Alex Edmans has a book out titled "May Contain Lies" that addresses this kind of issue. His stack goes from a statement to is it a fact? to is it representative data? to is it evidence? to is it proof? He uses 2 cognitive biases, confirmation bias and black and white thinking to work thru the stack. The book uses stories to highlight the issues.
My current theory for the data has to do with the decreasing efficacy of the academic/scientific system in producing Nobel-worthy results. As our institutions of higher learning break down (relative to their original purpose and mission) and as the economic incentives around winning a Nobel become more perverse and captured, it stands to reason that what was once a nice “coevolutionary coupling” between the educational system and Nobel system is decoupling as well.
Put another way, it used to that the brightest minds worked on problems/solutions in a relatively pure and intrinsically motivated way, and that was acknowledged and rewarded by a Nobel in the extremes.
Now, like everything, winning the Nobel is a big business, and academia is big business. The pure and intrinsic motivations and been squeezed out of both.
Excellent simple and clear example of how to get fooled by misinterpreting facts or not listening carefully to others are mistinterpreting them for you. Thanks Annie for continuing to shed light on our mental processes-- imperfect as they are.
Alex Edmans has a book out titled "May Contain Lies" that addresses this kind of issue. His stack goes from a statement to is it a fact? to is it representative data? to is it evidence? to is it proof? He uses 2 cognitive biases, confirmation bias and black and white thinking to work thru the stack. The book uses stories to highlight the issues.
Check out this Q & A I did with him :) https://annieduke.substack.com/p/how-misinformation-exploits-our-biases
Great post, Annie.
My current theory for the data has to do with the decreasing efficacy of the academic/scientific system in producing Nobel-worthy results. As our institutions of higher learning break down (relative to their original purpose and mission) and as the economic incentives around winning a Nobel become more perverse and captured, it stands to reason that what was once a nice “coevolutionary coupling” between the educational system and Nobel system is decoupling as well.
Put another way, it used to that the brightest minds worked on problems/solutions in a relatively pure and intrinsically motivated way, and that was acknowledged and rewarded by a Nobel in the extremes.
Now, like everything, winning the Nobel is a big business, and academia is big business. The pure and intrinsic motivations and been squeezed out of both.
Excellent simple and clear example of how to get fooled by misinterpreting facts or not listening carefully to others are mistinterpreting them for you. Thanks Annie for continuing to shed light on our mental processes-- imperfect as they are.