KERA's Think The psychology of willful ignorance
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Jan 9, 2025 Mark Lilla, a Columbia University humanities professor and author of "Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know," discusses the allure of willful ignorance in our information-saturated lives. He explores Plato's cave allegory, revealing how we dodge uncomfortable truths for comfort. The conversation delves into misanthropy's impact on knowledge, critiques of nostalgic mindsets, and the tension between certainty and evolving information. Lilla emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, especially in light of societal challenges and conspiracy theories.
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Lilla's Cave Allegory
- Mark Lilla twists Plato's allegory of the cave by adding a boy who prefers ignorance.
- The boy finds the truth too painful, preferring the shadows of the cave.
Rational Ignorance
- People rationally avoid knowledge to maintain social life and protect themselves.
- We need privacy and surprises; knowing everything would halt relationships and self-development.
Fear of Truth
- Some fear truth, clinging to beliefs as extensions of themselves.
- They resist knowledge that challenges their identity, becoming defensive and closed-off.