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Why you think you're right — even if you're wrong

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Perspective is everything, especially when it comes to examining your beliefs. Are you a soldier, prone to defending your viewpoint at all costs — or a scout, spurred by curiosity? Julia Galef examines the motivations behind these two mindsets and how they shape the way we interpret information, interweaved with a compelling history lesson from 19th-century France.

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Avatar for Meli Diaz
I have found this talk very interesting. And then a question comes to mind: what about making decisions based on religious beliefs? They usually are not only strong, but also kind of impossible to discuss, because then everything comes to the same end: faith. Many people make decisions based on what God wants or says, and it also affects politics and our social lives.
07/29/2016 • 
 12 Responses
 / 12 Updates
Avatar for Daniel Monroy
Daniel Monroy
With the hot topic of fake news this day in age, it is important to know what's actually true and what is not. For this reason, it is imperative to have the mindset of the scout. My question is do you think that more independent voters have the mindset of the scout or that of the soldier or do they have components of both? Would love to hear anyone's opinion on this topic
07/02/2017 • 
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Avatar for Ridwan Marqas
Ridwan Marqas
Great way to show the way through examples of soldier and scout mind
01/09/2018 • 
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Avatar for Pietro Vinci
The best mindset for these difficult and turbulent times it's neither the soldier nor the scout mindset. The victorious one is the mindset of the leader: you must first lead the exoloration, the study of the enemy and search the reality that you must face. Then, with all the best knowledge, informations and datas about the factual reality, you shoould begin the battle to make your beliefs triumphant. An idea or opinion could be successfull only if is based on reality, with checked facts.
03/28/2018 • 
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