The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens The Three Most Important Words We’re Taught Not to Say
30 snips
Oct 24, 2025 The discussion delves into the cultural bias against admitting uncertainty, highlighting how society often values false confidence. Nate explores how stress from not knowing leads to quick, misguided answers, fueling significant disasters in history. The role of AI in amplifying overconfidence is examined, revealing its tendency to produce misleading information. He advocates for embracing 'I don’t know' as a pathway to curiosity and cooperative problem-solving, suggesting that fostering humility can lead to smarter, more resilient systems.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Confidence Over Humility
- Modern culture rewards confidence and treats "I don't know" as weakness rather than wisdom.
- Nate Hagens argues this bias undermines honest inquiry and nuanced public discourse.
Salomon Brothers Training Lesson
- At Salomon Brothers training, Nate learned to say "I don't know, but I will find out and get back to you."
- The lesson was drilled in to prevent bluffing and preserve credibility with clients.
Uncertainty Is Physically Stressful
- Uncertainty triggers physiological stress because our brains are prediction engines checking guesses against reality.
- This stress pushes people to pick a story quickly to shut the alarm off, favoring quick certainty over nuance.