Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Issue 284 – February 2024
In the opening of my newsletter last month, I discussed the potential for what I refer to as a new era of enlightenment, which could aptly be described as a “Conversational Enlightenment.”
I invited anyone interested in exploring this idea further to reach out, and two individuals did so. I have since connected and engaged in intriguing discussions with both. While it’s still early, I hope these conversations will lead to something meaningful.
However, I am eager to speak with more people who recognize the potential of conversation. If you’re interested in talking, please get in touch.
Contents
- Knowledge Summit Dublin
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 10th -11th June 2024 - Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary Proof
The Carl Sagan Standard - Insights From Chatbots
Oxytocin helps us pay closer attention to body language and facial cues - The One Who Loves More
Is vulnerable - Knowledge Café Events February 2024
Events coming up in February and March 2024 - Plato's Warning
How debates can subvert truth - Please support my work
- Unsubscribe
- Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Knowledge Summit Dublin
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 10th -11th June 2024
There are not many knowledge management conferences these days, but there's an exceptional one scheduled at Trinity College in Dublin this June — Knowledge Summit Dublin.
The speaker lineup is outstanding, featuring a list of prominent figures in knowledge management. I will be speaking at the event, and it would be wonderful to see many of you there.
Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary Proof
The Carl Sagan Standard
"Extraordinary claims need extraordinary proof," a saying often credited to Carl Sagan, highlights a fundamental scientific and critical thinking principle.
It means that if someone makes an unlikely or unusual claim, they need solid and convincing evidence to support it. Such claims, which go against what is typically accepted or expected, demand more rigorous proof because they challenge our current understanding and could significantly change our beliefs.
This concept is vital in science and skepticism, urging people to carefully scrutinize unusual claims and demanding more substantial evidence for ideas that differ from well-established scientific principles. In essence, Sagan's phrase reminds us that claims challenging the norm require more compelling evidence to be credible.
Insights From Chatbots
Oxytocin helps us pay closer attention to body language and facial cues
I was curious about how oxytocin affects conversations, so I asked ChatGPT about it. The AI explained that, among other effects, oxytocin helps us pay closer attention to body language and facial cues. Little insights like this demonstrate how helpful AI assistants can be.
I asked ChatGPT for references since I know it sometimes has fabricated sources. However, the chatbot provided several actual research papers with links. I checked them out, and they were genuine academic references. Here's one example it cited: Oxytocin and Facial Emotion Recognition.
Discovering how our body's chemicals shape social interactions is fascinating. The human body is remarkable in ways we're still unraveling. Conversations with AI tools like ChatGPT can reveal handy bits of insight, especially when verified against credible sources.
The One Who Loves More
Is vulnerable
I watched the film "Nowhere in Africa" on a plane trip some years ago and jotted down this quote from the movie. In the film, Max, Jettel's father-in-law, says this to her about his son.
One person always loves more.
That's what makes it so difficult.
And the one who loves more is vulnerable.
Credit: Max in the film Nowhere in Africa
It resonated with something I have long felt — that in a relationship, the one who loves more puts themselves at a disadvantage and is vulnerable. It's a problem, but to my mind, it is an acceptable part of the price of loving more. It could not be any other way.
It is similar to this quote from the film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past".
Someone once told me that the power in all relationships lies with whoever cares less, and he was right.
But power isn't happiness, and I think that maybe happiness comes from caring more about people rather than less ...
Credit: Connor Mead in the film Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Knowledge Café Events February 2024
Events coming up in February and March 2024
I'm hosting or co-hosting three events in February and March that I think you may be interested in:
Washington DC, Knowledge Café, Zoom: Thursday, February 29th, 15:30 to 17:00 GMT: What impact does the Conversational Leadership "AI coach" have?
Gurteen Knowledge Café Workshop, Zoom: Thursday, February 15th, 2024, 15:00 to 19:00 GMT, How to design and host a Gurteen Knowledge Café
If you live in or around London, I will be hosting my second in-person Knowledge Café of the year on the evening of Wednesday, March 27th, at Oliver Wyman. The event will be titled "What will AI's impact be on Knowledge Management?" Ron Young will be a guest speaker. More details will be available later.
If you would like to receive regular updates about my upcoming events, please sign up for notifications here.
Plato's Warning
How debates can subvert truth
I recently read an interesting article about why Plato thought debates can often be stupid and dangerous.
The article argues that debate is more like a sport, with winners and losers than a sincere pursuit of truth. Debaters often use tricks like false dilemmas, personal attacks, and misdirection to "win" rather than have a meaningful dialogue.
Plato criticized the Greek Sophists for misusing rhetoric. He felt they used rhetorical tricks to persuade audiences rather than using reasoned discourse to seek truth.
I found this critique thought-provoking in our current age of charged public debates and "gotcha" arguments. We could benefit from having more open, nuanced discussions aimed at understanding different views rather than just defeating opponents.
You can read the full article here:
bigthink.com/thinking/plato-debates-sophists/
Please help support my work.
I have been publishing the Gurteen Knowledge Letter every month for over 20 years, and most of you have received it for five years or more. My Knowledge Café also recently had its 20thth birthday in September 2022.
If you find my work valuable, please consider supporting me by donating $1 (or more) a month to become a Patron or making a small one-off contribution. Your assistance will help cover some of my website hosting expenses.
I have over 50 patrons so far. Thank you all.
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Gurteen Knowledge Letter
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly e-mail-based newsletter. Its purpose is to stimulate thought about Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management. You can find back issues here.
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It is sponsored by the Henley Forum of the Henley Business School, Oxfordshire, England.
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David GURTEEN
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom