Robert Sapolsky, a professor of neuroscience and biology at Stanford, and Francis Fukuyama, a political scientist also from Stanford, dive into the barriers preventing mind changes. They discuss the ego, social pressures, and the psychological costs that inhibit political figures from shifting positions. The dialogue highlights how cognitive dissonance affects political beliefs and the complexities of global governance. Additionally, they explore the dual nature of humanity, balancing cruelty with cooperation, and the importance of flexible thinking in fostering understanding.
There are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging people to change their minds? And how can we get better at it ourselves?
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