals? Principles of right or wrong behaviour

Values Knowledge and Information ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Morals are values. They are a set of principles that help us evaluate and distinguish right from wrong, good from bad for ourselves and society. What are morals? Morals are values. They are a set of principles that help us evaluate and distinguish … Continue reading What Are Morals? Principles of right or wrong behaviour

Knowledge and Information ** Knowledge and information are different substances

What Are Morals? The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Knowledge … Knowledge Our mind contains beliefs. We don’t know how these beliefs are stored, but it does not matter for my purposes here. One point to note, though, is that beliefs are not stored in the form of … Continue reading Knowledge and Information ** Knowledge and information are different substances

The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason socially

Knowledge and Information ** The Knowledge Delusion Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The argumentative theory of reasoning proposes that reason did not evolve to help us to reason individually but to reason together – in other words, socially. Reasoning is generally seen as the process of thinking about something to help us come … Continue reading The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason socially

The Knowledge Delusion We know far less than we think we do

The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason Knowledge Is Communal Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter As individuals, we know almost nothing compared to what we think we know. Our individual knowledge is mostly a delusion. We are ignorant of our ignorance. We have built hugely complex societies and technologies through cumulative cultural evolution, but … Continue reading The Knowledge Delusion We know far less than we think we do

Knowledge Is Communal Most of our knowledge resides in other people

The Knowledge Delusion The Extended Mind Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Most of what we consider our knowledge is an illusion as, in reality, it is distributed in other people’s minds. Knowledge is communal. Knowledge is communal As described in The knowledge delusion, we know almost nothing individually compared to what we think … Continue reading Knowledge Is Communal Most of our knowledge resides in other people

The Extended Mind The power of distributed cognition

Knowledge Is Communal Opinion Polarization Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Knowledge and cognition extend beyond our brains, involving people and objects around us. This distributed cognition means our thinking and decision-making are influenced by external factors. Understanding this can improve how we approach problem-solving and collaboration. Not only is our knowledge distributed, but … Continue reading The Extended Mind The power of distributed cognition

Opinion Polarization We are polarized across political, religious, moral, and racial divides

The Extended Mind Rethinking Our Beliefs Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Polarization of opinions is becoming more prevalent in today’s society and is creating both unrest at the societal level as well as conflict within small groups with different views. We are polarized across political, religious, moral, and racial divides. We fail to … Continue reading Opinion Polarization We are polarized across political, religious, moral, and racial divides

Rethinking Our Beliefs It is not easy to change our beliefs

Opinion Polarization Trust & Belief Formation Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Our beliefs are deeply rooted and are based on little evidence, yet we argue and fight over them. It is essential that we better understand the nature of our beliefs and how they are formed and learn to question and revise them. … Continue reading Rethinking Our Beliefs It is not easy to change our beliefs

Trust & Belief Formation Trust plays a critical role in forming our beliefs

Rethinking Our Beliefs The Allure of Simple Stories Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What we consider to be our personal knowledge is mostly a delusion. Most of the knowledge we think we own resides in other people’s minds. As I explained in the Knowledge Delusion, we each know very little. What we consider … Continue reading Trust & Belief Formation Trust plays a critical role in forming our beliefs

The Allure of Simple Stories We tend to readily accept uncomplicated narratives without verification

Trust & Belief Formation Our Tribal Nature Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Many false beliefs feel convincing because they rest upon simple, appealing stories. We tend to readily accept uncomplicated narratives without verification. What drives this habit, and how do we overcome it? Why do we accept simple stories? Several intertwined factors make … Continue reading The Allure of Simple Stories We tend to readily accept uncomplicated narratives without verification

Our Tribal Nature The human brain is hardwired to be tribal

The Allure of Simple Stories Tribal Thinking Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Humans are innately tribal. We need to belong to groups (tribes) and maintain fulfilling relationships with others. This need significantly impacts how we interact with each other and, in turn, society. Dictionary Definition A tribe is a group of people, often … Continue reading Our Tribal Nature The human brain is hardwired to be tribal

