Quillette Podcast

The Modular Mind

10 snips
Aug 28, 2025
Rob Kurzban, an evolutionary psychologist and author of 'Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite,' dives into the intricacies of the modular mind. He discusses how our perceptions often conflict with societal norms, revealing the complexities of self-esteem and willpower. Kurzban also unpacks fascinating concepts like brain modularity through split-brain phenomena and explores how ignorance can be socially advantageous, demonstrating the unexpected benefits of self-deception in human interactions. Get ready for a mind-bending exploration of consciousness!
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INSIGHT

The Illusion Of A Single Inner Controller

  • People naturally feel like a single
INSIGHT

Two Minds, One Story

  • Split-brain patients reveal separate decision systems that create post-hoc explanations.
INSIGHT

We Misattribute Our Motives

  • Many behaviors stem from modules you cannot introspect, so explanations often mislead.
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