Advancements in technology and access to information may free our brains from unnecessary knowledge, allowing for more profound and abstract thinking.
Our perception of truth is shaped by cultural contexts, evolving over time to reflect societal changes and new understandings.
The Flynn Effect suggests that IQ scores have risen due to the increasing importance of abstract reasoning skills in the information age.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Knowledge and the Potential for Wisdom
As technology and access to information continue to advance, our brains may be stripped of unnecessary knowledge, allowing us to think more deeply and potentially become modern-day Plato's and Aristotle's. By removing the need to remember facts and figures, we may be able to focus on more important and abstract reasoning, leading to a new level of wisdom and intellectual exploration.
The Influence of Culture and Truth Perception
Throughout history, our perception of truth has evolved. From ancient civilizations to modern times, cultural contexts shape our understanding of truth and what we consider as knowledge. What may have been considered true in the past, such as problematic views on race or gender, now appear offensive or outdated. The social and cultural context influences what we believe to be true, and as societies change, so does our perception of truth.
The Flynn Effect and the Rise of Abstract Reasoning
The Flynn Effect suggests that IQ scores have been rising over the past century, particularly in abstract reasoning tasks. This may be attributed to shifting societal contexts, where abstract reasoning skills have become increasingly important in the information-digital age. As society transitions from agriculture to industry to information processing, more individuals are reasoning abstractly, leading to an overall increase in IQ scores in these domains.
The Role of Wisdom in Decision-Making
Wisdom plays a crucial role in making important decisions, as seen in examples such as the framing of the American Constitution and the decision to use atomic bombs in World War II. Wise counsel and the consideration of long-term consequences are critical in these moments. However, in contemporary decision-making processes like Brexit, wisdom often takes a backseat to political slogans and nativist sentiments. The importance of wisdom in major decision-making should not be overlooked.
The Importance of Thoughtful and Wise Individuals in Politics
The podcast episode discusses the lack of intelligent and insightful individuals in politics. The speaker questions why brilliant minds like scientists or academics do not go into politics. They highlight figures like the scientist in charge of the Mars Explorer program and the late physicist Richard Feynman as examples of people with wide interests and knowledge who could have contributed positively to politics. The speaker suggests that the press and mainstream media's short attention span and sensationalism contribute to overshadowing these individuals.
Challenges and Reforms in Education
The podcast episode delves into the current state of education, focusing on schools and universities. The speaker expresses concerns about the lack of discipline and emphasis on material possessions among students. They question the prioritization of sports in universities over academic departments and express support for the idea of free education and reforms in both K-12 and higher education. The speaker also mentions the digitization of museum collections and the need for museums to adapt and find new ways to engage visitors in the digital age.
How humans transfer knowledge through time might affect our ability to think.
With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things — no need for math, no need for map-reading, no need for memorization — are we risking our ability to think? Simon Winchester takes a deep dive into learning and the human mind, and forces us to ponder what rational humans are becoming.
Shermer and Winchester discuss: how to become a professional writer • ChatGPT, GPT-4, and AI • knowledge as justified true belief • What is truth? • Are we living in a post-truth world? • education, past and present • books and the printing press • the history and future of encyclopedias • museums: repatriating objects taken during colonialism • print and broadcast journalism • internet and knowledge.
Simon Winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including The Professor and the Madman, The Men Who United the States, The Perfectionists, The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906, Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World, and Krakatoa, most of which were New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. In 2006, Winchester was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen. He resides in western Massachusetts. His new book is Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
