The Problem With Trying To Be Rational - Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker is a Cognitive Psychologist at Harvard University, a psycholinguist and a Best Selling Author. It would be nice to always make the right decision. To escape the prison of human emotions and biases and operate from a purely rational place. Steven's new book breaks down rationality into its components in an attempt to understand just what we're all missing from our mental makeup. Expect to learn why betting websites are the most accurate forecasters of the future, why learning lists of cognitive biases won't always make you more effective, whether smart people are more or less rational on average, whether politics makes you dumber, how to balance rationality with a desire to be intuitive and present and much more... Sponsors: Join the Modern Wisdom Community to connect with me & other listeners - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Get 10% discount on your first month from BetterHelp at https://betterhelp.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours at https://www.drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Extra Stuff: Buy Rationality - https://amzn.to/3qtQ84X Follow Steven on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sapinker Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #stevenpinker #rationality #mentalmodels - 00:00 Intro 00:26 Is Studying Cognitive Biases Beneficial? 09:42 Applying Bayesian Reasoning in Life 22:20 Tensions between Rationality & Intuition 32:20 How Conspiracies Subvert Rationality 41:52 Conclusion - Join the Modern Wisdom Community on Locals - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Steven PinkerguestChris Williamsonhost

Jan 20, 202242mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: January 20, 2022
Duration: 42m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Steven Pinker is a Cognitive Psychologist at Harvard University, a psycholinguist and a Best Selling Author. It would be nice to always make the right decision. To escape the prison of human emotions and biases and operate from a purely rational place. Steven's new book breaks down rationality into its components in an attempt to understand just what we're all missing from our mental makeup. Expect to learn why betting websites are the most accurate forecasters of the future, why learning lists of cognitive biases won't always make you more effective, whether smart people are more or less rational on average, whether politics makes you dumber, how to balance rationality with a desire to be intuitive and present and much more... Sponsors: Join the Modern Wisdom Community to connect with me & other listeners - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Get 10% discount on your first month from BetterHelp at https://betterhelp.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours at https://www.drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Extra Stuff: Buy Rationality - https://amzn.to/3qtQ84X Follow Steven on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sapinker Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #stevenpinker #rationality #mentalmodels - 00:00 Intro 00:26 Is Studying Cognitive Biases Beneficial? 09:42 Applying Bayesian Reasoning in Life 22:20 Tensions between Rationality & Intuition 32:20 How Conspiracies Subvert Rationality 41:52 Conclusion - Join the Modern Wisdom Community on Locals - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Steven Pinker
guest
Chris Williamson
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Steven Pinker and Chris Williamson, The Problem With Trying To Be Rational - Steven Pinker explores steven Pinker Explains Why Perfect Rationality Is Impossible Yet Vital Steven Pinker and Chris Williamson explore why humans struggle to be rational, even when we know about cognitive biases and formal reasoning tools. They discuss the limits of intelligence as a safeguard against bias, the role of communities, norms, and prediction markets in improving judgment, and how Bayesian reasoning and expected utility can guide everyday decisions. Pinker emphasizes bounded rationality: reasoning itself has costs, so we must trade off optimal decisions against time, information, and cognitive effort. They also examine conspiratorial thinking, declining trust in institutions, and practical strategies for balancing rational analysis with intuition in real life choices.

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