In the book Enlightenment 2.0, Joseph Heath outlines a program for a second Enlightenment. The answer, he argues, lies in a new “slow politics.” It takes as its point of departure recent psychological and philosophical research that identifies the social and environmental preconditions for the exercise of rational thought. It is impossible to restore sanity Continue reading Enlightenment 2.0: Restoring Sanity to Our Politics, Our Economy, and Our Lives by Joseph Heath (2014)
Street Epistemology is a conversational tool that helps people reflect on the quality of their reasons and the reliability of their methods used to derive their confidence level in their deeply-held beliefs. | Anthony Magnabosco Continue reading What Is Street Epistemology? Anthony Magnabosco
We are moving into a new period of human consciousness which we don’t yet fully understand. When we say a new period of human consciousness, we mean that the perception of the world will be different, at least as different as between the age of enlightenment and the medieval period, when the Western world moved from a religious perception of the … | Henry Kissinger Continue reading We Are Moving Into a New Period of Human Consciousness Henry Kissinger
In this book, The Scout Mindset, Julia Galef explains that we see what we want to see when it comes to what we believe. In other words, we have what Julia Galef calls a “soldier” mindset. From tribalism and wishful thinking to rationalizing in our personal lives and everything in between, we are driven to Continue reading Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don’t by Julia Galef (2021)
If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see. | Henry David Thoreau Continue reading Men Will Believe What They See. Let Them See Henry David Thoreau
video player The Future of Reasoning | Michael Stevens Posts where this video is embedded The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason sociallyTags: confirmation bias (5) | Dan Sperber (5) | deliberative democracy (12) | democracy (39) | distributed cognition (6) | extended mind (8) | Hugo Continue reading The Future of Reasoning Michael Stevens
Our spoken language allows us to do more than just share information — it enables us to think and reason together. | David Gurteen Continue reading Our Spoken Language Enables Us to Think Together David Gurteen
In this book, The Enigma of Reason, Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber argue that reason is not geared to solitary use, to arriving at better beliefs and decisions on our own. Reason, we are told, is what makes us human, the source of our knowledge and wisdom. If reason is so valuable, why didn’t it Continue reading The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding by Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier (2018)
My research examines the intuitive foundations of morality. I have found that moral reasoning is generally done post-hoc, to search for confirmation of our fast, automatic intuitive responses. I am therefore skeptical of the power of reasoning to bring us to the right conclusions, particularly when self-interest or reputational concerns are in … | Jonathan Haidt Continue reading Moral Reasoning Is Generally Done Post-hoc Jonathan Haidt
When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. | Dale Carnegie Continue reading When Dealing with People, We Are Not Dealing with Creatures of Logic Dale Carnegie
Reasoning was not designed to pursue the truth. Reasoning was designed by evolution to help us win arguments. Posts that link to this post What Are Cognitive Biases? Mistakes in reasoning, evaluating or rememberingTags: argument (33) | reasoning (55) | social reasoning (20) The Future of Reasoning How and Why We Reason Google Web Search Photo Continue reading The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason Reasoning was designed by evolution to help us win arguments
We have always struggled as human beings. But our struggle today is exacerbated by a gap between the increasingly complicated world we have created and the default ways we think about it. Twenty-first-century challenges are qualitatively different from those that generations of our ancestors faced, yet our thinking has not evolved to keep pace. We Continue reading Closing the Mind Gap: Making Smarter Decisions in a Hypercomplex World by Ted Cadsby (2014)
And so we need to start talking and listening. And when you talk it doesn’t mean you’re right. It doesn’t mean you’re correct. Right? It means you’re trying to articulate and formulate your thoughts like the boneheaded moron that you are. And you are going to stumble around idiotically because what the hell do you know. You are full of biases, and … | Jordan Peterson Continue reading We Need to Start Talking and Listening Jordan Peterson
Hugo Mercier’s central question is: ‘Do we discuss with each other just to be right, or to actually reason with one another?’ Hugo states that we discuss to persuade others and to judge arguments. By listening to what others have to say, we can evaluate our own thoughts and get to know if we or Continue reading How and Why We Reason Hugo Mercier (2015)
In this book, The Righteous Mind, Jonathan Haidt shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns. Credit: Amazon The Righteous Mind Continue reading The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt (2013)
In this book Enlightenment Now, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker assesses the human condition in the third millennium and urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases. Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness Continue reading Enlightenment Now: the Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker (2019)
