Cognitive Biases
Note: This topic was mentioned during the call but not discussed in depth.
Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment.
Relevance to Curiosity
Alex Kladitis's discussion of Belief Systems and Curiosity touches on several cognitive biases:
Confirmation Bias
- Seeking information that confirms beliefs
- Ignoring contradictory evidence
- Interpreting ambiguous evidence as confirming
Compartmentalization
- Holding contradictory beliefs without seeing conflict
- Not being curious about inconsistencies
- Separating information into mental silos
In-Group Bias
- Favoring information from our group
- Dismissing information from "other side"
- Tribal thinking over truth-seeking
The Universal Challenge
Alex's point:
"We are all doing this. Every day, even in this call, we will do it."
Even highly curious people:
- Fall prey to cognitive biases
- Protect cherished beliefs
- Fail to question assumptions
- Miss alternative perspectives
Curiosity as Antidote?
Can curiosity combat biases?
- Multi-Perspectival Humbleness helps
- Critical Thinking helps
- But biases are persistent and subtle
Or do biases limit curiosity?
- We're less curious about what threatens beliefs
- Biases shape what we notice
- Confirmation bias kills genuine inquiry
Probably both: bidirectional relationship.