Kenneth Cukier and Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, esteemed authors and thought leaders, discuss the transformative power of 'framing' in understanding modern issues. They illustrate how different perspectives can lead to vastly different conclusions, using examples from technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo argues that rethinking our frames can enhance decision-making while addressing challenges like climate change and social justice. They also touch on fostering pluralism in media and collaboration in creativity, emphasizing the importance of innovative thought in the 21st century.
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insights INSIGHT
Human Cognition vs. AI
Big data and AI are powerful tools, but they have limitations.
Human cognition is essential for creating good options, which AI cannot do.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Framing the Amazon Rainforest
Viewing the Amazon rainforest solely as timber leads to deforestation.
Recognizing its role as the "lungs of the planet" encourages preservation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Spotify's Reframing
Companies struggled to compete with Apple's music store model.
Spotify reframed music as an experience (streaming) and succeeded.
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In 'Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow', Yuval Noah Harari examines the future of humanity, predicting that in the 21st century, humans will strive for happiness, immortality, and god-like powers. The book discusses how technological developments, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, will shape human society. Harari speculates on the possibilities of overcoming death, creating artificial life, and the potential risks and philosophical implications of these advancements. He also explores the impact of humanism, individualism, and transhumanism on our future and questions the continued dominance of humans in a world increasingly driven by data and algorithms.
Big Data
A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think
Viktor Mayer-Schönberger
Kenneth Cukier
In this book, Mayer-Schönberger and Cukier discuss the revolution brought about by the ability to process vast amounts of data. They argue that this shift allows us to move from understanding causation to analyzing correlations, enabling new insights and applications. The authors explain how big data changes the way we approach problems, accepting messiness in data and focusing on predictive analytics rather than exact causality. They also address the implications of big data on privacy, decision-making, and various aspects of society[3][4][5].
Framers
Human Advantage in an Age of Technology and Turmoil
Kenneth Cukier
Viktor Mayer-Schönberger
Francis de Véricourt
This book explores the concept of framing, which is the ability to create mental models that enable us to perceive reality, solve problems, and make decisions. The authors argue that framing is a critical human function that stands out as computers become better at other cognitive tasks. They illustrate their case with examples such as how Spotify reframed music as an experience, the impact of the #MeToo movement, and the different approaches to handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The book emphasizes the importance of framing in navigating various challenges, from pandemics and populism to AI and climate change, and provides strategies for developing this skill through practice and expanding one's repertoire of frames.
Green Eggs and Ham
Dr Seuss
In this beloved children's book, Dr. Seuss tells the story of Sam-I-Am and his relentless efforts to persuade an unnamed character, often referred to as The Grump, to try green eggs and ham. Despite initial strong resistance and repeated refusals, Sam-I-Am's persistence eventually pays off when The Grump agrees to taste the dish and discovers he likes it. The story explores themes of persistence, trying new things, and the importance of experience in forming preferences. Written as a result of a bet between Dr. Seuss and his publisher to create a book using only 50 different words, 'Green Eggs and Ham' has become a timeless classic in children's literature[2][3][5].
The Open Society and Its Enemies
The Spell of Plato
Karl Popper
Written during World War II and published in 1945, 'The Open Society and Its Enemies' is a seminal work in political philosophy. Karl Popper critiques the theories of teleological historicism espoused by Plato, Hegel, and Marx, arguing that these theories undermine individual freedom and pave the way for authoritarian regimes. The book defends the open society and liberal democracy, emphasizing the importance of critical rationalism, individual freedom, and the ethos of scientific inquiry in politics. It also discusses the challenges facing open societies, including totalitarianism, dogmatism, and relativism, and advocates for a piecemeal approach to social reform.
An industrialist looks at a rain forest and sees trees to cut down and sell, while an environmentalist sees the ‘lungs of the planet’. To one person, complying with a mandate to wear a face mask in public during a pandemic is an act of communal responsibility. To another, it’s a denial of personal freedom. Same data, but opposite conclusions.
The reason for this, believe internationally acclaimed authors Kenneth Cukier and Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, is that we all look at the world through different ‘frames’. By recognising the frames that we are using, they say, we can all learn to rethink them and make better decisions. We can see the world in entirely new ways.
In May 2021 Cukier and Mayer-Schönberger came to Intelligence Squared to share their insights. In conversation with science writer Timandra Harkness they explained how our ability to adjust our vantage point on the world is the essential skill humanity needs for the 21st century and will help us address the looming challenges we face, from pandemics to populism, AI to cyberattacks, wealth inequality to climate change. As examples, they pointed to the way Spotify beat Apple by framing music as experience, how the #MeToo Twitter hashtag reframed the perception of sexual assault, and how, as they argued, the UK’s decision to frame Covid-19 as seasonal flu led to disaster, while New Zealand’s framing it as SARS led to only 26 deaths. The event was hosted by Timandra Harkness.
To buy the book click here: https://www.primrosehillbooks.com/product/framers-kenneth-cukier-viktor-mayer-schoenberger-francis-de-vericourt-bookomi/
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