Enhancing the capacity to manage our attention plays a crucial role in fostering self-awareness, allowing us to better understand our biases and the underlying motivations behind our emotions, views, and decisions. Individuals with rich and diverse representations of topics tend to exhibit greater intellectual curiosity and a healthy skepticism towards their intuitions. However, it is important to recognize that even those possessing high intelligence are not exempt from bias.

This approach is similar to the scientific method – of identifying a problem, gathering information, formulating solutions, implementing them, and updating them as better solutions and new information arise.

In our daily lives, we frequently default to answering questions based on our immediate thoughts and reactions, often neglecting to invest the necessary effort to critically examine our initial opinions. This tendency typically links to a desire for fast, simple, and fixed conclusions.

Consider the following text:

_{When I think of the least rational people I know, what’s striking is how they do the exact opposite: instead of viciously attacking their beliefs, they try desperately to defend them. They too have responses to all my critiques, but instead of acknowledging and agreeing, they viciously attack my critique so it never touches their precious belief.}¹

A key step towards achieving a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world, is to leave room for uncertainty in the face of our own beliefs and theories. And recognizing that our perceptions and beliefs may not always align with objective reality. If we are more open to other perspectives, humble about our views, and curious about new information, we can contribute positively to the world, even if only incrementally.

For example, in the case of whether or not women should be able to exercise induced termination of pregnancy. One side will argue it is the woman’s choice because it is her body, period. The other side may argue that doing so is apathetic and immoral. But, I can bet that many people on either side of the debate would agree that if a woman is impregnated by force and without her consent, that that is a bad thing – and agree on some of these more complex specific instances.

Fostering productive dialogue and collaboration is vital in addressing the intricate and multifaceted challenges that characterize the 21st century. By acknowledging the interconnected nature of complex global issues, we can create opportunities for diverse perspectives to emerge and coordinate collective efforts to bring about positive change.

As the saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This maxim serves as a powerful reminder that complex issues demand a comprehensive and inclusive approach that embraces the insights and contributions of a wide range of individuals and groups.

In the next difficult conversation you have, try to listen more, approach it with curiosity, and test yourself by summarizing the other side’s view as accurately as possible. This leads to productive conversations. When both sides do this, there is almost always some agreement, somewhere.

Meeting in-the-middle, even if only an inch at a time, is progress. Progress towards some level of convergence on a wider truth.

Sources

Self-skepticism: the first principle of rationality, https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NoYYBAaMRp9Y5Jnpo/self-skepticism-the-first-principle-of-rationality

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman