We Are More Rational Than Those Who Nudge Us – Steven Poole – Aeon
our choices are much less the product of rational contemplation, and much more subject to manipulation, than we might like to believe.
Raj Patel • The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy
Philosophers David Hume and William James both understood the smallness of the individual human mind compared to the vast expanse of nature and society, and they emphasized the irrationalities of the human mind when facing the daily problems put before us. If we are building principles for politics, we need approaches which are relatively fortified
... See moreOur biological instincts are not always very well adapted to the information-rich modern world. Unless we work actively to become aware of the biases we introduce, the returns to additional information may be minimal—or diminishing.
Nate Silver • The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't
I could have also tapped the vast literature in psychology and economics, which tests the judgment and decision-making of undergraduates against benchmarks from statistics, probability, logic, and rationality. In many contexts, but not all, we humans make systemic logical errors, see illusory correlations, misattribute causal forces to random proce
... See moreJoseph Henrich • The Secret of Our Success
The irrationality. When it comes to making decisions, it’s clear that our brains are flawed instruments. But less attention has been paid to another compelling question: Given that we’re wired to act foolishly sometimes, how can we do better?