Arts & Ideas Rational and Irrational decision making
Oct 24, 2025
Bronwen Maddox, CEO of Chatham House, shares insights on global political trends. Lionel Barber, ex-editor of the Financial Times, discusses Masayoshi Son's visionary investments. Salma Shah, political adviser, reveals how urgency shapes government decisions. Patrick Foulis, foreign editor, questions the market's irrationalities, especially in gold prices. Philosopher Jonathan Egid examines the tension between reason and emotion in decision-making. The group dives into how irrationality drives significant political actions and market dynamics, ultimately finding value in the unpredictable.
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Extraterrestrial Threat Email
- Bronwen Maddox received a late-night email from a senior military figure suggesting Chatham House study an extraterrestrial invasion threat.
- She gently declined, framing it as too irrational for their agenda.
Lost Coat Panic In Beijing
- Lionel Barber panicked after leaving his overcoat at a conference in Beijing and assumed it was lost.
- He later discovered the coat belonged to David Miliband, showing how quick panic can override simple checks.
Markets Price Future Expectations
- Lionel Barber argued markets price future expectations, which can create bubbles when optimism outpaces likely earnings.
- He compared the AI boom to the dot-com bubble where valuations detached from near-term profits.