Reasoning is often viewed as a tool for improving knowledge and making sound decisions. Yet research shows it frequently reinforces bias and distorts judgement. The argumentative theory reframes reasoning as a social tool for persuasion and evaluation, explaining both our failures alone and our strengths in dialogue. Abstract Reasoning is generally seen as a means Continue reading Why Do Humans Reason? Arguments for an Argumentative Theory Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber (2010)
Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them. | David Hume Continue reading Reason Is, and Ought Only to Be the Slave of the Passions David Hume (1739)
Reason tells us that political deliberation would be most fruitful if it treated governance more like scientific experimentation and less like an extreme-sports competition. | Steven Pinker Continue reading Treating Governance Like Scientific Experimentation Steven Pinker
Because so much disagreement remains hidden, our beliefs are not properly shaped by healthy scrutiny and debate. The absence of such argument also leads us to exaggerate the extent to which other people believe the way we do. | Thomas Gilovich Continue reading Our Beliefs Are Not Properly Shaped by Healthy Scrutiny and Debate Thomas Gilovich
In the book, Rebel Ideas, Matthew Syed examines the power of cognitive diversity — the ability to think differently about the world around us. He explains how to harness our unique perspectives, pool our collective intelligence, and tackle the greatest challenges of our age — from climate change to terrorism. AustraliaAustriaBrazilCanadaChinaCzech RepublicEgyptFranceGermanyGlobalIndiaItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsPolandSaudia ArabiaSingaporeSpainTurkeyUAEUnited KingdomUnited Continue reading Rebel Ideas: the Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed (2019)
People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it. | Anthony de Mello Continue reading People Mistakenly Assume That Their Thinking Is Done by Their Head Anthony de Mello
In this book, Conflicted, Ian Leslie draws essential lessons on how to disagree well from world-class experts: interrogators, hostage negotiators, divorce mediators, diplomats, and addiction counselors. It tells inspiring stories of productive disagreements, from the invention of the airplane to the success of The Rolling Stones, and combines them with fascinating insights from the science Continue reading Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together by Ian Leslie (2021)
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this. | Bertrand Russell Continue reading It Has Been Said That Man Is a Rational Animal Bertrand Russell
Our research shows that when students learn how to use talk to reason together, they become better at reasoning on their own. | Neil Mercer Continue reading Using Talk to Reason Together Neil Mercer
Teaching critical thinking alone is not a solution to helping people question their beliefs, it simply helps them to better post rationalize their beliefs. Credit: David Gurteen People: David Gurteen (1)David Gurteen Keynote speaker, writer and conversational facilitatorBooks: David Gurteen (80)A Conversation Architect Designs Strategic Conversations David GurteenAPM Conference: Conversational Leadership David Gurteen (2016)Being Truthful Continue reading Teaching Critical Thinking Alone Is Not a Solution to Helping People Question Their Beliefs David Gurteen
Julia Galef is co-founder of the Center for Applied Rationality. She is a writer and public speaker on the topics of rationality, science, technology, and design. WebsiteJulia GalefWikipediaJulia GalefRSS FeedJulia GalefX (Twitter)juliagalefYouTubeJulia GalefGoogleJulia GalefPosts: Julia Galef (2)Converse in Good Faith Be sincere, fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcomeScience Curiosity A desire to seek Continue reading Julia Galef Writer and public speaker
Productive disagreement depends on how people feel about each other. We spend a lot of time thinking about how to argue, and not enough on how to shape the relationship that will define how the engagement goes. It’s often said that in order to disagree well, people need to put emotions aside and think purely rationally, but this is a myth. … | Ian Leslie Continue reading Productive Disagreement Depends on How People Feel About Each Other Ian Leslie
video player Why do we believe things that aren’t true? | Philip Fernbach Transcript One Transcript starting at 2:10 to 3:38. (I’ve highlighted some of the text to draw attention to the more pertinent points.) As human beings, false belief is our birthright. It stems from fundamental principles that govern the way our minds work Continue reading Why Do We Believe Things That Aren’t True? Philip Fernbach (2017)
In these meetings individuals exchange their data, conclusions, reasoning and questions with others. Although the cognitive benefits to the receiver of such an exchange are apparent, there is evidence that it is the speaker who makes the greatest cognitive gains from the exchange. Individuals organize information differently if they are going to present it to others than if they are trying to … | David W. Johnson and Roger T. Johnson Continue reading It Is in Speaking That We Organize Cognitively What We Know David W. Johnson and Roger T. Johnson
Thinking — or reasoning — involves objectively connecting present beliefs with evidence in order to believe something else. Credit: David T. Moore Comment: True reasoning requires a willingness to adjust our beliefs when faced with compelling evidence, a critical skill in both decision-making and leadership.Tags: beliefs (66) | critical thinking (49) | David T. Moore Continue reading Connecting Beliefs and Evidence David T. Moore
Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding–and also appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and conspiracy theorizing? In this book Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters, Steven Continue reading Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters by Steven Pinker (2021)
