Intelligence Squared Nervous States: How Feeling Took Over the World, with Will Davies and Carl Miller
May 26, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Will Davies, a Professor and author, teams up with Carl Miller, Research Director at Demos. They delve into why trust in facts and experts has dwindled, particularly during crises like COVID-19. The conversation explores how emotional responses have overshadowed rational discourse, the historical evolution of nationalism, and the challenges misinformation poses in modern politics. They also reflect on how shared beliefs and emotions shape community identity in an increasingly polarized world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Nervous States
- Our reliance on real-time information has increased, overwhelming our ability to process facts.
- This shift from fact-based reasoning to emotional responses creates a sense of constant alertness, or "nervous states".
Shifting Political Landscape
- The 17th-century pursuit of fact-based consensus is now challenged by emotionally driven politics.
- This shift is similar to the Napoleonic era, where leaders prioritized mobilization and misinformation over reasoned discourse.
Pandemic as a Case Study
- The pandemic highlights the tension between fact-based and emotion-driven responses.
- While experts gain influence, conspiracy theories and distrust also flourish, reflecting the book's core themes.
