Steven Pinker: Why humans aren't as irrational as they seem

TL;DR

Humans have the capacity for rationality but often exhibit irrational behavior and hold irrational beliefs due to cognitive biases and the influence of motivation, personal beliefs, and mythology.

Transcript

i'm not really to write off our species as irrational although there's no question that we we do have outbursts of the irrationality and they are all too plentiful what do you mean by rationality i define it as the use of knowledge to attain goals that means that there's not a single tool of rationality but it depends what what it is you're after i... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔨 Rationality is context-dependent, requiring different tools for different outcomes.
• 🛟 Humans employ rationality in specific areas of their lives but struggle with universal application.
• ❓ Motivated reasoning and the my-side bias contribute to the persistence of irrational beliefs, often influenced by political affiliation.
• 🛟 Mythological beliefs serve emotional and moral purposes, often remaining impervious to evidence or reason.
• ⌛ Beliefs in paranormal phenomena and conspiracy theories have remained relatively stable over time, suggesting that humanity's rationality has not significantly worsened.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does rationality mean, and why do humans struggle to apply it universally?

Rationality involves using knowledge to achieve goals, but the tools needed differ depending on the desired outcome. Humans struggle to apply rationality universally because they lack the capacity to calculate probabilities, distinguish correlation from causation, or evaluate larger issues beyond their day-to-day existence.

Q: How do motivated reasoning and the my-side bias impact rationality?

Motivated reasoning occurs when individuals direct their reasoning toward beliefs they want to be true, leading to the validation of invalid arguments. The my-side bias further reinforces this process by aligning reasoning with sacred beliefs or shibboleths, creating biased conclusions based on political affiliation.

Q: Why do people hold irrational beliefs regarding subjects like climate change?

People's beliefs regarding climate change are often influenced by their political affiliations rather than scientific literacy. Deniers of climate change are not necessarily more ignorant of science than believers, highlighting the impact of political bias on forming irrational beliefs.

Q: What role do mythological beliefs play in the persistence of irrationality?

Mythological beliefs serve as a substitute for the truth, providing moral benefits rather than factual accuracy. These beliefs are often impervious to evidence or reason and are held for their emotional or moral impact, rather than their empirical support.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rationality is defined as the use of knowledge to achieve goals, but different tools are needed depending on the desired outcome, such as logic, Bayesian reasoning, or game theory.

• While humans can be rational in specific contexts, they lack the tools to apply rationality to larger issues and often rely on subject matter knowledge and beliefs.

• Humans form irrational beliefs due to motivated reasoning, the tendency to confirm existing beliefs, the my-side bias, directed reasoning towards conclusions that align with their beliefs, and mythological beliefs that serve moral or emotional purposes.