Offline with Jon Favreau
ScarJo v. AI, the Digital Guillotine, and Why We Play Make Believe with Misinformation
May 26, 2024
Professor Neil Van Leeuwen discusses the difference between thinking and believing, groupish thought, and the similarities between religious creeds and political ideologies. They also delve into Scarlett Johansson's AI controversy, the impact of misinformation in the digital era, and the emotional responses triggered when symbolic beliefs are challenged.
01:10:13
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Quick takeaways
- Our minds distinguish between factual understanding and symbolic beliefs, forming the basis of religious and ideological beliefs.
- Symbolic beliefs impact behaviors and identity signaling, shown in examples like conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine sentiments.
Deep dives
The Two-Map Cognitive Structure in Belief Formation
Our minds operate in two layers, distinguishing between factual understanding and symbolic beliefs. Children play and form groups around imaginative ideas, leading to the formation of larger beliefs like religions or ideologies. This two-map cognitive structure helps us balance factual beliefs with symbolic actions.
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