Order of Man DR. STEVEN PINKER | How Common Knowledge Hurts and Helps Us
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Oct 21, 2025 
Dr. Steven Pinker, a renowned cognitive psychologist and Harvard professor, dives deep into the intriguing realm of common knowledge and its impact on social dynamics. He questions why people often uphold unspoken rules and explores the tricky balance between honesty and social finesse. Pinker tackles the Abilene Paradox, revealing how group conformity can cloud judgment. He also shares insights on cultivating male virtues and the importance of initiation rituals, reminding us that navigating truth requires a blend of honesty and compassion.
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Technical Meaning Of Common Knowledge
- Common knowledge means everyone knows something and knows that everyone else knows it, ad infinitum.
- This recursive visibility changes coordination, norms, and what can be publicly enforced.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Example
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell let gay soldiers serve without public acknowledgment of homosexuality.
- The policy kept private knowledge private while avoiding public admission that would offend some constituencies.
The Function Of Fig Leaves In Policy
- Laws are sometimes unenforced while public deniability preserves the authority of law.
- Keeping transgressions out of common knowledge spares officials from admitting enforcement limits.
