The Next Big Idea

PRIMAL INTELLIGENCE: You’re Smarter Than You Realize

55 snips
Oct 2, 2025
Angus Fletcher, an English professor and narrative cognition researcher, shares insights from his book, Primal Intelligence. He discusses how humans excel in thinking through stories, contrasting it with machine logic. Fletcher reveals how narrative skills can improve decision-making and creativity, especially in high-pressure environments like the Army. He emphasizes the importance of intuition in recognizing exceptions and the role emotions play in guiding our plans. The conversation also tackles the value of storytelling in enhancing communication and managing anxiety in a tech-driven world.
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INSIGHT

Humans Think In Possibility Not Probability

  • Humans think in possibilities and stories while computers compute probabilities from past data.
  • In volatile, data-poor environments our evolved narrative cognition outperforms predictive machines.
INSIGHT

Intuition Is Spotting Exceptions

  • Intuition is not pattern-matching; it's spotting exceptions to rules and anomalies.
  • Children and expert operators excel because they detect deviations rather than only matching prior patterns.
ADVICE

Surround Yourself With Exceptions

  • Surround yourself with exceptions to train your intuition and regain childhood curiosity.
  • Travel deeply and disconnect from screens to make the familiar world look fresh again.
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