Skills for Growth

End Polarized Thinking with 4 Simple Questions

Mainstream media is eroding our ability to reason wisely. When we are chronically exposed to news that highlights our differences, rather than our similarities, and plays on our emotions, rather than appealing to reason, we lose our ability to use wise reasoning. This furthers social division, reinforces intolerance, and fuels conspiratorial thinking. Here is how to combat this trend. So what is wise reasoning anyway? For millennia philosophers have promoted wisdom as an attribute that can strengthen societies and help us to overcome all manner of challenges. Contemporary scholars are still working to clearly define what wisdom is, but they do have some clear agreement

Read More »
My Thoughts

If “They” Led with Curiosity, We Might Trust Them

The “they” I am referring to are authorities, institutions and government leaders. I wish they could see that curiosity could be the value that transforms the world. A person who is a seeker of truth, won’t find it without being deeply curious. It’s the value that will keep you looking even after you suspect you’ve found the answer. What if all of our societal challenges could simply be solved by approaching life with a sense of curious wonder? I think they could. There is even evidence that those who approach life with a higher degree of curiosity, are more immune to partisan thinking. I don’t find

Read More »