Tribal Thinking Tribe before truth

Our Tribal Nature Science Curiosity Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter We are innately tribal. We strongly need to belong to groups and maintain fulfilling relationships with others. This need to belong warps our reasoning ability. It is known as tribal thinking. The meaning of the word tribe In recent years, the word tribe … Continue reading Tribal Thinking Tribe before truth

Science Curiosity A desire to seek out and consume scientific information for pleasure

Tribal Thinking Discrediting People ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Motivated reasoning is where we look for arguments in favor of conclusions we want to believe, regardless of the evidence. This is a primary stumbling block in forming sound beliefs and making good decisions. However, if we are science-curious, we are more likely … Continue reading Science Curiosity A desire to seek out and consume scientific information for pleasure

Discrediting People ** Cause them to lose the respect or trust of others

Science Curiosity The Global Information Ecosystem Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter To discredit someone means to cause them to lose people’s respect or trust. We acquire most of our knowledge by accepting the beliefs of those people or institutions we trust, so discrediting authority figures or institutions is one of the most effective, … Continue reading Discrediting People ** Cause them to lose the respect or trust of others

The Global Information Ecosystem We live in a vast sea of information

Discrediting People ** Pollution of the Global Information Ecosystem Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Global Information Ecosystem is a metaphor for the vast sea of interrelated, mainly digital information, in which we live. As we move deeper into #World 2 and the digital age, everything goes digital, and we find ourselves living … Continue reading The Global Information Ecosystem We live in a vast sea of information

Pollution of the Global Information Ecosystem The contamination of information with false and misleading material

The Global Information Ecosystem Uncertainty ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Information pollution is the contamination of information with false and misleading material. Pollution of the info-ecosystem The quality of the information in our global information ecosystem is paramount. To reduce uncertainty and make good sensemaking and decision-making, we need to trust the … Continue reading Pollution of the Global Information Ecosystem The contamination of information with false and misleading material

Uncertainty ** Uncertainty refers to situations involving imperfect or unknown information

Pollution of the Global Information Ecosystem Filter Bubbles, Epistemic Bubbles and Echo Chambers Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Uncertainty refers to situations involving imperfect or unknown information. Uncertainty refers to situations involving imperfect or unknown information. The importance of high-quality information To make good decisions, envisage, or plan a future, strategize, and act … Continue reading Uncertainty ** Uncertainty refers to situations involving imperfect or unknown information

Filter Bubbles, Epistemic Bubbles and Echo Chambers Distort the reality of the world

Uncertainty ** What Are Cognitive Biases? Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Echo chambers, filter bubbles, and epistemic bubbles are confusing concepts and are often conflated, but they are distinct concepts. Filter Bubbles A filter bubble is a term used to describe the phenomenon of intellectual isolation that occurs when websites use algorithms to … Continue reading Filter Bubbles, Epistemic Bubbles and Echo Chambers Distort the reality of the world

What Are Cognitive Biases? Mistakes in reasoning, evaluating or remembering

Filter Bubbles, Epistemic Bubbles and Echo Chambers Motivated Reasoning ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts or tendencies that our brain uses to process information and make judgments. They can lead us to make poor decisions, overlook important details, and draw incorrect conclusions. Introduction Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts … Continue reading What Are Cognitive Biases? Mistakes in reasoning, evaluating or remembering

Motivated Reasoning ** Leads people to confirm what they already believe, while ignoring contrary data

What Are Cognitive Biases? The Difference Between Sense-making and Meaning-making Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Motivated reasoning is a cognitive bias in which an individual’s desire to believe or not believe in something influences their interpretation of new evidence. It refers to the tendency for people to selectively search for, interpret, favor, and … Continue reading Motivated Reasoning ** Leads people to confirm what they already believe, while ignoring contrary data

The Difference Between Sense-making and Meaning-making The terms have distinct meanings

Motivated Reasoning ** Introduction: Knowledge Delusion Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Sense-making and meaning-making are two terms that are often confused or used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Sense-making Sense-making is defined in many ways. Here is a definition by Gary Klein. Sense-making is the ability or attempt to make sense of … Continue reading The Difference Between Sense-making and Meaning-making The terms have distinct meanings

Virtual Conversations

The Two Pillars of Truth