RAND’s Post

This article from Michael Woudenberg on Default to Truth pairs well with Ethan Mollick article Superhuman? I encourage you to ponder the following 2 quotes from the article after you read it: 1)"we seem to default to believing what we really want to be true while often dismissing the actual truth" 2)"We only default to truth when it’s in our interest." Curious what insights and links people are able to make between the 2 articles - Default to Truth and Superhuman.

In 2024, researchers must turn the critical gaze *up* in order to (A) better understand the experiences and perceptions of those in power, and how those in power influence tropes and outcomes, and (B) curb the personal responsibility narrative placed on subjugated communities.

Just finished reading "The Constitution of Knowledge" by Jonathan Rauch - a powerful defense of truth in our polarized times. 📚🧠 In an era where: • All parties claim equal validity • Conspiracy theories run rampant • Cancel culture threatens open discourse • The very concept of truth seems under attack Rauch's work stands as a beacon, illuminating the time-tested methods and techniques that form the bedrock of knowledge creation. Key takeaways: 1. The importance of evidence-based reasoning 2. The role of institutions in validating knowledge 3. The dangers of epistemic tribalism 4. How to combat misinformation effectively This book is an essential tool for: ✅ Journalists seeking to uphold truth ✅ PR professionals navigating complex narratives ✅ Anyone committed to critical thinking Rauch reminds us that while all opinions may be voiced, not all carry equal weight in the "reality-based community." It's a call to reinvigorate our commitment to facts, reason, and the collaborative pursuit of truth. Have you read it? What are your thoughts on defending truth in the digital age? Let's discuss! #TheConstitutionOfKnowledge #CriticalThinking #MediaLiteracy #TruthMatters

Indigenous knowledge play such an important role in understanding history and science - https://lnkd.in/gwyFqntg

For those who are curious, here’s more about Arnold Mindell, process oriented psychology and deep democracy.

17 Mar 18:25: The Strongman Fantasy: And Dictatorship in Real Life: TIMOTHY SNYDER: 17 MAR 2024: ‘Quite a few Americans like the idea of strongman rule. Why not a dictator who will get things done? I lived in eastern Europe when memories of communism were fresh. I have visited regions in Ukraine where Russia imposed its occupation regime. I have spent decades reading reading testimonies of people who lived under Nazi or Stalinist rule. I have seen death pits, some old, some freshly dug. And I have friends who have lived under authoritarian regimes, including political prisoners and survivors of torture. Some of the people I trusted most have been assassinated. So I think that there is an answer to this question. Strongman rule is a fantasy. Essential to it is the idea that a strongman will be your strongman. He won't. In a democracy, elected representatives listen to constituents. We take this for granted, and imagine that a dictator would owe us something. But the vote you cast for him affirms your irrelevance. The whole point is that the strongman owes us nothing. We get abused and we get used to it’: Thank you, Timothy 🇺🇸 … and J Scott 🇺🇸:

At our October conference on Friendship and Politics, Marie Luise Knott (editor, translator and writer) presented the curious correspondences between Arendt and Ellison, revealing the cultural and discursive gaps between these two great minds of the 20th century. Then, in conversation with Jana Schmidt (Professor of German Studies, Bard College), Luise Knott further explores this fraught, fascinating dialogue. Watch the whole talk and conversation here! https://lnkd.in/eSH-vin5

A very insightful article.