Tim Urban, founder of Wait But Why, discusses the need for critical thinking, societal polarization, the power of persuasion in driving change, importance of diverse perspectives, and the impact of political polarization on personal relationships.
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Quick takeaways
High rung thinking involves developing deep knowledge and understanding of issues, being open to different perspectives, and engaging in nuanced and respectful debates.
Group dynamics play a crucial role in shaping individual thinking styles, with echo chambers perpetuating low rung thinking and idea labs fostering high rung thinking.
Thinking like a scientist, seeking criticism and constantly improving, leads to growth and better outcomes, while low rung thinking hinders progress and creates divisiveness.
Deep dives
The Importance of High Rung Thinking
High rung thinking involves developing deep knowledge and understanding of issues, being open to different perspectives, and engaging in nuanced and respectful debates. High rung thinkers have strong convictions based on informed opinions and are willing to challenge their own beliefs. They prioritize persuasion, collaboration, and free speech to foster intellectual growth and progress in society.
The Pitfalls of Low Rung Thinking
Low rung thinking, on the other hand, is characterized by shallow understanding, tribalism, and a reliance on coercion tactics. Low rung thinkers often adopt strong opinions without deeply examining the issues, resulting in hypocrisy and flip-flopping. They tend to stay within echo chambers and demonize those who disagree with them. This type of thinking hinders intellectual growth and impedes productive discourse.
Genies vs. Golems: Group Dynamics
Group dynamics play a crucial role in shaping individual thinking styles. Echo chambers, where conformity and agreement are valued, perpetuate low rung thinking and discourage individual growth. On the other hand, idea labs foster high rung thinking by creating a culture of intellectual honesty, respectful disagreement, and pursuit of truth. Genies, or idea labs, can catalyze innovative ideas and scientific progress, while golems, or echo chambers, stifle creativity and hinder intellectual development.
Importance of Thinking Like a Scientist
Thinking like a scientist is crucial not only in scientific experiments, but also in political beliefs. By adopting the scientific paradigm of seeking criticism and constantly improving, individuals can make significant progress and find better solutions. This approach involves acknowledging flaws in one's own ideas, being open to criticism, and continuously striving for accuracy and effectiveness. Choosing to be a real thinker, willing to learn from opposing viewpoints, leads to growth and better outcomes.
The Destructive Power of Low Rung Thinking
Low rung thinking, such as zealotry and identifying too strongly with one's own ideas, hinders progress and creates divisiveness. When individuals become zealots or attorneys for their beliefs, they prioritize their desired outcome over truth and objectivity. This mindset erodes the ability to engage in productive discussion, consider opposing viewpoints, and evolve one's thinking. Recognizing the harmful consequences of low rung thinking is crucial for building a society that values critical thinking, open dialogue, and intellectual growth.
Tim Urban is on a mission to increase our collective ability for critical thinking. He is the founder, writer and illustrator of the popular website Wait But Why, a long form blog that regularly reaches millions of readers. He has delivered a TED Talk, “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator,” which has been viewed 29 million times. And, most recently, he is the author of the smash-hit book What’s Our Problem: A Self Help Book For Societies, which is available wherever books are sold.
Tim returned to the Elevate Podcast to discuss how society became so polarized, the need for critical thinking, different ways to think about political and societal debates, and much more.