Intellectual humility is the recognition that our reasoning is so flawed, so prone to bias, that we can rarely be certain that we are right. | Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt Continue reading Intellectual Humility Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt
The Knowledge Illusion | Steven Sloman AustraliaAustriaBrazilCanadaChinaCzech RepublicEgyptFranceGermanyGlobalIndiaItalyJapanMexicoNetherlandsPolandSaudia ArabiaSingaporeSpainTurkeyUAEUnited KingdomUnited States As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission when you purchase a book via this site. Posts where this book is embedded Knowledge Is Communal Most of our knowledge resides in other people The Knowledge Delusion We know far less than we Continue reading The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone by Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach (2018)
Tacit knowledge is a type of knowledge that is difficult to express or communicate through words. It is a vital component of human expertise and plays a crucial role in enabling us to adapt to new situations, solve complex problems, and drive innovation and progress. Continue reading The Importance of Tacit Knowledge Tacit knowledge is knowledge that is difficult to transfer
We often use words like thinking, reasoning, and cognition interchangeably, but they refer to different layers of how we engage with the world internally. Drawing clear distinctions between them helps us become more aware of how we process information, make decisions, and navigate complexity. Cognition: The Broad Landscape Cognition is the most encompassing of the three. It refers to all the … Continue reading Introduction: Thinking Together Cognition, thinking and reasoning
Reasoning is usually treated as a tool for forming sound beliefs and decisions. Yet research on cognitive bias suggests our individual reasoning is often unreliable and shaped by hidden distortions. Social reasoning offers an alternative: we think better together, testing ideas through dialogue and shared critique rather than alone. Continue reading The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason socially
The Enlightenment, known as the “Age of Reason,” was a profound intellectual exploration in the 17th and 18th centuries. It challenged traditional authority by advocating reason, freedom, and secular governance. This shift in thought laid the groundwork for modern political and social structures, emphasizing liberty, progress, and tolerance. Continue reading The Enlightenment The Age of Reason
As AI increasingly shapes our world, we need to consider its effect on critical thinking. The Myth of Thamus and Theuth cautions against overreliance on technology for knowledge. Cultivating human understanding alongside AI allows us to benefit from it while preserving crucial reasoning skills. Continue reading Artificial Intelligence and the Quest for Knowledge Exploring the parallels between Plato’s Phaedrus and the challenges of GenAI
The world faces many intricate challenges that require critical thinking and nuanced analysis. If used creatively, chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can enhance our critical thinking capacities. By interacting with chatbots innovatively, we can sharpen our skills and tackle complex problems more effectively. Continue reading Chatbots as Critical Thinking Partners Stimulating critical thinking is one of the most powerful application of chatbots
Critical thinking objectively analyzes, evaluates, and synthesizes information to form a reasoned judgment or decision. It involves using logic and reasoning to examine assumptions, arguments, evidence, and alternative perspectives to arrive at well-informed and justified conclusions. Definition: critical thinkingGlossaryCritical thinking is the process of carefully examining information, … Continue reading Critical Thinking ** Analyzing information and arguments to make sound judgments and decisions
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. Continue reading Three Forms of Reasoning Understanding deductive, inductive, and abductive logic
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. Continue reading What Are Cognitive Biases? Mistakes in reasoning, evaluating or remembering
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 recall information in a way that confirms or denies their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while giving less consideration to alternative perspectives. … Continue reading Motivated Reasoning ** Leads people to confirm what they already believe, while ignoring contrary data
Think Together: Thinking is not just something we do alone. Our deepest insights often arise in conversation, shaped by diverse perspectives and the connections between us. “Think Together” is about creating the space to explore differences, listen carefully, and allow new ideas to emerge that none of us could reach alone. Continue reading Think Together A Conversational Leadership Practice Area
We rely on different ways to know what is true. Some are reliable, but others mislead us more often than we realise. By understanding the limits of custom, authority, and intuition, and focusing on more dependable approaches like observation, logic, and evidence, we can make better sense of the world. Continue reading Ways of Knowing Ways of acquiring knowledge
Schools rightly prioritise numeracy and literacy as the core foundations of learning. Yet listening and speaking, the capacities that shape how we think together, receive far less attention and are rarely examined. Oracy deserves equal standing alongside reasoning, understanding, and meaningful human connection. Continue reading Oracy The ability to express oneself in and understand spoken language
