Do you know how a zip operates in detail?
Sure, take a moment and describe it
If you did this, you will realise that we can’t describe it in detail
Steven Sloman and Philip Fernback did this experiment where they asked people to explain or describe many daily life things or activities.
most could not do it
They named it as Knowledge illusion
We rely on others to figure things out
Eg today if you need to goto Point B from Point A, you rely on GPs not on the smells and wind direction
This filtering out is helpful as it helps us to prioritize and focus
on those things and situations which are important
But the filtering has created a dangerous belief
in our intelligence and knowledge
in matters which we don’t have
Eg we may argue about climate change
based on our limited experience
when we don’t have the full picture
We often argue about what other countries
should do or not do when we may not be aware
of the full dimension of our own country
As algorithms become smarter
and we rely more on them to sort our life
ask yourself
“are we really smart just because we have a smartphone
or are we mortgaging our intelligence ?”
What should one do?
First, be clear about the priorities and values in life
Second, accept there are limitations to our knowledge
Third, deploy compassion and curiosity to self and others
Illusions are good when we are watching a magic trick
they are dangerous when we allow them to play in our life
without realising it
share in comments
Today,
What areas of your life will you
practice compassion and curiosity?