Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Explanatory Depth and Growth Mindset (with Daniel Greene)
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May 26, 2021 
In this conversation, Daniel Greene, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, captivates listeners with insights on the illusion of explanatory depth—how we often overestimate our understanding. He discusses meaningful dialogue versus traditional debate for changing minds and introduces the concept of epistemic debt. Greene explores the growth mindset, its implications in education, and critiques its portrayal. He also emphasizes the role of personality traits in community dynamics and the potential of social science for positive change, balanced with ethical considerations.
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Illusion of Explanatory Depth
- The illusion of explanatory depth describes overestimating your understanding of something.
- Trying to explain it reveals this ignorance, a concept explored by philosophers like Socrates.
Policy Positions Study
- A 2013 study by Philip Fernbach revealed that explaining policy positions reduced extremity of views.
- Participants became less partisan and less willing to donate to their causes after explaining them.
Structured Disagreement
- Design discussions to encourage collaboration towards truth instead of point-scoring.
- Spencer Greenberg's workshops paired people with opposing views to explain and find the source of disagreement.